Get set for a ‘royal’ ride in Varanasi

Arnab Nandy

Priests perform the Ganga aarti rituals on Dasaswamedh Ghat. Picture by Bitan Sikdar
Priests perform the Ganga aarti rituals on Dasaswamedh Ghat. Picture by Bitan Sikdar

September 29 (TravelAndy): ‘Royal’ rickshaw rides await visitors to the historic city of Varanasi in India now.

On the occasion of World Tourism Day on September 27, Serenity Routes (www.serenityroutes.com), an online portal, in association with Uttar Pradesh Tourism, launched an initiative called Mr Rickshaw Wala, which seeks to not only promote the green three-wheeler that is an intrinsic part of the Varanasi experience, but also benefit the rickshaw-pullers.

Tourists can book a ride through the website and explore the heritage of old Varanasi and its historical ghats.

Each rickshaw carries a tablet that is programmed with audio information on the sites being visited.

Varanasi is among the oldest continuously inhabited cities of the world.