Dawn at Varanasi and Delhi Farewell

Friday 4th

The last day of our Indian adventure begins with a 4:30am wake up call. We're going back down to the Ganges, this time at dawn, when thousands of worshippers come to immerse themselves as they face the rising sun. The streets are quiet as we walk with the devotees. Again we board a boat to observe the rituals from the water. A wide sandbank forms the eastern shore, and the sun rises over it, peeping through this morning's clouds.

Hindus from near and far plunge into the river - for some it's a daily ritual, for others it's a once in a lifetime pilgrimage. Wherever there are tourists, there are vendors, and this holy spot is no exception. Floating 'supermarkets' approach our boat - a final chance to buy those gifts for people back home!

As we walk back through the old streets of Varanasi, children clamber aboard rickshaws to begin their school day, and these elderly men enjoy reading the newspaper while they sit in the middle of the road.

After breakfast back at the Gateway Hotel (now busy with a conference of dignitaries), we have a couple of hours to relax, take a swim in the outdoor pool, or play croquet (!) before boarding a flight back to New Delhi. Creative Travel, our terrific local agents for the tour, have upgraded us to the Leela Kempinski, a cool, new hotel in the modern Gurgaon district near the airport, for the few hours that we'll have to wash, change and have dinner before our international flights. Then it's farewell to India - until next time.