As a photographer striving to document the heritage sites of India, one of the things I deeply struggle with is the photographing of living temples. Out of respect for the devotees and their culture, the last thing I want to do is intrude, and so often my exploration […]
Situated immediately east of Durga Kund in the southern sector of old Varanasi, Anand Bagh (Garden of Bliss) is a compact lush green park that offers some respite from the hustle and bustle of much of the old city. Today the park is often frequented by joggers, morning […]
Built in a common North Indian style, the Durga Temple (Kushmanda Durga Mandir) is a free-standing temple set within a walled compound next to a large rectangular tank (Durga Kund) in the southern sector of the city of Varanasi. To Western tourists, the temple has long been known […]
Situated on a raised platform immediately south of Lolark Kund, one of the oldest sacred sites in Kashi, the Sri Lolarkeshwar Mahadev temple was an unexpected surprise as I explored the area of the city adjacent to Assi and Tulsi Ghat. I have to confess that even the […]
My last couple of trips to India have taken me to a couple of locations famously attached to the life of Rani Lakshmibai. These are the locations that served as bookends to her life; her birthplace in Varanasi, and the presumed site of her burial in Gwalior. I […]
Indian Heritage Podcast The ghats on the great Ganga riverfront at Banaras are unquestionably the city’s most iconic and celebrated image. For thousands of years these ghats have been the centre for religion, culture and commerce, offering an unrivaled panorama for visitors to the city. During my ten […]
Often referred to as the ‘the burning ghat’, Manikarnika Ghat is the main cremation ground of Banaras and is quite unlike anywhere else in India. At any one time there may be up to a dozen pyres burning here, with a seemingly constant stream of newly arrived corpes […]
Also known as Matri-rin Mahadev or Kashi Karvat, Ratneshwar Mahadev Temple has to be one of the most photographed temples in the holy city of Banaras. An image of this temple is almost guaranteed to appear in any promotional materials about the ancient city, it is probably the […]
Kevin Standage 
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