Dhamek Stupa, Sarnath

About this place

Dhamek Stupa is a massive Buddhist monument in the Deer Park at Sarnath, 8 km north-east of Varanasi and about 9 km from the city station in a straight line. It is one of the eight most important pilgrimage sites for Buddhists. It marks the place where the Buddha gave his first teaching to his first five disciples. Its name comes from a Sanskrit word meaning «pondering of the law». In the Buddha's time, the ancient city of Benares lay outside Sarnath. The stupa is the largest structure at Sarnath, a solid cylinder of brick and stone 43.6 metres tall, its stone base decorated with fine geometric and floral carving. It stands in an open green park ringed by the ruins of old monasteries. Visitors walk around the stupa and among the ruins, and can combine the visit with the nearby Sarnath Museum. It is a sacred place, so dress modestly and move quietly. Mornings are calmer and cooler.