Top 7 -Tourist Attractions in Sarnath

INTRODUCTION: Sarnath

Sarnath is a popular tourist place located 10 Kilometers north-east of Varanasi near the confluence of the rivers Ganges and Varuna. It is said Buddha came to Sarnath to teach about the ways of Nirvana after his enlightenment in Bodh Gaya. Emperor Ashoka had built marvelous stupas and monasteries in this place and had engraved pillars.  Historical and cultural importance of the place demands a proper Sarnath tour. Sarnath, which disappeared in the 12th century and was later rediscovered by British archeologists is one of the key sites in the Buddhist circuit. Sarnath preserves a lot of archeological pieces of evidence which add a pleasant thrill to the sightseeing in Sarnath.

Chaukhandi Stupa- Sarnath

Located 8 kilometers away from Cantt Railway station, Varanasi, the Chaukhandi Stupa had evolved from the ancient burial barrows and marked as a relic of the Buddha. It is said, Sarnath stupa was built as a terraced temple during the Gupta Period. Later the stupa is modified by Govardhan and turned into an octagonal tower in the memory of Humayun.  The Mughal ruler who visited the place during his reign. Sarnath is built on a rectangular base with an eight-edged tower.

Famous for:

• They made the monument to mark the visit of Lord Buddha
• It is an important religious site for Buddhism
• Sarnath was built between 4th and 6th Century A.D.
• The stupa has evolved from burial mounds

Visiting hours:

• The place is accessible to tourists from 6 AM to 5 PM

Duration of the visit:

• It will take over 1 hour to take an entire tour of the place. But the magnificence of the place is worth the time you spend here.

Tickets:

• There is no entry fee and you can enjoy the place with no interruption

 

Sarnath Museum- Sarnath

It is the oldest museum under the Archeological Survey of India. It preserves the evidence and excavations from the archeological sites of Sarnath. The museum stores and preserves 6,832 artifacts and sculptures. Sarnath is situated close to Varanasi. It has provided us with a rich collection of sculptures, artifacts, and edifices.

The Sarnath museum has five galleries and two verandas to display antiques ranging from 3rd century BC to 12th century AD. A visit to this museum is a must for the curious mind.

Famous for:

• It has the finest specimen of Buddhist art and artifacts.
• The most famous exhibit of the museum is the Lion Capital of Ashoka.

Visiting hours:

•  Sarnath  museum can be accessed by the general tourists from 8 AM to 6 PM

Duration of the visit:

• It will take you somewhere between 2 to 4 hours to finish your tour of the Sarnath Museum.

Tickets:

• 5 INR per person for Indian citizens
• 100 INR per person for foreign nationals

 

The Deer Park- Sarnath

Deer Park in Sarnath is not only a great enclosure made for deer to move around but it is also famous because Lord Buddha gave. His first ever religious speech, at this very place. It is a place for isolation and peace. The deer park is a prominent tourist attraction in Sarnath. It is a popular Buddhist location and is believed to be the region where Sanga was created. It was established in the year 1950 and is also popularly known as ‘Rustamji Park’. It serves as a home for various deer species.

Famous for:

• An important Buddhist location as it has the relics of Buddist monasteries and stupas
• The famous Chinese monk Huien Tsang was here and according to him, the deer park was made by the Jataka King of Benaras.

Visiting hours:

• The park opens at 9 AM and closes at 8 PM
• The park stays on Saturdays

Duration of the visit:

It will take the tourists 1 to 2 hours to cover the entire park

Tickets:

• 10 INR per person for Indian citizens
• 50 INR per person for foreign nationals

 

The Thai Temple- Sarnath

Hinayana Buddha temple or the Thai temple was developed by the Thai dignitaries in 1933. The temple’s construction is highly influenced by the Thai architectural style and it is surrounded by lush green gardens. There are three to four statues of Buddha in the temple. The Thais call it the Wat Thai Temple. This temple has a large following among the tourists and it has cemented its place in the Sarnath Travel guide. One shouldn’t miss the opportunity to experience the peaceful and relaxing environment out here. The temple is definitely one of the most prominent tourist spots in Sarnath. The 80-meter high statue of Buddha is one of the highlights of the place.

Famous for:

• The temple has a unique red-walled, white-roofed design which grabs attention
• There is an 80 meter Buddha statue on the left side of the temple which has taken over a decade to be constructed

Visiting hours:

• It opens exactly at 9 AM for the tourists and closes at 9 PM.

Duration of the visit:

• It will take 1 hour to take a complete tour of the temple

Tickets:

• Entry for all tourists is completely free of cost

 

Mulagandha Kuti Vihar- Sarnath

Mulgandha Kuti Vihar Monastery is a modern-day monastery which is set at a beautiful location. It is an ancient pilgrimage site which attracts Buddhist devotees from all around the world. The Bodhi tree under which Lord Buddha achieved enlightenment is one of the brightest spots in this beautiful place. The monastery has colorful frescoes which depict the teachings and life of Lord Buddha. The Dhammek Stupa is very near to this monastery. It is a very popular tourist site in Sarnath and has religious sentiments attached to it. The monastery was built in the year 1931 by Angarika Dharmapala, the founder of Mahabodhi society. The entrance hall is decorated by a huge bell and a golden statue of Buddha gifted by Japan.

Famous for:

• The colorful frescoes depicting the life of Buddha which were made by the famous Japanese artist Kosetsu Nosu
• The Vihara has relics of Sakyamuni Buddha
• Striking Buddhist Architecture

Visiting Hours:

• From February to November the monastery opens at 4 AM and closes at 9 PM
• The monastery is closed from 11.30 AM to 1.30 PM every day

Duration of Visit:

• It will take  1 to 2 hours to enjoy the place

Tickets

• There is no entry fee for the tourists.

 

Dhammek Stupa- Sarnath

Dhammek Stupa is a massive stupa built in 500 CE to replace an earlier structure built by King Ashoka. The Dhammek stupa is said to be the spot where Buddha gave his first religious speech to his first five Brahmin disciples. The stupa was reconstructed on six occasions but the upper portion is still incomplete. Xuanzang mentioned that the original stupa was nearly 300 feet. The current size of the stupa stands at 43.6 meters and has a diameter of 28 meters.

Famous for:

• The massive structure of the Stupa.
• Marked as a spot of religious importance.

Visiting hours:

• The place is accessible to the tourists from 10 AM till 4.30 PM
• It is closed on Fridays
• It is kept open on public holidays.

Duration of Visit:

• It will take at least 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes to tour the place.

Tickets:

• 5 INR per person for Indian citizens
• 100 INR per person for Foreign Nationals
• 25 INR for a video camera

 

Tibetan Temple- Sarnath

This Buddhist shrine is decorated with Thangka, a type of Tibetan Buddhist paintings. The temple has a statue of Shakyamuni Buddha. The temple is one of the most famous Buddhist places and is highly regarded for its Tibetan architectural style. The prayer wheel, which is located outside the temple, is rotated in a clockwise manner which in place releases paper scrolls with prayers written on them. This temple is of great cultural and religious importance and holds a special place in the Sarnath tour.

Famous For:

• Thangksa, a type of Tibetan Buddhist paintings which dominates the decoration of the temple
• It has a huge statue of Shakyamuni Buddha
• Noted for the Tibetan architectural style

Visiting Hours:

• The temple is accessible to the tourists from 5 AM to 6 PM

Duration of the Visit:

• The tour of the temple will take not more than 1 hour. The enchanting environment is hard to resist.

Tickets:

• There is no entry fee to visit this place.

About Author