Sarnath

Sarnath is popular as the place where Gautam Buddha first taught the teachings of Dharma after his enlightenment. Located 13 kilometers east of Varanasi, Sarnath was initially a deer park which became the birthplace of the Buddhist Sangha, and is one of the major pilgrimage spot for the Buddhist in India. Sarnath means 'Lord of the deer' and was established by the King of Benares who created this town as a sanctuary for the deer.

History
According to the history of Sarnath, the Chinese traveler Hiouen Thsang had mentioned that the Deer Park at Sarnath was actually the forest that was gifted by the King of Benares of the Jataka as a place where the deer can roam around freely. Therefore, the place was named as ‘Migadaya’.

History of Sarnath India also mentions that the first preaching delivered by the Buddha at Sarnath is known in Pali as the Dhammacakkhapavathana Sutta. Other Suttas delivered here include Anattalakhana Sutta and the Saccavibhanga Sutta. The Buddha's main teachings after his enlightenment revolved around the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.

Sarnath came to be a major center of the Sammatiya school of Buddhism, one of the Nikaya or Hinayana schools. The occurrence of images of Heruka and Tara at Sarnath monasteries indicate that Vajrayana Buddhism also flourished here.

Tourist Attractions

Dhamekh Stupa
Built in 500 AD, the Dhamekh Stupa marks the place where Buddha first taught Dharma after receiving Bodhisattva. The Dhamekh Stupa is a massive 43.6 meter tall cylindrical building with a diameter of 28 meters and is built with bricks and stone. The various stone carvings and sculptures in the building are exemplary of the Gupta artisans and the inscriptions are also amazing.

Chaukhandi Stupa
Another important Buddhist Stupa in Sarnath is the Chaukhandi Stupa that marks the exact location of the spot where Lord Buddha met his first disciple. The building was given an octagonal structure to welcome the visit of the Mughal Ruler Humayun and was originally built during the 4th and the 6th centuries by the Gupta Kings.

Sarnath Archaeological Museum
The Sarnath Archeological Museum houses the famous Lion Capital of Ashoka which is also India’s National Emblem. The various antiquities stored at this museum date between the 3rd century BC and 12th century AD. Many of the artifacts and manuscripts housed here are important archeological findings that are related to Buddhism.

How to Reach
By Air - The nearest airport to Sarnath is in Varanasi. Varanasi Airport at Babatpur is located about 30 km from Sarnath.

By Rail - Sarnath has a railway station of its own, which is connected to Varanasi and Gorakhpur by passenger trains. The nearest railhead to Sarnath is at Varanasi too, which is one of the major railway junctions in the region.

By Road - Sarnath is well connected with other parts of the state by decent roadways. Varanasi is well connected by bus with major cities like Lucknow, Bareilly, Kanpur, Allahabad, Agra and Mathura. Regular buses run by Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation as well as private operators ply from Varanasi to these destinations.