![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JJD73ZZEPNA4VDDXA2GCLVIMAA.jpg?smart=true&auth=5c2e991465185843b57bbf41bf6218345302e79d1085ec40563d1054a2240229&width=400&height=225)
There is a condition to die within two weeks; if the health of the guest improves they are asked to move on. The house offers the service for free to those who cannot afford it. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6U5E7PQ2HFB6LMEVBXMWSGN63I.jpg?smart=true&auth=08091b28a0f6c6b7e71b48f14ec2b8c1f1a1253e3e7bb3b43d31c187bb7a5ba8&width=400&height=225)
A charity in Varanasi, India, offers lodging to those who wish to give up their last breath in the Hindu holy city. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MGCQ3BU3GVGOFCALVA5I2DFBTE.jpg?smart=true&auth=73f1222b663119d26bafc5c3cf27ae9f0be021bbf7edbc74a1e482083ca26ab8&width=400&height=225)
Hindus believe that those who die in the holy city achieve Moksha, which means enlightenment or release. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CXZMUKZ525AIZAQ5HIWB3HFDBU.jpg?smart=true&auth=42b8d30e3d7f052b79a54e8f8fe5261b512e408e29906ae6a4d94de69657e089&width=400&height=225)
The so-called "death hotel" has 10 rooms for guests.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZZWJB7LRHJBVNKMLRUGTKXHDUQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=18b4efa3d7fe00c30f25d05db570ad0e26f4d5842d4239d83e0c763979c2dd97&width=400&height=225)
Premvati Gupta, 95, is one of the thousands of elderly people who have stayed at the Kashi Labh Mukti Bhawan, the shelter for those on the brink of death. Photo: Tanya Dutta for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/K3XLLM6QW5GMJNZROAL6QV5ZSM.jpg?smart=true&auth=ffb353b3e1ed206110631748a6c552cf57292b937ee875a6f388c79d47d4773e&width=400&height=225)
Residents have special prayers three times a day. The building has an office and small quarters for its priests. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6IIF2YWLKVGSFJLSVLASA2NBVA.jpg?smart=true&auth=df4cadbc6b2c24803e27508ef5940e282881d4d40b3c91516e6a57dc06714700&width=400&height=225)
Kalikant Dubey, 38, is the main person who assesses the condition of a person before allowing them entry at the shelter. He then takes care of the person, including praying for them every day. Photo: Taniya Dutta for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/H4SBANDF5JDBJGBIL6Z5DJQ56I.jpg?smart=true&auth=7d35021e0ec3f712fc5608f71e0ce8d6f73d5dcdd9ab731bd41322f71dd19ba3&width=400&height=225)
The daughter-in-law of Shivdayal Parasar, a resident aged 90, washes utensils at Kashi Labh Mukti Bhawan. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5YF7EER4W5BBXPD2LTMLWNP3LA.jpg?smart=true&auth=274eb5faba290898cf19fb2933cd4e3bd771ccb7c977f341d9be432c887cc6a7&width=400&height=225)
Chaturbhuj Jha, 97, spent his last days at the hospice in June this year. He had suffered a heart attack after losing his 62-year-old son and wanted to die in Varanasi to get freed from human pain and rid of the cycle of death and rebirth. Photo: Tanya Dutta for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MIFIXCE42ZEJFKC4KX4OZH2SA4.jpg?smart=true&auth=e7c9983c78bfb5276598bf9355679579de2dfe987d48805c9ee729df7a7c6cad&width=400&height=225)
A priest sings devotional songs at the temple at Kashi Labh Mukti Bhawan. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HE353NQRRVFPJDAWYNK7N3HWK4.jpg?smart=true&auth=29afa14ca5e089e2fc4044642e5be6863c6a0a70dd161538b18297904fa980c8&width=400&height=225)
Guests who are not medically fit and within days of dying are allowed to take shelter in the house for two weeks with minimal charges. The price of the stay is 20 Indian rupees ($0.24), a fare that covers electricity and some basic costs. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JJD73ZZEPNA4VDDXA2GCLVIMAA.jpg?smart=true&auth=5c2e991465185843b57bbf41bf6218345302e79d1085ec40563d1054a2240229&width=400&height=225)
There is a condition to die within two weeks; if the health of the guest improves they are asked to move on. The house offers the service for free to those who cannot afford it. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6U5E7PQ2HFB6LMEVBXMWSGN63I.jpg?smart=true&auth=08091b28a0f6c6b7e71b48f14ec2b8c1f1a1253e3e7bb3b43d31c187bb7a5ba8&width=400&height=225)
