Sarnath

About Sarnath

Sarnath, about 10 kilometers from Varanasi, is one of Buddhism's holiest pilgrimage sites — the place where Gautama Buddha delivered his first sermon after attaining enlightenment, founding the Buddhist Sangha and setting his teachings into motion. It was historically known as Mrigadava (Deer Park) or Isipatana.

The site flourished as a center of art and learning under Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE and through the Gupta period, before falling into ruin after Turkic invasions. Archaeological excavations and the Maha Bodhi Society later restored its prominence in the 20th century.