š¦ Sarnath: Where Buddhism's Wheel First Turned
Located just 20km north of Varanasi, this sacred site marks where Buddha delivered his first sermon (Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta) after enlightenment. šļø Ashoka's Grand Vision (3rd Century BCE) The Mauryan emperor transformed Sarnath with:Dhamek Stupa: 34m tall, adorned with 1,400-year-old carvings of peacocks & lotus flowersAshoka Pillar: Originally 17m, now only the base remains (lion capital moved to Sarnath Museum)Monastic Complex: Once housed 1,500 monks š°ļø Then vs Now Ancient Times: A thriving Buddhist universityToday: Serene ruins with far fewer visitors than Bodh Gaya šļø Key Sites 1ļøā£ Dhamek Stupa Complex (ā¹300 foreigners)The only intact structure amidst excavated monastery foundations Look closely: Geometric patterns symbolizing Buddha's teachings 2ļøā£ Chaukhandi Stupa (Free)5th-century monument marking where Buddha met his first five disciplesOctagonal tower added later by Mughal emperor Akbar 3ļøā£ Mulagandhakuti ViharaModern temple with golden Buddha statue and frescoes of his life š Getting There Taxi: 30 mins from Varanasi (~ā¹500 roundtrip)Auto-rickshaw: Cheaper but bumpier (~ā¹300) #Sarnath Museum#Varanasi#travel guide#trip diary#India#India guide#India travel
