The Varanasi Train Station

Indian train stations seem quite chaotic at first glance but actually they are very well organized. One of the things I like about them is the left baggage rooms where you can store your stuff for 10 rupees (25 cents) a bag for the day while you wander around town. There is a bit of paperwork of course (its India after all) but it is usually quick and you are on your way. A toy seller. We were going to take an overnight train to Agra...our next stop...and wanted to spend the early afternoon wandering around the downtown Varanasi area.

Its very common to come upon groups of people sleeping near the tracks or in the ticketing area.

If you don't like the chaos of the station there is always the Ladies Waiting Room in any good sized station. And they have fairly clean bathrooms (with squat toilets usually)

And there are snacks available for purchase in the station. Do you think I should wake him up?

The busy ticketing area with more sleepers...even in mid day.

When you retrieve your bags you can (thankfully) hire unionized porters to carry them up and down the stairs to the right track and the right location for your car. This can be important on a long train which stops only a few minutes. The problem is to keep up with them as they saunter off, heavy bags on top of their head for the right spot.

There's always time for a last minute snack. Here comes the train.