Sarnath,Uttar Pradesh india

10 kms north of Varanasi is Sarnath, one of the three holiest sites for Buddhists. It was here that after attaining enlightenment Buddha gave his first sermon in 528 BC. In 640 AD, the Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang visited this pilgrimage site and recorded his impressions of Buddhist vihara (monasteries),

a statue of the Buddha turning the wheel of law (Dharmachakra) and stupas of stone. With the resurgence of Hinduism and fading popularity of Buddhism, the site was ultimately abandoned around the 9th century AD and fell into ruins with the coming of Muslim invaders. Today, it has regained its importance in the Buddhist world and several institutions have their centres of learning at Sarnath and it is one of the most popular pilgrimage destinations among Buddhists.

Historically Speaking

After Buddha attained enlightenment he came to Sarnath where he delivered his first Sermon. He found his five former companions to teach them everything he had learnt because he believed that they would be able to understand Dharma quickly. Buddhism flourished in Sarnath with the help of the

kings and rich merchants of Varanasi. During the Gupta period it reached its peak as an important centre for the arts. By the 7th century Sarnath was home to 3000 monks and 30 monasteries. At the end of the 12th century Sarnath was plundered by Turkish Muslims. It lay completely deserted and in ruins until the early 19th century when the British began its restoration and excavation.

Shopping There is not much scope for shopping here. You can but the Ashta-dhatu (eight-metal) image of Lord Buddha or beads, rosaries, rugs or saffron robes that are available at local shops.

Events The most important festival at Sarnath is the Buddha Purnima (full moon night - May), marking the Buddha’s birth. At this time, there is a huge influx of pilgrims to see the relics of the Buddha taken out in procession.

Night Out There are many restaurants in Sarnath that offer good vegetarian food. You will also find good South Indian food here.

Activities Sarnath is a popular pilgrimage destination so most things to do here revolve around just that. You can visit the many stupas and monasteries here as well as the Ashoka pillar.

Sights The town has a cluster of stupas , monasteries and an Ashokan column , set against the serene backdrop of a deer park. The main shrine built by Ashoka (3rd century BC) and further embellished by later Gupta rulers (5th century AD) marks the spot where the Buddha meditated. It is a rectangular building, with a portion of an Ashokan Pillar to its west. The column, which was originally 15 metres high used to be crowned by the lion capital, which is now the national emblem of the Indian Union. It has four lions looking to the four cardinal points, with the wheel of law beneath them. The capital is now housed in the Archaeological Museum at Sarnath. The archaeological museum has a small but significant collection of artifacts. They include the lion capital from the Ashokan column, life-size bodhisattva figures, and a statue of the seated Buddha in a meditative pose with a halo around his head. The largest structure in the complex is the Dhamekh Stupa , dating 5th to 6th century AD, was the place where the Buddha delivered his first sermon. It has a large cylindrical tower over 33 metres high, and decorated with foliage, birds, flowers and geometric patterns. There are eight arched recesses to hold statures. The Dharmarajika stupa , built around the 3rd century BC by emperor Ashoka, is said to have contained a green marble casket with relics of the Buddha. The modern Mulagandha Kuti Vihara , built in 1931 by the Mahabodhi society with donations from followers, has become one of the most popular sites in Sarnath. The inner walls have frescoes while a huge bell from Japan dominates the entrance. A bodhi tree (peepal) planted in 1931 is a sapling from the tree in Sri Lanka, which was grown from a cutting of the original Bodhi tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment. Sarnath also has a 19th century Jain temple called the Shreyanshnath temple . There are several missions from various countries, including the Central Institute of Tibetan Studies , the Mahabodhi society , the Chinese temple , the Burmese temple , the Japanese temple and the Thai temple . The Institute of Tibetan Studies runs courses in Tibetan philosophy and Pali language, and has a good collection of ancient manuscripts.

How to get there by Air Varanasi Airport is 24 km from Sarnath and is the nearest airport.

How to get there by Rail The nearest major station is Varanasi Cantt. (6 km), which is connected to most major cities in the country. Sarnath does have a small train station, but very few trains stop here.

How to get there by Bus Long distance buses usually arrive at the station across from the Varanasi Cantt train station, where you can transfer to a local bus to Sarnath, or take a taxi or rickshaw.

Best time to Visit The best time to travel Sarnath is in the winter months from October to March.

Hotels in Uttarpradesh Sarnath has very basic accommodation to offer to tourists. Accommodation includes budget hotels and private run guest houses. Most people visiting Sarnath prefer to stay in Varanasi, approximately 13 kms away, which has a wider range of hotels to offer.

What to Pack Carry light cotton clothes if travelling in the summer and woolens if travelling in the winters as it can get pretty cold. Make sure you carry plenty of sunscreen, comfortable shoes and mosquito repellent as well.

Emergency Number Police : 100 Vaibhav Hospital : 0542 2311331 Adarsh Nurshing Home : 09341959097 Government of India Tourist Office : 0562-2363377 UPTDC : 0562-2360517

Nearby Places Chunar , approximately 35 kms from Sarnath is very well known for its polished sandstone. It has a fort on the northern spur of the Kaimur Hills, overlooking the Ganga. The fort, which was of great strategic importance, was occupied by Sher Shah Suri (1540), till it was captured by the Mughal emperor Akbar in 1575. The Mughals held it until it passed to the Nawabs of Avadh in 1750. In 1764, the British took over the fort and Warren Hastings sought refuge here after an uprising in 1781. Chunar village on the banks of the river has shops, mainly dealing in the Chunar sandstone. Varanasi also a popular pilgrim destinations is only about 10 km from Sarnath. Thronged by thousands of Hindu pilgrims each year, this place is famous for performing last rites for Hindus and the remains are scattered the Holy Ganga. There are many attractions in Varanasi including the aarti on the ghats and the boat rides along the ghats on the sacred Ganga.