Varanasi is claimed to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on earth, with a history that stretches back over 2000 years. Located on the bank of the sacred Ganges river, it's one of the holiest places in India. Hindu pilgrims come to bathe in the river, a ritual which washes away all sins. It is also considered a very auspicious place to die. Day and night, the fires burn on the riverside ghats cremating the dead, while dawn sees a progression of pilgrims making their way to the water's edge. We stayed in the old city, a maze of narrow alleys only accessible on foot and easy to get lost in!