World Heritage Identification Number: 927
World Heritage since: 2026
Category: Cultural Heritage
WHE Type: Religious Sites & Sacred Architecture
Transboundary Heritage: No
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: 🇮🇳 India
Continent: Asia
UNESCO World Region: Asia and the Pacific
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The Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath: A Spiritual and Archaeological Treasure
The Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath, located northeast of Varanasi in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, stands as a testament to the rich history and spiritual significance of Buddhism. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2026, this sacred location holds immense importance for Buddhists worldwide, marking the place where the Buddha delivered his first sermon in the 6th century BCE.
More to come…UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
The serial property contains the architectural and archaeological remains of Sarnath, the sacred site where the Buddha is believed to have delivered his first sermon in the 6th century BCE and met his earliest disciples. Identified by the Buddha himself as one of the four principal Buddhist pilgrimage sites, Sarnath grew over many centuries through royal, monastic, and lay patronage, resulting in the construction of numerous stupas, temples, and viharas. After flourishing as a major Buddhist centre, Sarnath declined in the 12th century CE and fell into obscurity until its rediscovery in the 18th century. Today preserved as two archaeological zones, it remains both an important tourist destination and a revived pilgrimage site for Buddhists worldwide.Encyclopedia Record: Sarnath
Sarnath is a town northeast of Varanasi, in Uttar Pradesh, India. It was here that the Buddha gave his first sermon after attaining enlightenment at Bodh Gaya. The Lion Capital of Ashoka, raised on a column in Sarnath in 250 BCE by the first Buddhist emperor Ashoka, commemorates this event. It is also the State Emblem of India.Additional Site Details
Area: 8.05 hectares
Number of Components: 2
(vi) — Directly associated with events or living traditions
Coordinates: 25.3808333334 , 83.0244444445
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© Archaeological Survey of India. Used with permission.