A charity in Varanasi, India, offers lodging to those who wish to give up their last breath in the Hindu holy city. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MGCQ3BU3GVGOFCALVA5I2DFBTE.jpg?smart=true&auth=73f1222b663119d26bafc5c3cf27ae9f0be021bbf7edbc74a1e482083ca26ab8&width=400&height=225)
Hindus believe that those who die in the holy city achieve Moksha, which means enlightenment or release. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CXZMUKZ525AIZAQ5HIWB3HFDBU.jpg?smart=true&auth=42b8d30e3d7f052b79a54e8f8fe5261b512e408e29906ae6a4d94de69657e089&width=400&height=225)
The so-called "death hotel" has 10 rooms for guests.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZZWJB7LRHJBVNKMLRUGTKXHDUQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=18b4efa3d7fe00c30f25d05db570ad0e26f4d5842d4239d83e0c763979c2dd97&width=400&height=225)
Premvati Gupta, 95, is one of the thousands of elderly people who have stayed at the Kashi Labh Mukti Bhawan, the shelter for those on the brink of death. Photo: Tanya Dutta for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/K3XLLM6QW5GMJNZROAL6QV5ZSM.jpg?smart=true&auth=ffb353b3e1ed206110631748a6c552cf57292b937ee875a6f388c79d47d4773e&width=400&height=225)
Residents have special prayers three times a day. The building has an office and small quarters for its priests. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6IIF2YWLKVGSFJLSVLASA2NBVA.jpg?smart=true&auth=df4cadbc6b2c24803e27508ef5940e282881d4d40b3c91516e6a57dc06714700&width=400&height=225)
Kalikant Dubey, 38, is the main person who assesses the condition of a person before allowing them entry at the shelter. He then takes care of the person, including praying for them every day. Photo: Taniya Dutta for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/H4SBANDF5JDBJGBIL6Z5DJQ56I.jpg?smart=true&auth=7d35021e0ec3f712fc5608f71e0ce8d6f73d5dcdd9ab731bd41322f71dd19ba3&width=400&height=225)
The daughter-in-law of Shivdayal Parasar, a resident aged 90, washes utensils at Kashi Labh Mukti Bhawan. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5YF7EER4W5BBXPD2LTMLWNP3LA.jpg?smart=true&auth=274eb5faba290898cf19fb2933cd4e3bd771ccb7c977f341d9be432c887cc6a7&width=400&height=225)
Chaturbhuj Jha, 97, spent his last days at the hospice in June this year. He had suffered a heart attack after losing his 62-year-old son and wanted to die in Varanasi to get freed from human pain and rid of the cycle of death and rebirth. Photo: Tanya Dutta for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MIFIXCE42ZEJFKC4KX4OZH2SA4.jpg?smart=true&auth=e7c9983c78bfb5276598bf9355679579de2dfe987d48805c9ee729df7a7c6cad&width=400&height=225)
A priest sings devotional songs at the temple at Kashi Labh Mukti Bhawan. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HE353NQRRVFPJDAWYNK7N3HWK4.jpg?smart=true&auth=29afa14ca5e089e2fc4044642e5be6863c6a0a70dd161538b18297904fa980c8&width=400&height=225)
Guests who are not medically fit and within days of dying are allowed to take shelter in the house for two weeks with minimal charges. The price of the stay is 20 Indian rupees ($0.24), a fare that covers electricity and some basic costs. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JJD73ZZEPNA4VDDXA2GCLVIMAA.jpg?smart=true&auth=5c2e991465185843b57bbf41bf6218345302e79d1085ec40563d1054a2240229&width=400&height=225)
There is a condition to die within two weeks; if the health of the guest improves they are asked to move on. The house offers the service for free to those who cannot afford it. EPA
Inside India's 'death hotel': where believers come not for hospitality but for salvation
Guests have one hope in mind when checking into the Kashi Labh Mukti Bhawan — checking out in peace
![Taniya Dutta](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2Ff16b3521-2438-42ac-a914-4072ef298f1c.png?smart=true&auth=2e7bd18a9d681304782408cd2ad4662f50ed2dec6f481149b8eb1cac80d9d410&width=70&height=70)
Taniya Dutta
30 September, 2022
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