Sarnath is an important site for the Buddhist pilgrims and one of the four holy sites for Buddhists following the Life of the Buddha.

After the Buddha achieved Enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, He scoured the surroundings for potential disciples who could understand His Teachings.  He remembered His five followers who left the Shakya Kingdom and discovered that they were residing at a deer park near Sarnath. 

The Buddha went to Sarnath where He delivered His first sermon to the five disciples.  They quickly understood His Teaching and thus the Sangha in Buddhism was established, completing the Triple Gem of the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.

The Buddha’s first sermon is known as the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (Pali) or The Setting in Motion of the Wheel of the Dharma Sutta.  During this sermon, the Buddha taught the Four Noble Truths.  

After the Buddha entered Parinirvana, Sarnath continued to grow as an important Buddhist centre. The great Mauryan emperor, Asoka constructed the Dharmarajika Stupa to enshrine relics of the Buddha.  Today, the Dharmarajika Stupa is no more but its ruins can still be viewed at the sprawling grounds of Sarnath.

In later centuries during the Kushan and Gupta periods, Sarnath developed to become an important centre of Buddhist scholars and art.  Over time, Buddhism disappeared from India and Sarnath entered into obscurity until the arrival of the British archaeologists.   During the 1800s and early 1900s, they made numerous discoveries related to Sarnath’s glorious past and these artefacts (one major piece is the Lion Capital of the Asokan Pillar) are now displayed at the Archaeological Museum of Sarnath.

The most striking building in Sarnath today is the Dhamekh Stupa.  According to an inscription marked 1026 AD, the Dhamekh Stupa stands on the site of the old Dhamra Chakra Stupa, a stupa built to mark the spot where the Buddha gave His first sermon.

Next to the Dharmekh Stupa are open spaces for devotees to pray, chant, meditate or simply bask in the serene surroundings.

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