Visit Sarnath one of the four most important Buddhist pilgrimage destinations in the world

Sarnath, along with Bodhgaya and Kushinagar in India and Lumbini in Nepal, is one of the four most important Buddhist pilgrimage destinations in the world.

Sarnath, along with Bodhgaya and Kushinagar in India, and Lumbini in Nepal, is one of the four most important Buddhist pilgrimage destinations in the world. It has special significance because it's the place where the Buddha gave his first sermon. However, you don't have to be Buddhist to enjoy visiting it. Sarnath also makes a peaceful and refreshing side trip from Varanasi. Many people are surprised to discover Sarnath has Jain and Hindu connections too.

Main attractions in Sarnath
Bodhi tree
This tree is grown from a cut taken from the original Bodhi tree of Bodh Gaya. There is a Sri Lankan monastery near the tree.

Thai Temple
Thai temple is a monastery that is built in Thai architecture style. The Buddha statue in the Thai temple is the most predominant attraction. This statue is the one that you can spot from Chaukhandi Stupa. A lush garden is located outside the temple. It is know for its calm surrounding.

Tibetan Temple
This shrine is built in Tibetan style. The temple has a statue of Shakyamuni, a form of Buddha. Prayer wheels are found outside the temple. On rotating the wheel, you can find paper scrolls releasing from the wheels. The scrolls contain the prayers.

Archeological museum of Sarnath
This museum holds Artifacts from 3rd century to 12th century. The museum was inaugurated in 1910. The museum is open from 9 in the morning until 5 in the evening.

Ashoka Pillar
Ashoka Pillar marks the visit of King Ashoka to Sarnath. This 50m long pillar has four lions on top of it. This is the emblem of the country. Below the lions, there are four animals; bull, lion, elephant and horse. These four represent the phases of Lord Buddha’s life. There is another pre-Ashokan pillar which marks the spot of the first sermon of Lord Buddha.

Mulagandhakuti Vihara
This is the main attraction of Sarnath. It is a large tower temple which is 110 ft tall. This is the place where Lord Buddha lived when he visits Sarnath. A Buddha Walk made with blue stone and a small lake that borders a park are some of the attractions near this temple. A small zoo is also found near the temple.