January 30, 2025
Today is a travel day – from Mumbai to Varanasi. We are using a tour company – Banyan – throughout this entire venture. They always have a private car(s) with a driver and a guide. Our very favorite guide, from, past India adventures, Shruti is with us on the entire trip. Life is easy and good in India for the Duncan Family.
It seems, so far, that every journey to and from the airport takes an hour. Today is no exception. Actually the traffic in Mumbai moved very well – Varanasi traffic did not. Once again we flew Air India. The airline used to be owned by the Indian Government and had a bad reputation. Tata, one of Indias huge conglomerates, purchased Air India a couple of years ago. They are rebuilding and modernizing the fleet. Both flights we have experienced were late but felt safe and good.
The Mumbai airport is huge – really huge and quite beautiful. We had to pass through security twice.
The traffic from the Varanasi airport into the city was terrible. The two lane road was jammed with at least three lanes of vehicles plus often another lane of motor scooters. It seemed like there was less than a foot of space between vehicles. They use the horns often – a real cacophony! Several cattle slowed the traffic. The roadsides are jammed with all kinds of small business, vendors selling fruits and vegetables – you name it!
After the prerequisite hour we turn into an oasis of green where our hotel is located. The Nadesar Palace Varanasi is “a luxurious hotel nestled amidst verdant gardens and mango orchards, offering a serene retreat in the heart of India’s spiritual capital”. We unpack just in time to enjoy another wonderful dinner and an “almost prefect” DuncanTini.
Just in case you have not not read enough about India – below are the other four blogs that I have posted in previous years:
Robert
India 2025 
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