Sarnath – Where Buddha Preached His First Sermon

In Sarnath, Buddha preached his first sermon to his followers. Right after he attained Nirvana under a Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya, he traveled to Sarnath to preach. That sermon he gave became the central belief of Buddhism: The Four Noble Truths and the Eight-fold Path.

Today, Sarnath is synonymous to Siddhartha Gautama Buddha.

Sarnath – Where Buddha Preached His First Sermon

There’s a humongous stupa in the place where he used to sit and preach.

Sarnath – Where Buddha Preached His First Sermon

This stupa is the most preserved in the area and it towers over the land where temples once stood.

#Sarnath – Where Buddha Preached His First Sermon (Varanasi, India)

The surrounding area still carries the ruins of the Buddhist Temples of ancient yore.

#Sarnath – Where Buddha Preached His First Sermon (Varanasi, India)

While the ruins aren’t that impressive, you’ll still find carved statues that speak of its time. Take your time in exploring the place. Sit on one of the benches there or under the trees.

#Sarnath – Where Buddha Preached His First Sermon (Varanasi, India)

The stupa itself is decorated with patterns, flowers, humans and animals.

#Sarnath – Where Buddha Preached His First Sermon (Varanasi, India)

If you’re a devout Buddhist, Sarnath is one of the ‘Holy Places” every pilgrim dreams of visiting.

#Sarnath – Where Buddha Preached His First Sermon (Varanasi, India)

Sarnath is just less than an hour away from from Varanasi. The terrible traffic would make your trip longer than expected. Take a Uber for a comfortable ride. It’s not that expensive, too.

You can stay here in less than an hour. When you exit, don’t forget to drop by the Thai Buddhist Temple and Sarnath Archaeological Museum. You can’t miss them. Both are just outside the gate.

Related Posts: 
Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat in Varanasi
The Burning of the Dead on the Banks of Ganges River