Places to Visit in Sarnath

Top attractions and must-see spots in Sarnath

Landmarks

Landmarks
Ashoka Pillar Ruins
Remains of Emperor Ashoka's 3rd century BCE pillar at Sarnath, whose Lion Capital became India's National Emblem.
Landmarks
Burmese Monastery (Dharmodaya Sabha)
The Burmese Monastery at Sarnath, run by the Dharmodaya Sabha, is one of the prominent Theravada institutions in the international monastery cluster near the Dhamek Stupa. Built in a style reflecting Burmese Buddhist temple architecture, it offers a serene space for meditation and religious observance. Monks from Myanmar reside here and conduct regular ceremonies, contributing to Sarnath's identity as a living, multination centre of Buddhist practice and pilgrimage.
Landmarks
Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies
The Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies (CIHTS), established in 1967 and deemed a university in 1988, is India's premier institution for Tibetan language, culture, and Buddhist philosophy. Located in Sarnath, it preserves rare Tibetan manuscripts, texts, and thangka traditions at risk of extinction following the Tibetan diaspora. The institute houses an outstanding museum of Tibetan art and artefacts, making it an essential visit for those interested in Himalayan Buddhism and living cultural heritage.
Landmarks
Chaukhandi Stupa
The stupa at Sarnath marking where Buddha first met his five disciples after enlightenment, with a Mughal octagonal tower added in the 16th century.
Landmarks
Dhamek Stupa
A 43-metre Gupta period stupa at Sarnath marking where Buddha delivered his first sermon, covered in intricate carvings and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Landmarks
Dharmarajika Stupa
An original Ashokan stupa at Sarnath, largely demolished in 1794 for building material, with only its circular base surviving as an important archaeological remnant.
Landmarks
Japanese Temple (Nichigai Suzan Horinji)
A Japanese Nichiren Buddhist temple near Sarnath's Dhamek Stupa, reflecting the international pilgrimage significance of the site of Buddha's first sermon.
Landmarks
Mulagandha Kuti Vihar
A 1931 Buddhist temple at Sarnath adorned with magnificent Japanese frescoes of the Buddha's life, housing genuine relics and a Bodhi tree sapling.
Landmarks
Sarnath Archaeological Museum
India's oldest site museum at Sarnath, housing the original Lion Capital of Ashoka (India's National Emblem) and a masterpiece Gupta standing Buddha.
Landmarks
Sarnath Archaeological Ruins Complex
The Sarnath Archaeological Ruins Complex encompasses the excavated remains of monasteries, shrines, and sacred structures unearthed during British-era and subsequent ASI digs across the Deer Park zone. Foundations of the Kutagarasala Vihara, votive stupas, and monastic cells dating from the Mauryan to Gupta periods lie exposed within the enclosure. Walking the ruins alongside the Dhamek and Dharmarajika stupas gives visitors a tangible sense of Sarnath as a thriving monastic university town before its 12th-century decline.
Landmarks
Sarnath Deer Park (Mrigadava)
The sacred deer grove at Sarnath where Buddha delivered his first sermon — the birthplace of Buddhist teachings, with ancient ruins and deer still present today.
Landmarks
Thai Temple (Wat Thai Sarnath)
A Thai government Buddhist temple at Sarnath featuring gilded Thai-style architecture, part of the remarkable international monastery complex at Buddha's first sermon site.
Landmarks
Tibetan Temple & Monastery
A Tibetan monastery at Sarnath with vibrant murals of Buddhist cosmology, prayer wheels, and daily monk ceremonies at the site of Buddha's first sermon.

Scenic Spots

Scenic Spots
Sarnath Garden
The Sarnath Garden comprises the landscaped grounds maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India surrounding the core monument zone. Well-kept lawns, flowering trees, and shaded pathways frame the ancient stupas and monastery ruins, making the space as much a meditative promenade as a heritage circuit. Early mornings here are especially tranquil, with monks in robes circumambulating the Dhamek Stupa against birdsong and gentle light. The garden setting elevates a site visit into something closer to a contemplative experience.

Places to Visit in Sarnath

Landmarks

Ashoka Pillar Ruins

Burmese Monastery (Dharmodaya Sabha)

Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies

Chaukhandi Stupa

Dhamek Stupa

Dharmarajika Stupa

Japanese Temple (Nichigai Suzan Horinji)

Mulagandha Kuti Vihar

Sarnath Archaeological Museum

Sarnath Archaeological Ruins Complex

Sarnath Deer Park (Mrigadava)

Thai Temple (Wat Thai Sarnath)

Tibetan Temple & Monastery

Scenic Spots

Sarnath Garden

Temple

Chinese Temple (Chini Mandir)

Digambar Jain Temple

Korean Temple (Koreana Buddhist Temple)

Explore Sarnath

Places to Visit in Sarnath

Landmarks

Ashoka Pillar Ruins

Burmese Monastery (Dharmodaya Sabha)

Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies

Chaukhandi Stupa

Dhamek Stupa

Dharmarajika Stupa

Japanese Temple (Nichigai Suzan Horinji)

Mulagandha Kuti Vihar

Sarnath Archaeological Museum

Sarnath Archaeological Ruins Complex

Sarnath Deer Park (Mrigadava)

Thai Temple (Wat Thai Sarnath)

Tibetan Temple & Monastery

Scenic Spots

Sarnath Garden

Temple

Chinese Temple (Chini Mandir)

Digambar Jain Temple

Korean Temple (Koreana Buddhist Temple)