Sarnath Travel Guide

While the Mahabodhi temple in Gaya is considered to be the epicentre of Buddhism, it's Sarnath where Buddha first preached his idea of Dharma amongst his pupils. The Chaukhandi Stupa is believed to be the place where Buddha first met his 5 pupils. Dhamekh Stupa is the place where Buddha first discussed the preachings of Dharma.

Buddhism is one of the most followed religions in the world and its origin can be traced back to India. Being born in the foothills of Himalayas in Nepal, Lord Buddha travelled all over the country in his quest for knowledge and truth. From Bodhgaya in Bihar to Stupas in Madhya Pradesh, there are many religious pilgrimage destinations that have played a pivotal role in Buddha's journey to Nirvana.

Sarnath is one such destination, where Lord Buddha preached his idea of Dharma and he also said that Sarnath is one of the four holy sites for Buddhism that every devout now visits. Sarnath got its name from the word Mirgaeva, which was the former name of the region. Mrigadva means "deer park" and the word Isipatana means the place where holy men fell to Earth. The word Sarnath is derived from Saranganath which means lord of deer.