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Sarnath

Where the Buddha gave his first sermon — the birthplace of Buddhism. Varanasi

[ Sarnath photo ]

History

At Sarnath, ten kilometres from Varanasi, the Buddha delivered his first teaching after enlightenment, the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, in the 6th century BCE. The site holds the 33-metre Dhamek Stupa marking the sermon's spot, the Ashoka Pillar whose lion capital became India's national emblem, and the Sarnath Museum with some of India's finest Buddhist sculpture.

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