Sarnath is located 13 kilometres from Varansi. It is here where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma, and the Buddhist Sangha came into existence. Sarnath is also one of four places of pilgrimage that Lord Buddha mentioned his followers should visit .

 

Places to see

Most of the Buildings and Structures were destroyed by the Turks . The remaining few ruins that can be distinguished are :

 

The Dhamek Stupa; It is an impressive Strucutre 128 feet high and 93 feet in diameter

 

 

The Chaukhandi Stupa is recognised as the place where Buddha met his first disciples, dating back to the fifth century or earlier .

 

The ruins of the Mulagandhakuti vihara mark the place where the Buddha spent his first rainy season.

 

The modern Mulagandhakuti Vihara is a monastery built in the 1930s by the Sri 

Lankan Mahabodhi Society, with beautiful wall paintings. 

 

The Ashoka Pillar erected here, originally surmounted by the "Lion Capital of Asoka" (presently on display at the Sarnath Museum), was broken during Turk invasions but the base still stands at the original location.

 

The Sarnath Archeological Museum houses the famous Ashokan lion capital, which miraculously survived its 45-foot drop to the ground (from the top of the Ashokan 

Pillar), and became theNational Emblem of India and national symbol on the Indian flag. The museum also houses a famous and refined Buddha-image of the Buddha in Dharmachakra-posture.

 

There is also a Bodhi tree planted by Anagarika Dharmapala which was grown from a cutting of the Bodhi Tree at Bodh Gaya.