Sarnath

One of the most revered Buddhist pilgrimage centres in the world, Sarnath, is located just 10 km away from Varanasi. It is believed that after attaining nirvana (enlightenment), Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon here, sanctified as the Maha Dharma Chakra Pravartan Sutra.
Dhamekh Stupa marks the spot where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon
Chaukhandi Stupa is where Lord Buddha met his first five disciples.
A metallic pillar established by emperor Ashoka in 272-273 BC marks the foundation of the Buddhist Sangha. The pillar is 50 m high and has a symbol of four lions on top of it, called the Lion Capital. It is the emblem of the Republic of India.