About ten kilometers from Varanasi lies Sarnath, the deer park where the Buddha is said to have delivered his first sermon after attaining enlightenment. It is one of the four most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the world, and an easy half day trip from the city.
Why Sarnath Matters
After reaching enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, the Buddha traveled to Sarnath and taught the Dharma to his first five disciples, an event known as the turning of the wheel of law. That single sermon marks the beginning of Buddhism as an organized teaching, which is why Sarnath draws pilgrims and scholars from across the world.
The Dhamek Stupa
The most striking structure on site is the Dhamek Stupa, a cylindrical brick and stone tower roughly 44 meters tall, believed to mark the exact spot of the first sermon. Its carved geometric bands are still visible on the lower section despite centuries of weathering.
The Ashoka Pillar
Emperor Ashoka erected a pillar at Sarnath in the third century BC, topped by four lions facing in four directions. That lion capital is now the national emblem of India, and the broken remains of the original pillar can still be seen near the stupa.
The Archaeological Museum
Just outside the main park, the Sarnath Archaeological Museum houses the original Ashoka lion capital along with a substantial collection of Buddhist sculpture recovered from the site. It is a manageable size and well worth an hour of your visit.
The Mulagandha Kuti Vihar
A modern temple built in the 1930s, decorated with murals depicting the life of the Buddha, painted by a Japanese artist. A large bodhi tree grown from a cutting of the original tree in Bodh Gaya stands just outside.
Planning the Trip from Rivera Palace
Sarnath is roughly a thirty minute drive from Rivera Palace, and most guests comfortably cover the main sites in three to four hours. Our front desk can arrange a car and driver for the morning, leaving you back in the city in time for lunch and an afternoon by the ghats.