India (1): The Golden Triangle and Varanasi

＜Basic information＞
Population: Approximately 1.4 billion
Area: Approximately 9 times the size of Japan
Average monthly temperature: Approximately 5 to 40°C

Currency: Indian rupee　INR (1 INR is approximately 1.8 yen in January 2025)
　　　　　 Credit cards can be used in most stores visited by tourists
Average annual income: Approximately 384,000INR (from Salary Explorer)

Guideline for tipping: Based on the facial expression of the person when you give it, approximately next fees are expected
Hotel boy: 100 INR
Rickshaw/elephant taxi: 100 INR per person (200 INR for two people)

Famous tourist spots:
Varanasi: Bathing in the Ganges
Jaipur: Amber Fort, City Palace, Castle of the Winds
Agra: Agra Fort, Taj Mahal
Aurangabad: Cave temples
etc.

<Varanasi> A holy place for Hindus. There is a theory that the name of the city was derived from combining the names of the two rivers, the Varuna and the Assi, which are tributaries of the Ganges.

Crowds of tourists and Hindus gathering on the Ganges River

People bathing on the ghats of the Ganges (It was January, so there were few people bathing due to the cold weather.)

Crematorium: The body is purified with water from the Ganges River, cremated, and the ashes are thrown into the river (the body is not actually thrown into the river).

< Jaipur> When a British prince visited in the late 19th century, the buildings were painted pink, and since then buildings have been painted pink, which is why the city is also known as the “Pink City.”