Sarnath Travel Guide
Sarnath is one of the important locations to visit during North India city tours. This is the place where Gautama Buddha first spread his message after achieving enlightenment in Bodh Gaya under the Bodhi Tree. The name of the place comes from Saranganatha (meaning ‘Lord of the Deer’). In a deer park, the Buddha preached his first sermon which marked the initial journey of the Wheel of Law (Maha Dharmachakra Pravartan.). Before he died, the Buddha asked his followers to consider four places to be sacred. One of them is Sarnath, the other three being Bodh Gaya, Lumbini and Kushinagar. The place has a large number of ruins connected to the Buddha. There is a stupa built by Ashoka, the Mauryan Emperor, who became a devoted follower of Budddhism. On the auspicious day of Buddha Purnima, there is a large fair in Sarnath to observe the three memorable events of the Buddha’s life--- birth, nirvana (enlightenment) and death.
Places to see:
There are a number of places in Sarnath drawing great many tourists all over the year. Some of the popular places are:- Chaukhandi Stupa
- Dhammek Stupa
- Mulagandha Kuti Vihar
- Sarnath Museum
Shopping:
There are a number of shops near the archaeological museum at Sarnath where you can do your shopping. The shops sell intricately designed minute idols of Buddha as well as animals, birds, etc. These are usually made of marble and other stones, and can be bought as gifts or mementoes.Where to stay:
There are good accommodation facilities in Sarnath, comprising of hotels with neatly furnished rooms where all the necessary amenities are provided. There are beautiful gardens surrounding the places of stay. We would like to suggest the following hotels- Jain Paying Guest House
How to reach Sarnath:
By Road: As far as road distance is concerned, Sarnath is around 10 km from Varanasi, which in turn is connected to other major cities in India.By Rail: Like the airport, the closest railway station to Sarnath is also Varanasi, which is one of the most important Railway Stations in the area. A number of trains run from Varanasi to other parts of India.
By Air: Sarnath is nearest to the airport at Varanasi. Being an important domestic airport in India, there are regular flights to Varanasi operated by almost all private and public airlines. The flights connect Varanasi to major cities like Mumbai, Delhi and Khajuraho.
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