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Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, India is a famous Buddhist pilgrimage center.
It was here at the Deer park that Buddha gave his first sermon (Dharmachakra
Parivartan) to his five disciples. Sarnath is located very close to
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, another popular pilgrimage center in India.
Sarnath Attractions
Given its rich cultural history Sarnath has a large number of archaeological
remains, to reconstruct the history of its glorious past. In an adventurous
excursion to Sarnath you will get a good opportunity to make a tryst
with the illustrious history of this popular religious destination.
Buddhist Stupas and Viharas
Various Buddhist structures like Stupas and Viharas are available in
Sarnath. Prominent among these are Dhamekha Stupa, Chaukhandi Stupa,
and Mulagandhakuti Vihara.
The Dhamekha Stupa was constructed by Mauryan King Ashoka. The stupa
is 31.3 m high and 28.3 m in diameter.
Chaukhandi Stupa, originally belonging to the Gupta period, was largely
reconstructed during the Mughal period. It is believed that the stupa
is located at the place where Lord Buddha met his five disciples.
Mulagandhakuti Vihara, though available only in ruins, is the place
where Buddha spent his first rainy season. Mulagandha Kuti Vihar has
been reconstructed by the Mahabodhi Society. Apart from its architectural
magnificence the monument is also important due to its rich assemblage
of Buddhist literature.
Other Attractions
Mauryan King Ashoka the Great is associated with the tradition of erecting
several pillar and rock inscriptions. At Sarnath a pillar was erected,
which had four lions as its capital. The four-lion capital has been
adopted as the emblem of the republic of India.
You can catch a large number of relics and images of Buddha and Bodhisattva,
excavated from Sarnath, in the Sarnath museum .The museum also houses
the world famous Sarnath Pillar.
How to Reach Sarnath
By Air: The nearest airport to Sarnath is Varanasi. All major airlines
operate regular flights to Varanasi from other prominent cities of India.
By Rail: The nearest Railhead for Sarnath is also Varanasi. A large
number of important trains link Varanasi to the rest of India.
By Road: Sarnath lies just 10 kms away from Varanasi by road. Varanasi
is well connected to a number of other important cities in India.
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History
of Agra
