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A Rendezvous With
Sarnath ? |
Sarnath
is located at a distance of 8 km from Varanasi in the northern Indian state
of Uttar Pradesh. Sarnath is the place where Lord Buddha delivered his first
sermon to his five disciples, preaching the middle path for attaining
'Nirvana'. Realizing the sanctity of the site, emperor Ashoka, in the 3rd
century B.C. built some of the finest monuments and legacies, a rare site
that mesmerizes one and all. The 34-metre-high 'Dhamek' stupa stands as a
remarkable structure, which contains the remains of Lord Buddha. The area is
now graceful and pleasant, breathing the spirit of the enlightened one,
glowing with the devotion of the many followers who inhabited it through the
centuries that followed.
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Things You Can Do
in Sarnath ? |
» Sightseeing : At the historical and holy
city of Sarnath one can see Stupas like Choukhandi Stupa, etc and Museums
like Mulgandha Kuti Vihara and Archaeological Museum.
» Shopping : One can shop some souvenirs from
Sarnath, like miniatures of stupas and temples. Varanasi is the nearest
shopping destination, from where you can buy famous Banarasi Sarees,
jewelery, copper ware, brass ware and wooden and clay toys.
» Eating out : Taste north Indian food at Sarnath.
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Sightseeing in
Sarnath ? |
»
The Stupas : The great Dhamekh stupa and dharmarajika stupas stand
testimony to the great Buddhist works. The most notable structure at
Sarnath, is the cylindrical Dhamek stupa, 28 m in diameter at the base and
rising to 43.6 m in height. Dhamek stupa is built partly of stone and partly
of brick. The stone facing the lower part is beautified with delicate floral
carvings of Gupta period.
» Choukhandi Stupa : Built by Mughal Emperor Akbar
in 1555 A.D., Choukhandi Stupa is believed to be the place where Lord Buddha
met his five disciples. The magnificent Ashoka pillar states the visit of
emperor Ashoka to Sarnath. It was originally adorned by a capital of four
lions, now housed in the Sarnath museum. The capital became the state emblem
of modern India.
» Mulgandha Kuti Vihara : Built in 1930, the Tibetan
buddhist shrine, Mulgandha Kuti Vihara, treasures sacred antiques from
various places and a life size golden statue of the Buddha. It is adorned
with fantastic frescoes by Japanese artist, Kosetsu Nosu. The place also has
few Chinese and Jain temples. The 'Bodhi' tree growing within the campus is
believed to be the offspring of one under which Buddha had attained
enlightenment in Bodh Gaya.
» Archaeological Museum : The museum exhibits a
magnificent statue of the Buddha turning the wheel of law, and many other
excavations that exhibit the flowering of the Indian Plastic arts.
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Most Ideal Time to
Visit Sarnath ? |
The divine city of Sarnath has some intriguing and interesting
religious cities nearby. Varanasi is one of them, it is the most important
place near Sarnath and a regular stop for the tourists headed for Sarnath.
The city is famous for its temples, ghats, lanes, and most importantly its
religious and cultural significance in the Hindu society. Chunar is another
destination near Sarnath, it is the northern extreme of the Kaimur hills
affording an impressive view of the invincible sandstone battlements of
Chunar, that overlooks a bend in the ganges. Jaunpur is a dusty city, 65kms
northwest of Varanasi, founded by Feroz Shah, in 1930. The massive Akbari
Bridge is a landmark of the region. Other attractions include Feroz Shah
Fort and Atala Mosque.
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Most Ideal Time to
Visit Sarnath ? |
Sarnath
is located near the Tropic of Cancer, therefore it enjoys a comfortable
winter but a hot summer. Summers in Sarnath are not very comfortable. Summer
days are extremely dry and daytime temperatures often shoots up to 45°C.
During winter, the mercury can dip to as low as 10°C at night and the
daytime temperature remains around 20°C. The monsoon season brings
torrential rains and high humidity. Fortunately, the temperatures normally
remain under 37°C, although uncomfortably humid. The most ideal time of
the year to visit this town of Uttar Pradesh is in between the months of
October and March.
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Getting There ? |
» By Air : Varanasi (Babatpur) Airport is
the nearest airport, which is almost 30 km away from Sarnath. Commercial
flights connect Varanasi to Kathmandu, Delhi, Calcutta, Bhubaneshwar, Patna,
Agra and Mumbai. To reach Sarnath one should take a bus or taxi from
Varanasi.
» By Rail : Varanasi is the nearest railhead from
Sarnath. Varanasi is connected by direct trains to all the major cities of
India. Hire a taxi or board a bus to Sarnath from the Varanasi railway
station.
» By Road : Sarnath is located on the National
Highway No. 29 that also connects Varanasi and Gorakhpur. Besides, one can
easily approach Sarnath from any part of Uttar Pradesh via road. The local
transportation and the intercity services helps you to reach Sarnath through
roadways easily.
» Private Vehicles : You can contact us for this, as
we are well established with an extensive number of cars and coaches
(ranging from luxury to budget and between) for the tourists from all over.
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Anchoring in
Sarnath ? |
Sarnath
is known for the divine presence. It is an important Buddhist pilgrimage
along with Bodhgaya, Lumbini, Kushinagar, Sanchi, Sarvasti and Vaishali. It
has some awesome stupas which are one of their kind and some wonderful
museums with an exclusive collection. Sarnath is an important Buddhist
pilgrimage, therefore to reach Sarnath, one has to reach Varanasi first
which can be reached by air, rail and road easily. As you reach Varanasi you
will have to take a bus, taxi or a private vehicle for Sarnath.
If in case you encounter problems, we'll take care of them. We have a
number of cars and coaches that provide personalized services. So now, all
you need to do is to enjoy the tour, comfortably.
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Accommodations ? |
There are some good accommodation options available in Sarnath.
However one can also make a stay in Varanasi. Like-
Forest Rest House, Sarnath.
Mahabodhi Dharamshala, Sarnath.
Jain Dharamshala, Sarnath.
sarnath
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