Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

Sarnath is a Buddhist pilgrimage site which is located close to the confluence of the Ganga and the Varuna rivers in Uttar Pradesh. There are four popular Buddhist pilgrimages in the world that are assumed to be sanctioned by Gautama Buddha himself of which one of them is Sarnath, the others being Lumbini, Bodh Gaya and Kushinagara. Gautama Buddha taught his first sermon in the Deer Park, which is now a major attraction for tourists visiting Sarnath. He also followed The Four Noble Truths and preached the Eight-fold path for a happy and content life.

Sarnath is sometimes also referred to as Isipatana. There are some ancient edifices and Buddhist architecture that stood the test of time. The world famous Ashoka pillar at Sarnath is a structure with the Ashoka Chakra that consists of four wheels at four cardinal directions and between them are four distinct animals. Four lions are rested on top of the Ashoka Chakra. The Bodhi Tree is also a crowd puller as it is a part of the actual Bodhi Tree from Bodh Gaya. Then there is the Sarnath museum which is cited by the Archaeological Survey of India as the most antiquated museum. It contains all the Buddhist discoveries and ancient remains of the Sarnath archaeological site. The Chaukhandi Stupa is a terraced temple which marks the spot where Gautama Buddha and his disciples had their first encounter on their way to Sarnath from Bodh Gaya. The Stupa has Buddha’s relics enshrined with an architecture that is an amalgamation of diverse cultures. The Dhamek Stupa was built by Emperor Ashoka to radiate the teachings of Buddha all over the world.

Buddhist art and architecture have flourished and people from across the world flock to Sarnath today to witness the histrionic monuments of the bygone era. Buddhism is a dominant faith in countries like Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Japan, Singapore, China and many others.

Timings

Sarnath Temple and Museum open at 06:00 AM to 07:00 PM

Entry Fees

20 INR (online payment) or 25 INR (cash payment) per person for Indian/SAARC/BIMSTEC tourist and 250 INR (online payment) or 300 INR (cash payment) per person for foreign tourist. (Childrens upto 15 years of age allow free entry)

Photography

Free of cost

Videography

25 INR per video Camera

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Lily Smith
12 November 2018
It was an peaceful journey to the Sarnath. There is a group of statues showing the Buddha giving his first sermon to his five disciples. I just loved this place....
Lets just sing in complete harmony the sacred hymns: Buddham Sharanam Gachhami

Questions & Answers

Get quick answers from travelers who visit to Sarnath, Varanasi.

ranjana gujrati
08 September 2021

What is the timing of Opening and closing of the temple? As on different websites, different timings have been given. ?