Woo-hoo — I just bought a ticket for my third trip to India! I’ve been thinking of traveling to Thailand, Cambodia or Vietnam this time, but because of my job the trip has to take place in March, and these countries are already too hot in March. So I chose to pay tribute to India once again. Since I was not able to inspire any of my friends to come along, I will be traveling alone, and it’s probably a good thing that I’ll be visiting a country that I know a little bit about.
It must be my lucky day today because I found an inexpensive flight (412 €) and the dates are perfect (March 2–15). I leave on a Monday, so I’ll have a weekend to pack and get ready. I land in Delhi and after a day or so I plan to take the train to Agra. I’ll probably spend two days in Agra, photographing Taj Mahal. I will then travel to Jhansi by train and visit a very colorful village nearby called Orchha. I’ve already been to Orchha, but only for 3 hours, and that was not nearly enough.
After Orchha I plan to travel to Varanasi, where I will probably spend a week. This oldest and holiest of Hindu cities has so much to offer, that a week shouldn’t be too long, and if all goes well, that week should end with the amazingly colorful celebration of Holi on March 11 and 12.
On the next day I’ll fly to Delhi, visit Jamia Masjid and the Red Fort, do some shopping, and very early on March 15 I’ll start the long journey back home.
I am quite excited. Luckily I know a good bit about India already, the Indian embassy is located in Hamburg, and I have all recommended vaccinations.
The only thing that bothers me a bit is that lots of interesting things happen at the ghats in Varanasi before dawn and after dusk, and my Canon 30D does not have the AF or high-ISO capabilities to master these situaltions well. I don’t imagine that anyone would lend or rent me a Canon 5D mark II and an EF 24-105/4 L for the duration of the trip, would they? 
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I am envious of your upcoming trip – I spent two weeks in India in April 2008 and would return in a heartbeat. Varanasi was a highlight but I was only able to spend two days there. I took my 40D/24-105 with me and it was an almost ideal combination. I was able to take some very early morning and very late evening shots which turned out well considering many were handheld from the river. All the best on the trip and I look forward to seeing some of your photographs posted on your site
Hi Jim,
thanks for your comment and yeah, I know exactly what you mean! I spent one evening and one morning in Varanasi in 2007 (last two images here, but not very typical of Varanasi), and I am now making good on the promise I gave to myself back then and I return with more time for photography.
I also agree about the photography early in the morning (sunrise over Ganges, hustle and bustle on the ghats) and evening (all the people on the ghats).
Here are two examples of these typical morning and evening scenes: Sunrise over the Ganges, Varanasi, Evening Religious Ritual in Varanasi
[...] And if I were to ever get it, now is the ideal moment — so I’d be able to use it on my upcoming trip to India. So, should [...]
nice to see your blog n passion for my country!!
Wish you to visit for Holi at Jodhpur
Boz, I did not know that you visited India this year, so I am expecting a 2009 link
please post