Went to Sarnath on Dec 11, 2008. Sarnath is less than 30k from Varnasi.. but road conditions and the crowd make it a ardous journey.

Sarnath is where Gautama Buddha first preached to 5 of his disciples..

Also, we saw a huge tomb built by King Asoka plus the excavations of a huge Monstary..

Overall a nice place to visit..

Didn't have time to visit a Govt run museum.. that's where the Ashoka Chakra.. emblem of India is kept..

Trip to Varanasi and Sarnath in India.

Trip to Varanasi and Sarnath in India.

Trip to Varanasi and Sarnath in India.

Blame Mughal invaders, among others.

sarnath

Sarnath - Site of Buddha's first sermon (Dharma Chakra Pravartana - The Turning of the Wheel).

Holy City for Buddhists - First sermon by Lord Gautama Buddha

sarnath

India

Sunday 2/18/18 - 243 BC - remaining pieces of pillar - lion capital is in adjoining museum which we saw.

devout buddhist and teacher

Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

Dharmek Stupa

India Sarnath 2003

Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

Dharmek Stupa

in Sarnath

Sarnath

Went to Sarnath on Dec 11, 2008. Sarnath is less than 30k from Varnasi.. but road conditions and the crowd make it a ardous journey.

Sarnath is where Gautama Buddha first preached to 5 of his disciples..

Also, we saw a huge tomb built by King Asoka plus the excavations of a huge Monstary..

Overall a nice place to visit..

Didn't have time to visit a Govt run museum.. that's where the Ashoka Chakra.. emblem of India is kept..

This gigantic silo-like building is said to mark where Buddha presented his eightfold path to nirvana and has been here since 500 C.E.

The monumental stupa is a sacred place for Buddhists. Buddhists come from all over the world to circle around it, as it is where Buddha delivered his first sermon.

Visitors have pasted gold leaf to the structure as a sign of devotion.