Boats #02 The boatmen of Varanasi

I took this photo from Varanasi. Tourism is one of the most important industries of Varanasi, the spiritual capital of India. But you may have missed a vital part of Varanasi’s real flavour if you have not taken a boat ride on the Ganga. A ride along the crescent-shaped stretch is the best way to get a snapshot of Varanasi’s life. The boatmen community—comprising about 50,000 people—depends on the Ganga for their livelihood. Varanasi has more than 100 ghats and tourist pick-up points are divided for each boatman. Surprisingly, in spite of over 3.2 million domestic and foreign tourists visiting the city annually, these boatmen lead a life of deprivation, destitution and poverty.