Sarnath Becomes India's 45th UNESCO World Heritage Site
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Sarnath Becomes India's 45th UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List during the 48th Session of the World Heritage Committee held in Busan, South Korea.
Recognition: The Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as India's 45th World Heritage Property.
Sarnath is the place where Gautama Buddha delivered his first sermon (Dharmachakra Pravartana) after attaining enlightenment, marking the beginning of the Buddhist Sangha and the teaching of the Noble Eightfold Path.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has excavated and conserved the site for over 150 years.
National Emblem: The Ashokan Lion Capital, discovered at Sarnath, was later adopted as the National Emblem of India.
Global Importance: With this inscription, three of the four major Buddhist pilgrimage sites—Lumbini (Nepal), Mahabodhi Temple (Bodh Gaya, Bihar), and Sarnath (Uttar Pradesh)—are now included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
View Ayodhya Tour PackageIndia's Ranking: India now has 45 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, ranking 6th globally and 2nd in the Asia-Pacific region in terms of the number of World Heritage properties.
