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Sarnath, about 10 km from the holy city of Varanasi, is the place where Buddha chose to deliver his first sermon. The celebrated Mantra, 'Buddham Sharanam Gachhami', owes its origin to Sarnath. On the day before his death Buddha included Sarnath along with Lumbini, Bodh Gaya and Kushinagar as the four places he thought to be sacred to his followers. It makes Sarnath one of the most venerated Buddhist places. Besides Buddhism, Sarnath is also connected with Jainism. There are many Buddhist monuments and edifices in Sarnath. Some of the important Buddhist monuments at Sarnath are the Dhamekha stupa, the Chaukhandi stupa and monasteries and temples of different schools of Buddhism from Japan, China, Thailand, Burma and others. The Indian Buddhist society called Mahabodhi Society maintains a park around the Buddha temple. The Mahabodhi Temple within the park has a tooth relic of the Buddha.There is also a vast expanse of ancient ruins at Sarnath. Several Buddhist structures were raised at Sarnath between the 3rd century BC and the 11th century AD, and today it presents the most expansive ruins amongst places on the Buddhist trail. The Ashoka pillar of Sarnath is the National emblem of India.
Dhamekh Stupa bears particular significance at Sarnath as it signifies the "seat of the holy Buddha", as he proclaimed his faith. It is about 34mtrs. In height and including the foundations, it can be measured upto 42mtrs. Besides Dhamekh Stupa, Sarnath also has the ruins of Dharmajajika Stupa and that of the original Mulgandha-kuti Temple, which according to Hieun Tsang was about 61mtrs. High. Buddha is said to have rested and meditated here while in Sarnath. Emperor Ashoka (273-232 B.C.), converted to Buddhism visited Sarnath. A smooth glistening stone pillar, called the Ashoka Pillar commemorates his visit and laid the foundation of the Buddhist Sangha here. The Lion Capital on top of this pillar is now the National Emblem of India. The Chaukhandi Stupa was originally a terraced temple during the Gupta period (4th to 6th Centuries). However in 1588 A.D., Govardhan, the son of Raja Todarmal, built an octagonal tower to commemorate the visit of Humayun-father of Akbar. Govardhan later went on to become the Governor under Akbar's rule. Similarly Akbar, the great Mughal Emperor who revered all religions alike, raised the after the Kalinga war and also Chaukhandi Stupa in 1555 A.D.
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