Sarnath, Varanasi

Sarnath is a location near the confluence of the Varuna and Ganges rivers in Uttar Pradesh, India, 10 miles northeast of Varanasi. The Buddhist Sangha was founded at the deer park in Sarnath, where Gautama Buddha gave his first teachings on the Dhamma and where Kondanna attained enlightenment. A visit to Sarnath will undoubtedly strengthen your spiritual outlook and give you a sense of well-being. One of the four holiest Buddhist pilgrimage places is Sarnath. Sarnath is a very tranquil and peaceful place. It doesn't have conjured colonies like the main city does. This residential area would be ideal for people who prefer to avoid crowds. It is connected to other parts of the city via an extensive railway network and other public transport options. 

What Is Good in Sarnath? / What Can Be Better in Sarnath?

Sarnath is primarily known for its historical significance and cultural roots. There are many positive aspects of the locality. 

• Mandsaur's Safar Market has a wide selection of stores, and a shopping centre is close by. 
• The city will undoubtedly enter a rapid period of development as digital cities flourish, which will increase property values. 
• Sarnath is a prestigious residential area with excellent accessibility, making everything simple to get to and connected to the national highway. 
• Sarnath is becoming known as a popular pilgrimage site for both Buddhists and non-Buddhist tourists and Indians. 
• It is a lovely location for travel, tourism, and discovering the authentic Varanasi culture. 
• People in this area have access to clean water around-the-clock and there are no power outages.
• Natural beauty at its finest, surrounded by lush green trees, and easily accessible, this place is located near the well-known Buddh Tourist Spot.

Sarnath is a wonderful place to live and is well-liked for its tranquil environment. There are certain things, however, that need improvement. 

• Pollution and the surrounding environmental circumstances, such as noise or air pollution, which pose several health risks, are two negative things that are readily apparent.
• Sadly, Varanasi has just been ranked among the top 10 most polluted cities, according to its air quality index. Therefore, visiting Varanasi and this location may be problematic for elderly individuals and people with medical conditions. 
• In this area, occasional traffic congestion, particularly during rush hours, is a big nuisance. 
• The safar market is widely dispersed across Mandsaur, which contributes to a crowded atmosphere. 
• There is occasionally traffic in this society because there is no metro service. 

Physical Infrastructure and Livability Index

Sarnath, Varanasi is renowned for its easy access to taxis and cars, excellent public transportation, and well-kept roads. However, several locals claimed that Sarnath, Varanasi, faces a few difficulties, including a lack of a metro connection and high pollution. Through the Sarnath railway station, Sarnath in Varanasi is connected to various areas of the city. Check out Rudra Ratnam, Rudra Heights, and GBD Shanti Enclave if you're seeking new, ready-to-move housing societies. These are all under three years old. In the next three years, new housing societies, Dev Mitra Dham Nagar Colony, Siddhi Vinayak Tridev Indraprastha, and Aolani Defence Port Valley Phase 2 will be built in Sarnath, Varanasi. The well-known medical facilities nearby include Real Reliance Hospital, Nityanand Hospital, and Sarnath Hospital. The Tulsi Niketan Balika Inter College makes sure the area has a decent educational infrastructure. Leading shopping destinations like the Kailash Prasad supermarket are also accessible to locals.

Social Infrastructure

A locality can only be progressive if it has a stable social infrastructure. A place without a social structure is not fit for residence. The following factors make up the social infrastructure of Sarnath, Varanasi. 

1. a) Restaurants

There are an increasing number of eateries and diners in Sarnath due to the large number of tourist visits each year. Some of these include-

• Sarnath Cafe
• Behind Yellow Doors Diner
• 1916 Cafe and Restaurant
• Aadha-Aadha Cafe
• The Bowl if Compassion
• Sushi Cafe and Continental Restaurant
• Vaishali Restaurant
• Tadka at Ramada Plaza
• The Palate at Ramada Plaza
• Canton Royale Restaurant 

1. b) Banks

One can find a significant number of banks and financial institutions in and around Sarnath. Some of these include- 

• Central Bank of India
• State Bank of India
• UCO Bank
• Union Bank
• Utkarsh Small Finance Bank
• Baroda UP Bank
• Union Bank of India
• Bank of Baroda
• Canara Bank
• ICICI Bank

1. c) Metro Station

Sarnath does not have a metro station yet. The Varanasi Metro project was under development, and the first phase of the metro system was expected to be operational soon. 

1. d) Airport

Although Sarnath Varanasi does not have an airport, Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi is the closest international airport, and it is about a 15-minute drive from Sarnath. With the help of Jet Airways, Buddha Air, Air India, and SpiceJet, it has good connections to places like Delhi, Gaya, Kathmandu, Khajuraho, Lucknow, and Mumbai.

1. e) Bus Terminals

There are a few bus terminals which connects Sarnath to other areas of Varanasi and some of these are-

• Sarnath Bus Stop
• Dharmapala Road Bus Stop
• Ashapur Chhittupur Bus Stop
• Durgakund Bus Stop
• Bhojubeer Bus Stop
• Gaura Bus Stop
• Police Line Bus Stop
• Kashi Depot
• Kashi Bus Depot
• Pandeypur Bus Stop
• Kali Ji Temple Bus Stop
• Pahadiya Bus Stop

1. f) Railway Stations

There are many railway stations in and around Sarnath that offer excellent connectivity to important destinations and employment hubs. 

