Archaeological Buddhist Remains of Sarnath

4.5

Location: Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, India

Estimated Visiting Time: 1 hour

Associated with the life of Lord Buddha, Sarnath is one of the four holy places. After attaining enlightenment at Bodhgaya, it is the place where Buddha preached his first sermon to his five preceding companions. At Sarnath since 1907, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has been conducting excavations. Including stupas, temples, inscriptions, sculptures, and other antiquities, the excavation sites have massive ancient collections of monasteries.

Attraction

Attractions of the Archaeological Buddhist Remains of Sarnath are-

Dharmarajika Stupa
Monolithic Railing made of Chunar Sandstone
Mulagandha Kuti
Ashoka Pillar
Dharma Chakra Jina Vihar
Dhamekh Stupa
Mulagandha Kuty Vihara
Archeological Museum Sarnath

History

He gave up his austere penances and his friends, the Pañcavaggiya monks, before Gautama (the Buddha-to-be) attained enlightenment. Buddha left Uruvela and traveled to Isipatana to rejoin them because, seven weeks after his enlightenment under the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, using his spiritual powers, he had seen that to understand Dharma quickly, his five former companions would be able. Gautama Buddha had no money while traveling to Sarnath, to pay the ferryman to cross the Ganges, so he crossed it through the air. He abolished the toll for ascetics, later when King Bimbisara heard of this. With the teachings of the Dharma, Gautama Buddha found his five former companions and enlightened them. At that time, the Sangha was founded, the community of the enlightened ones. The sermon was his first sermon, called the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, which Buddha gave to the five monks. On the full-moon day of Asalha Puja, it was given. At the Mulagandhakuti, Buddha subsequently also spent his first rainy season at Sarnath. To 60 in number (after Yasa and his friends had become monks), the Sangha had grown by then, and so to travel alone and teach the Dharma, Buddha sent them out in all directions.

Inside/Outside Views

Ruins at the archaeological site of Sarnath, with Dhamek Stupa in the background. Sarnath, India

Located 10 kilometers northeast of Varanasi near the confluence of the Ganges and the Varuna rivers in Uttar Pradesh, India, Sarnath is an amazing tourist attraction. Where the Buddhist Sangha came into existence through the enlightenment of Kondanna and the Deer Park in Sarnath is where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma. The birthplace of Shreyansanath, the Eleventh Tirthankara of Jainism was Singhpur, a village approximately one kilometer away from the site. This city is mentioned by the Buddha as one of the four places of pilgrimage, also referred to as Isipatana, whose devout followers should visit. In which Buddha explained the four noble truths and the teachings associated with them, it was also the site of the Buddha’s Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, which was his first sermon after attaining enlightenment.

Opening Hours

Monday Closed
Tuesday 8 AM–6 PM
Wednesday 8 AM–6 PM
Thursday 8 AM–6 PM
Friday 8 AM–6 PM
Saturday 8 AM–6 PM
Sunday 8 AM–6 PM

Entry & Others Fees

The entry fee is INR5 for adults.

The entry fee is free for children.

Near Restaurants

Near Hotels

How to Reach

By Air: The nearest airport to Sarnath is The Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport. It is around 15mins away from the airport to the destination. One can take taxis to reach his desired area.

By Train: The nearest railway station from Sarnath is the Varanasi Junction railhead. The Varanasi junction is located at a distance of about 10kms.

By Road: In Uttar Pradesh, the roads of Sarnath connect all the places. The deluxe and state buses are frequently available at the nearest distance from Sarnath for tourists.