Other Sacred Sites
Sarnath (Dhamek Stupa & Museum)
Where the Buddha delivered his first sermon after enlightenment, Sarnath's Dhamek Stupa and adjoining archaeological museum make it one of Buddhism's four most sacred pilgrimage sites.
Gallery
About Sarnath (Dhamek Stupa & Museum)
Sarnath, about 10 km north of Varanasi, is where the Buddha gave his first sermon after his enlightenment, in a deer park here. With Lumbini, Bodh Gaya and Kushinagar, it's one of the four principal places of Buddhist pilgrimage.
The Dhamek Stupa, about 43 metres high and in its present form around 1,500 years old, marks the spot. Around it lie the ruins of monasteries and the stump of a pillar raised by the emperor Ashoka, whose lion capital, now India's national emblem, is the centrepiece of the Sarnath Museum.
Sarnath (Dhamek Stupa & Museum) At A Glance
- Location
- Varanasi
- Type
- Other Sacred Sites
- Entry
- ₹300 foreign nationals · ₹25 Indian citizens
Also Covered Here
- Sarnath Dhamek Stupa
- A monumental Buddhist stupa marking the sacred landscape where Buddha is traditionally believed to have delivered his first sermon.
- Sarnath Ashoka Pillar Site
- The archaeological remains preserve the memory of Emperor Ashoka's patronage of Buddhism and Sarnath's importance as a pilgrimage centre.
Know Before You Go
Timings
Stupa: Sunrise–Sunset · Museum: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Weekly closed: Friday (Museum only)
Online Booking
Yes — ASI portal
Restrictions
No photography inside the ASI Museum; footwear removed near the Stupa in some areas
Washrooms
Available near museum/park entrance
Buddhist pilgrimage site; Stupa grounds open daily, ASI Museum closed Fridays
Good To Know
Visiting Sarnath (Dhamek Stupa & Museum)
How far is Sarnath from Varanasi?
- About 10 km, roughly half an hour by road, so it fits comfortably into a morning or afternoon.
What should I see first?
- Start at the museum for the Lion Capital and the 5th-century seated Buddha, then walk through the excavated monastery ruins to the Dhamek Stupa.
What is the Sarnath (Dhamek Stupa & Museum) entry fee?
- ₹300 foreign nationals, ₹25 Indian citizens. Tickets for the sites on your route can be included in your trip estimate.
What are the Sarnath (Dhamek Stupa & Museum) timings?
- Stupa: Sunrise–Sunset · Museum: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Weekly closure: Friday (Museum only).
Can I book Sarnath (Dhamek Stupa & Museum) tickets online?
- Yes — ASI portal.
Nearby
More To See In Varanasi
Ready To Plan Varanasi?
Tell us your dates and pace, and we'll fit Sarnath (Dhamek Stupa & Museum) into an itemised Varanasi plan, priced in your currency.