Cloudy skies in large parts of northern and western India on Wednesday marred a clear view of the century's longest total solar eclipse but the celestial spectacle was clearly visible over Varanasi.
Tens of thousands of people across the country rose early to see the eclipse that was began at the earliest at 5:29 a.m. and ended at 7:41 a.m. in India.
It was to have been cleary visible in places like Surat, Indore, Bhopal, Varanasi, Patna, Taregna near Patna, Daman, Darjeeling, Dibrugarh, Gangtok, Gaya, Itanagar, Ujjain and Vadodra.
A partial eclipse was to have been visible in many other towns and cities.
In the event however, the solar eclipse could be watched clearly only over Varanasi, where thousands gathered along the Ganges.
The eclipse was to begin at 5:29 a.m in Gaya and Patna and it was to end at 7:41 a.m. at Dibrugarh.
Thick clouds and heavy rains in Mumbai, Konkan region and most part of the Maharashtra prevented people from viewing the eclipse. Overcast skies spoiled the show in Himachal Pradesh too.
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