• Sarnath Railway Station
• Varanasi City Railway Station
• Kashi Railway Station
• Varanasi Junction
• Shivpur Railway Station
• Manduadih Railway Station
• Vyasnagar Railway Station

1. g) Parks

Parks are necessary for recreation and taking time off from busy schedules and homework. The following are some of the parks in Sarnath-

• Suhel Dev Park
• Sarnath Park
• Jyotiba Phule Park
• Sarnath Temple Park
• Navapura Park
• Prince Park
• Bodhi Green
• Rishpattan Garden
• Sarnath Fish Canal
• Chinese Lawn 1

Popular Roads in Locality - Road 1 / Road 2 / Road 3 / Road 4

A few routes are crucial for reaching and navigating the Sarnath region. Some of the well-known roads in and around Sarnath are listed below:

Sarnath Road: The major route to the Sarnath archaeological site is Sarnath Road. It serves as the main route for tourists and pilgrims heading to Sarnath and connects the holy city of Sarnath with the city of Varanasi.

Varanasi-Lucknow Highway: The Varanasi-Lucknow Highway, popularly referred to as NH-30, is close to Sarnath. Varanasi and Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, are linked by this motorway. Despite not being located within Sarnath itself, this roadway is crucial for getting to the region.

Gautam Buddha Rajpath Road: One of the key sections of the area connecting National Highway 29 and Rishpattan Road is Gautam Buddha Rajpath Road. The Buddha opted to give his first sermon in Sarnath, a strategically located holy site in Varanasi that is flanked on one side by Gautam Buddha Rajpath Road. 

NH-31: Varanasi and Gorakhpur, a city in Uttar Pradesh, are connected by National Highway 31, a significant road. An essential route for getting to adjacent cities and towns, this highway passes close to Sarnath.

Nearby Locality - Distance Calculator

There are many significant localities that are situated close to Sarnath. These localities are connected to one another via several means of public transportation. The table below shows Sarnath’s connectivity to other localities. 

• Transport Service Availability

There are many significant roads that connect Sarnath to its nearby localities via public transport options such as autos, buses, and taxis. Sarnath has its own railway station, the Sarnath Railway Station, which offers excellent connectivity to other parts of Varanasi. 

How People Rate this Locality

Due to its historical and religious significance, Sarnath in Varanasi is usually recognised as an important and cherished area. The majority of the locals have had favourable things to say about Sarnath as a residential area. On the other side, tourists value the historic stupas, monasteries, and ruins that characterise the region. The calm and peaceful atmosphere in Sarnath is greatly admired. The region is frequently regarded as a getaway from Varanasi's hectic daily life. The spiritual environment and the chance for meditation and contemplation provide comfort to visitors. Sarnath gains from being close to the well-connected city of Varanasi through road, rail, and air. Tourists and pilgrims can readily approach it because of this. However, some visitors might discover that Sarnath's infrastructure, notably in terms of lodging and facilities, is less developed than in other Varanasi neighbourhoods.

How to Visit Sarnath?

There are many ways to get to Sarnath. The following are some of the available options to reach Sarnath. 

• By air: The closest airport to Sarnath is in Varanasi, the nation's cultural centre. Sarnath is roughly 30 miles from the Babatpur-Varanasi Airport. One of India's major domestic airports is this one. Nearly all of India's public and commercial airlines offer frequent service to and from Varanasi.
• By train: There is a separate railway station for Sarnath, and passenger trains connect it to Gorakhpur and Varanasi. The closest railhead to Sarnath is also in Varanasi, one of the region's busiest rail hubs. Numerous significant trains connect Varanasi Railway Station with the rest of India. Train connections exist between Varanasi and a number of Uttar Pradesh cities as well as other Indian cities, including New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Agra, Lucknow, Bangalore, and Ahmedabad, to mention a few.
• By road: With excellent roads, Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh is well connected to other regions of the state. The closest major terminal from Sarnath is in Varanasi, which is located about 10 kilometres from Sarnath's centre. Major cities including Lucknow, Bareilly, Kanpur, Allahabad, Agra, and Mathura are easily accessible by bus from Varanasi. Regular buses operated by the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation and by private operators travel to these locations from Varanasi. 

Tourist Spot / Places To Visit in Sarnath

Varanasi's Sarnath is renowned for its deep religious and historical significance. Here are some of Sarnath's well-known tourist attractions:

• Ashoka Pillar- Emperor Ashoka's inscriptions can be found on the Ashoka Pillar, a famous structure in Sarnath. It stands as a representation of India's rich history and is crowned with a majestic lion capital.

• Dhamek Stupa- A major structure in Sarnath called the Dhamek Stupa is thought to represent the location of Buddha's first preaching. It is a large cylindrical monument that represents Buddhism and is embellished with beautiful sculptures.

• Chaukhandi Stupa- The Chaukhandi Stupa is a historic monument that resembles a mound and honours the location of the Buddha's first encounter with his disciples. It is an octagonal, towering brick building that is regarded as a significant landmark in Sarnath.

• Mulagandhakuti Vihara- Buddhists regard this monastery as a holy site and the home of the monks. It is renowned for its serene and spiritual atmosphere and contains lovely murals that depict incidents from Buddha's life.

Locality Comparison (basis on few elements)

The experiences at Sarnath and Varanasi Old City are different. The historical and spiritual importance of Sarnath, particularly in regard to Buddhism, is well known. It is a tranquil area with a focus on Buddhist history, monasteries, and old ruins. The centre of Varanasi, Varanasi Old City (Kashi), is distinguished for its spiritual ambiance, Hindu temples, and the busy ghats along the Ganges River. It offers a buzzing environment, age-old customs, and a fusion of cultural experiences. While Sarnath is well-liked for its tranquil and laid-back ambience, Varanasi is more developed in terms of residences, amenities, and transportation.