Located in the sacred state of Uttar Pradesh, Sarnath is a place of immense religious importance especially for the followers of Buddhism. This is the place where Buddha gave his first sermon; hence this is considered a holy place for all Buddhists. This is one of the 4 places which are associated with the life of Buddha. Sarnath Buddhist temple attracts a lot of visitors throughout the year who come here to seek blessings and understand more about Buddha. This place has a calm and quiet environment and is of historical importance as well. You will also learn about the tales of Buddhism and the deep-rooted beliefs and cultures of people associated with it. Explore the beautiful green gardens, meditation halls and the fascinating architecture of this temple. If you are travelling to Varanasi, this place should definitely be a part of your itinerary.
The Significance Of The Sarnath Buddhist Temple
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Buddhism is a widespread religion whose followers come from various parts of the world. This religion started with Buddha who was originally known as Siddharta Gautama. He was born into a royal family and was kept far away from all the realities of life. One day, while he was out with his charioteer, he saw a sick man, an old man, a corpse and a monk, which made him curious about the realities of life. He then left his palace to search for the answers to his questions.
He decided to sit under a Bodhi tree till he found enlightenment. Once he founded enlightenment, he was called ‘Buddha’ which meant ‘The Enlightened One”. His values were centred around basic principles of compassion (Karuna), peace, (metta) fellow feeling and dhamma (act of righteousness). After the death of Buddha, all his preachings and teachings were converted into scriptures by his followers who wanted those principles to stay with them forever. These followers later established the ideology of Buddhism. Buddhism considers four places as very auspicious because they are related to Buddha. The 4 places are:
- Lumbini, where Buddha was born
- Bodhgaya, where he attained enlightenment
- Sarnath, where he gave his first sermon
- Kusinagara, where he attained nirvana
Sarnath is also important because it is believed the first Buddhist sangha was formed here. After the establishment of Buddhism, Emperor Ashoka further contributed to the making of stupas and the propagation of Buddhism. On the guilt of invading Kalinga, emperor Ashoka is said to have transformed from Chandashoka to Dharmashoka, meaning from a violent personality to a non-violent one and had accepted to follow the path of Buddhism. King Ashoka then further played a significant role in the spreading of dhamma. He also appointed people known as dhamma mahamatta, whose sole purpose was to spread the principles of dhamma. This Sarnath Buddhist temple has a Dhamek Stupa complex, where the ruins of the Dhamek stupa, Ashokan pillar etc are well preserved. This place also has an archaeological museum which has a lot of precious artefacts preserved for people to see. The highlight is the top of the Ashokan pillar and the evening light and sound show.
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Entry Fees And Rules
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All the people of India are required to pay a fee of INR 20, while the foreign visitors have to pay INR 250 as entry fees. There is free entry for all the children below the age of 15. As this is a place of religious importance, wearing decent clothes is a requirement. Shoes are not permitted inside, so you must take off your shoes outside the temple before entering it. Littering or damaging any property within the temple premises is strictly prohibited. This place has ruins of important structures like the Dhamek stupa, Ashokan pillar, etc. People are expected to be careful with those. You are expected to be respectful towards your fellow devotees. Photography is generally allowed but might be restricted inside the main shrine.
Activities To Do In Sarnath Buddhist Temple
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Photography: Visitors can capture the beauty of the place with their cameras and click pictures outside the main shrine and in the beautiful streets.
Meditation: Visitors can also participate in meditation sessions inside the shrine to achieve a sense of peace and calmness.
Explore Archeological Museum: People who like exploring different museums and learning about the past can explore the museum inside to observe different artefacts and know about people’s rich culture and traditions.
Nature Lovers: All the nature lovers are going to enjoy the garden area which is surrounded by flowers and gives a sense of peace and relaxes your mind.
Visiting Nearby Tourist Attractions: While you are here, you can also visit some nearby tourist places such as Chaukhandi stupa, Ramnagar Fort, Ashoka Pillar, Varanasi, Thai temple, Manikarnika Ghat, etc.
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Locations And Best Time To Visit
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Sarnath Buddhist temple is located in the holy land of Varanasi, one of the ancient cities and the cultural hub of India. You can reach this place by road, rail or airways. The nearest airport is Varanasi Airport in Babatpur which is approximately 12 kilometres away. This temple stays open from 6:00 am in the morning till 6:00 pm. The museum stays open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm except on Fridays and other public holidays.
Although this place stays open in all seasons, you can witness the real charm of this place in winter from October to March during the cooler months. Winter is a great time to visit this place and witness the real beauty of the temple. The climate is pleasant and cool, so you can feel comfortable. The time during the annual festival of Buddha Purnima is also a great time to visit, you can witness the festive lights and colourful charm of that place.
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We provided you with the list of all the details you need to know if you are planning a trip to Sarnath Buddhist Temple. Explore more on your next trip to Uttar Pradesh . Plan a trip, to explore this scenic splendour. So, what are you waiting for? Start packing your bags now!
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Cover Image Credit: Yusuke Kawasaki for wikimedia commons
Frequently Asked Questions About Sarnath Buddhist Temple
What is the significance of the Sarnath Buddhist Temple?
Sarnath is the place where Buddha gave his first sermon. It is of importance also because it is believed the first Buddhist sangha was formed here. Sarnath also has a lot of stupas from old to modern ones. The highlight is the top of the Ashokan pillar and the evening light and sound show.
How much money do we have to pay to visit this place? Are there any entrance fees?
All the people of India are required to pay a fee of INR 20, while the foreign visitors have to pay INR 250 as entry fees. There is free entry for all the children below the age of 15.
What is the best season to visit the Sarnath Buddhist Temple?
This temple stays open from 6:00 am in the morning till 6:00 pm. Although this place stays open in all the seasons, you can witness the real charm of this place in winter during the months of October to March during the cooler months. Winters are a great time to visit this place and witness the real beauty of the temple. The climate is pleasant and cool so you can feel comfortable. The time during the annual festival of Buddha Purnima is also a great time to visit, you can witness the festive lights and colourful charm of that place.
What are some tourist places that I can visit nearby?
While you are here, you can also visit some nearby tourist places such as Chaukhandi stupa, Ramnagar Fort, Ashoka Pillar, Varanasi, Thai temple, Manikarnika Ghat, Dasaswamedh Ghat, etc.
What other structures are there inside the Sarnath Buddhist temple?
This Sarnath Buddhist temple has a Dhamek Stupa complex, where the ruins of the Dhamek stupa, Ashokan pillar etc are well preserved. This place also has an archaeological museum which has a lot of precious artefacts preserved for people to see. The highlight is the top of the Ashokan pillar and the evening light and sound show.
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