Sarnath City Guide
After attaining enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, Buddha went to Sarnath. It was here that Buddha delivered his first sermon. The Ashoka pillar and ruins of other monuments built by Buddha can be seen here.
Sarnath, a holy place for Buddhist all over the world, is known for being the first place where Buddha delivered his lecture after attaining enlightenment. This place was one of the favorite places of lord Buddha. Sarnath is also known for the buildings and monuments constructed by Ashoka the great. Ashoka spread Budhism all over and Sarnath was specially focused upon by him. The Ashoka stambh and ruins of other monuments make Sarnath a place, worth visit.
Sarnath has been a major Buddist learning centre during its glorious days. Currently the city lies in peace, away from the hustle-bustle of cities. The place has also attained fame as the governments of Sri Lanka, Japan and other countries have paid a special attention here and are building some monuments and temples related to Budha.
Apart from these historic monuments, there are also several modern temples to see in Sarnath i.e., the Burmese, Chinese, Korean and Thai temples, three Tibetan temples and a Japanese temple. The new Vidyadhara Tibetan Institute behind the Deer Park is another attraction of the place.
Must Visit Places in Sarnath
The Stupas : The great Dhamekh stupa and Dharmarajika stupas stand testimony to the great Buddhist works. The most notable structure at Sarnath, is the cylindrical Dhamek stupa, 28 m in diameter at the base and rising to 43.6 m in height. Dhamek stupa is built partly of stone and partly of brick. The stone facing the lower part is beautified with delicate floral carvings of Gupta period.
Sarnath Museum : The Archaeological Museum of Sarnath is one of the most famous museums of its kind in entire South-Asia. Locally known as Sarnath Museum, Archeological Museum of Sarnath is a splendid building built early this century and stands adjacent to the historical ruins. The museum contains a large collection of sculptures that stands testimony to the fervent artistic and religious activity at Sarnath for more than a thousand years.
Accommodation
There are not many accommodation options available in Sarnath. It is better and more convenient to stay in Varanasi, where a number of accommodation options are available in all the three different categories. We have engaged ourselves with the best of the hotels in all the categories ranging from luxury to budget to provide you complete satisfaction. The hotels are set in homely atmosphere, providing best of facilities and services.
Excursions from Sarnath
Chunar is about 40 km from Varanasi and is known for the Chunar fort. The Chunar fort looks beautiful upon the Kaimur Hills that provides a fantastic view of the meandering Ganga River. This is the same 'Churnargarh', on which the famous Hindi classical novelist Devinandan Khatri based his renowned work 'Chandrakanta'. Another important and historical place around Varanasi is Jaunpur. The Tughlaq ruler, Feroz Shah built Jaunpur in 1360. It was built to guard the eastern frontier of the kingdom. The town still has some of the beautiful monuments of that period.
Vindhyachal is about 90 km from Varanasi and is one of the several Shaktipeeths in India, which is believed to be the abode of Goddess Durga. Besides these cities and towns, one may also visit the Kaimoor Wildlife Sanctuary spread over an area of 500 sq km and the Chandra Prabha Wildlife Sanctuary. Chandra Prabha Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the Chandauli district and has rich flora and fauna. Kushinagar is yet another important excursion point around Varanasi. Lord Buddha breathed his last at Kushinagar.
