Varanasi Trip Overview
Varanasi is regarded as the spiritual capital of India, thus attracting a lot of people every day. The city has many temples dedicated to different deities holding great importance in the Hindu religion. But since India is home to diversity where many religions are practiced, Varanasi is no different. Out of which Buddhism is one of the major religions practiced in India.
Buddha came to Sarnath to preach his message of the middle way to nirvana after he achieved enlightenment at Bodhgaya, and gave his famous first sermon at the deer park here in Isipatana. Emperor Ashoka erected magnificent stupas and monasteries here, as well as an engraved pillar. When Chinese traveler Xuan Zang dropped by, Sarnath boasted a 100m-high stupa and 1500 monks living in large monasteries. However, soon after, Buddhism went into decline, and when Muslim invaders sacked the city, Sarnath disappeared altogether. It was only ‘rediscovered’ by British archaeologists.
Additional Info
Duration: 6 hours
Starts: Varanasi, India
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Varanasi Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
Varanasi is regarded as the spiritual capital of India, thus attracting a lot of people every day. The city has many temples dedicated to different deities holding great importance in the Hindu religion. But since India is home to diversity where many religions are practiced, Varanasi is no different. Out of which Buddhism is one of the major religions practiced in India.
Buddha came to Sarnath to preach his message of the middle way to nirvana after he achieved enlightenment at Bodhgaya, and gave his famous first sermon at the deer park here in Isipatana. Emperor Ashoka erected magnificent stupas and monasteries here, as well as an engraved pillar. When Chinese traveler Xuan Zang dropped by, Sarnath boasted a 100m-high stupa and 1500 monks living in large monasteries. However, soon after, Buddhism went into decline, and when Muslim invaders sacked the city, Sarnath disappeared altogether. It was only ‘rediscovered’ by British archaeologists.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Sarnath Via-Anlabereni, Varanasi 759026 India
Sarnath is a place located 10 kilometers north-east of Varanasi city near the confluence of the Ganges and the Varuna rivers in Uttar Pradesh, India. The deer park in Sarnath is where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma, and where the Buddhist Sangha came into existence through the enlightenment of Kondanna.
Travel with us to the ruins of Sarnath, Mauryan period brickwork, and visit the surrounding temples of various countries associated with Buddhism.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Archaeological Buddhist Remains of Sarnath, Rishpattan Rd, Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221007, India
Stroll through Buddhist old buildings which take back you in time, if you are lucky you may meet some of the monks and click pictures and understand more about Buddhism.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Dhamek Stupa, Rishipattan Road 13 Km From Varanasi, Varanasi 221007 India
Dhamek Stupa also spelled Dhamekh and Dhamekha, traced to Sanskrit version Dharmarajika Stupa, which can be translated as the Stupa of the reign of Dharma)
Stupas originated as pre-Buddhist tumuli, in which ascetics were buried in a seated position, called chaitya. After the parinirvana of the Buddha, his remains were cremated and the ashes divided and buried under eight mounds with two further mounds encasing the urn and the embers. Little is known about these early stupas, particularly since it has not been possible to identify the original ten monuments. However, some later stupas, such as at Sarnath and Sanchi, seem to be embellishments of earlier mounds. The Dhamek Stupa was built in 500 CE to replace an earlier structure commissioned by the great Mauryan king Ashoka in 249 BCE, along with several other monuments, to commemorate the Buddha’s activities in this location. Stupas originated as circular mounds encircled by large stones. King Ashoka built stupas to enshrine small pieces of calcinated bone and other relics of the Buddha and his disciples. An Ashoka pillar with an edict engraved on it stands near the site.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Tibetan Buddhist Monastery, 92GG+VQ5, Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221007, India
The peaceful and traditional Tibetan Buddhist Monastery is a lovely, bright space located close to the main market area in Sarnath. It was constructed in 1955 and is maintained by the Lhadhan Chotrul Monlam Chenmo Trust and has glass display cases filled with miniature buddhas.
The very sight of the Tibetan Monastery on the main road is exciting—two lions guard the very colourful and beautifully-designed entrance. Inside the large and open compound is a light pink stupa as a remembrance and gratitude by the Tibetans to the government of India for granting asylum to the fleeing Dalai Lama. It also denotes to pay tribute to all those who died in Tibet’s freedom struggle and those who continue to suffer oppression in Tibet.
Duration: 10 minutes
