Varanasi

 

 Varanasi is on the Ganges. The main cremation ghat(step) is Manikarnika Ghat (picture above).
Incidentally, I have just finished reading Holy Cow:an Indian Adventure by Sarah MacDonald, which ends off with Varanasi. I wet my earlobes and crown with the water, as advised by our guide: there were children swimming, and a water snake. Lots of people, boats, mosquitoes.

Floating candles