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Sarnath - A Buddhist Pilgrimage Center

Distance : 10km northeast of Varanasi

Sarnath is a much-frequented pilgrim centre not only for the Buddhists but for the Jains and Hindus as well. The site has some Buddhist stupas ( hemispheric Buddhist funerary mound) which, albeit in ruins now, must once have been imposing monuments.


¤ Major Attractions

Dhamekh Stupa
Built in the 5th-6th century a.d., the Dhamekh Stupais the tallest of them. The fine quality of brickwork is more than evident in this stupa which has a high cylindrical dome.

Dharmarajika Stupa
At a short distance from the Dhamekh Stupa, is the Dharmarajika Stupa, yet another important architectural marvel here. Built by Ashoka in the 3^rd century b.c., it underwent several alterations till the 12th century a.d.

Ashoka’s Column
Not far from the stupa is the highly polished Ashoka’s Column, with the four lions that are a sculptural delight to behold. These lions have been removed to the Archaeological Museum near Sarnath, and adopted as the emblem of the Indian Union.

Mulagandhakuti Vihara Temple
Besides the stupas, Sarnath has some Buddhist temples. The most important amongst these is the Mulagandhakuti Vihara Temple. Built in 1931, the temple has fine mural paintings depicting the Buddha’s life-story. The Chinese and the Tibetan temples are also very beautiful.

Deer Park
The Deer Park at Sarnath is sacred to the Jains, as it is the birthplace of the 11th Jain Tirthankar, Shyeyanshnath. 18km from Sarnath, a Jain temple has been built at Chandrapuri that was the birthplace of the 8th Jain Tirthankar, Chandraprabhu.