Varanasi is an auspicious place to die. Dying by the banks of the gently flowing Ganga -- a river born in heaven and descended to earth -- ensures release from the cycle of rebirth. One can attain instant moksha. It is possible to see innumerable old people in the city awaiting their end.
Varanasi is also a Buddhist pilgrimage centre that attracts devout Buddhists like this Sri Lankan monk.