There are hotels in India where travellers stay for the views, then there is Mukti Bhawan, a unique guesthouse where people check in to die! Yes, you read that right. This is one place in Varanasi where people arrive for an altogether different reason, to spend the final chapter of their lives. Also known as Kashi Labh Mukti Bhawan, this unusual place is set in the heart of the Kashi and offers shelter to people who believe they are nearing the end of their lives. These people want to breathe their last in the sacred city. This is not your usual guesthouse but a spiritual retreat.Where is Mukti Bhawan locatedMukti Bhawan is located in the Mishir Pokhra area near Girja Ghar Chauraha in the Godowlia locality of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. As per reports, the place is set on Geeta Mandir Road, close to the old-city area and the famous ghats.The location of the guesthouse is important because it places residents close to the religious heart of Kashi. This is where all the temples are situated and ancient lanes leading to the Ganga.Varanasi itself is regarded by the Hindu tradition as one of India’s most sacred cities and one of the world’s oldest living cities.People come here to die
Inside Mukti Bhawan (Instagram)
There’s an ancient belief associated with Kashi: “Kashyam maranam mukti”, meaning death in Kashi is believed to lead to liberation. According to Hindu spiritual belief, people remain caught in the cycle of birth and rebirth, influenced by karma. Death in Kashi, however, is traditionally believed to offer a path towards moksha, or freedom from this cycle.There is also a belief that Lord Shiva grants the Tarak Mantra to a person dying in Kashi, helping the soul attain liberation. For some elderly people, travelling to Varanasi in their final days is not viewed as a journey towards death but as a journey towards spiritual liberation.How did Mukti Bhawan become famous?Mukti Bhawan was set up in 1958 by the Dalmia Charitable Trust. As per reports, this is a place where people approaching death could spend their final days in Kashi.Over the decades, its unusual purpose attracted attention far beyond Varanasi. Journalists and photographers from India and abroad have documented life inside the hospice, turning Mukti Bhawan into one of the world’s most unusual examples of a place dedicated to the final stage of life.Its story reached a wider audience through the acclaimed 2016 Hindi film Hotel Salvation (Mukti Bhawan), which was inspired by the idea of an elderly man travelling to Varanasi with his son to await death.The 15-Day RuleOne of the most unique things about the Mukti Bhawan is its limited stay period. People who come here are generally allowed to stay only for around 15 days. If the person does not die within that period, the family is expected to make alternative arrangements and leave.The rule may sound startling to outsiders, but it reflects the purpose of the institution. It is important for people to know that Mukti Bhawan is not intended to provide long-term accommodation for elderly people and exists specifically for those believed to be in the final stage of life.What happens inside the Mukti DhamIt’s not your regular guesthouse. The atmosphere is very different from what one might imagine from a place associated with death. The ambience is all about prayers, devotional songs, religious recitations and rituals form part of daily life. Family members stay with their loved ones.There are no attempts to hasten death. Residents are allowed to die naturally. If a person’s health improves or they survive beyond the permitted period, they are asked to leave.How to reach Mukti Bhawan
Mukti Bhawan (Instagram)
By Air: The nearest major airport is Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport at Babatpur, around 26 km from Varanasi.By Train: Varanasi Junction (BSB) is one of the city’s major railway gateways and connects Varanasi with several major Indian cities.For the people who arrive here, the journey is not about escaping death. It is about accepting it on their own spiritual terms. In a world where people spend enormous amounts of money trying to postpone aging and death, this small building in the lanes of Varanasi represents a completely different side of life and death and Moksha.
