Varanasi is a city with a very old history located in Uttar Pradesh, India. It is a sacred place for Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. Ganga river, Dasaswamedh Ghat, Assi Ghat, Sarnath, etc. are places to visit nearby Varanasi. Sarnath is one of the four most important Buddhist pilgrimage destinations in the world. Sarnath is located near the confluence of the Ganges and the Varuna rivers. It is the first place where Gautam Buddha taught his followers. The archaeological site has Stupa (shrine) and a lion-capital memorial pillar, erected by the 3^rd century Maurya emperor Ashoka. The pillar now is the state emblem of India.

The main attraction in Sarnath is the Dhamekh stupa complex. The excavated ruins are located in this stupa. It is the place where the Buddha is believed to have delivered his first sermon. It's set in a landscaped park set with the remains of Buddhist monasteries, the Ashoka Pillar, and Dharmarajika Stupa. Next to the Dhamekh stupa complex, Sarnath archaeological museum is there. It has a display of interesting artifacts dating from the 3rd century B.C. to the 12th century A.D. The Chaukhandi Stupa is another major stupa. It marks the spot where the Buddha met up with his five companions.