Dhamekh Stupa & Monastery Ruins
Sarnath
Set in a peaceful park containing monastery ruins is this impressive 34m stupa, marking the spot where the Buddha preached his first sermon. The floral…
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Sarnath
Buddha came to Sarnath to preach his message of the middle way to nirvana after he achieved enlightenment at Bodhgaya, and gave his famous first sermon at the deer park here in Isipatana. In the 3rd century BC, Emperor Ashoka erected magnificent stupas and monasteries here, as well as an engraved pillar. When Chinese traveler Xuan Zang dropped by in AD 640, Sarnath boasted a 328ft-high stupa (100m) and 1500 monks living in large monasteries. However, soon after, Buddhism went into decline, and when Muslim invaders sacked the city in the late 12th century, Sarnath disappeared altogether. It was only ‘rediscovered’ by British archaeologists in 1835.
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Sarnath
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Sarnath
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Sarnath
This large, ruined stupa dates back to the 5th century AD, and marks the spot where Buddha met his first disciples. The incongruous tower on top of the…
Sarnath
Somewhat simple on the outside, this temple features a reclining Buddha carved from sandalwood inside the main shrine.
Sarnath
The Burmese Temple features a triple-pagoda roof and several statues of the Buddha, set in lush gardens.
Sarnath
One of the simpler temples in Sarnath. The entrance is between two red pillars.
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