7 Wonders of India: Sarnath

Sarnath is located 13 kilometres northeast of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. Ashoka built the Sarnath pillar to commemorate the site of the first preaching of Lord Buddha, where he taught the Dharma to five monks. After attaining enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, the Buddha went to Sarnath; and it was here that he preached his first discourse in the deer park to set in motion the 'Wheel of the Dharma'. A monastic tradition flourished for over 1,500 years on the site of the deer park at Sarnath.