India’s sacred Buddhist jewel Sarnath joins UNESCO’s World Heritage list

In a moment of profound national pride, the ancient Buddhist site of Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List on Saturday. The decision came during the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Busan, South Korea, elevating Sarnath as India’s 45th World Heritage property.

UNESCO announced the inscription with the statement: “New inscription on the # WorldHeritage List: Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath, #India.” This recognition comes after a process that started in 1998, when Sarnath was first added to UNESCO’s Tentative List. India submitted its official application in January 2025 for the 2025-26 cycle, leading to the recent vote after review by ICOMOS experts.

Sarnath is about 10 kilometres from Varanasi. It is home to the Deer Park, known in ancient texts as Mrigadava or Rishipatana, where Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, gave his first sermon around 528 BCE. Here, he “turned the Wheel of the Law” (Dharmachakra Pravartana), teaching the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path to his first five disciples. The Buddhist Sangha began at this site.

The World Heritage site includes two main parts: the Chaukhandi Stupa and the Archaeological Remains of Sarnath. The remains include the Dhamekh Stupa, thought to mark the spot of the first sermon, the Dharmarajika Stupa, the Mulagandhakuti Vihara, and the remains of the Ashokan Pillar, whose Lion Capital is now India’s National Emblem. These monuments were built from the pre-Mauryan period through the 12th century CE.

After that, the site was destroyed and forgotten until it was rediscovered. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the inscription “a proud moment for every Indian.” He highlighted Sarnath’s link to Lord Buddha, whose “timeless message of wisdom, compassion and harmony inspires the world.” The Prime Minister said this recognition honours India’s civilisational and spiritual heritage and is likely to inspire more people to connect with the Buddha’s teachings.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also hailed the inscription of Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and termed it a shining reflection of the State’s glorious spiritual and cultural legacy.

In a post on X, Yogi Adityanath said, “Sarnath’s inscription on the @UNESCO World Heritage List is a proud moment for every Indian and a shining reflection of Uttar Pradesh’s glorious spiritual and cultural legacy. Uttar Pradesh welcomes the world to experience this eternal heritage.”

Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also acknowledged the milestone. With this addition, three of the four principal Buddhist pilgrimage sites, Lumbini in Nepal, the Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya, and Sarnath, are now included on the World Heritage List. Nominated under criteria (iii) and (vi), Sarnath is recognised for its outstanding universal value as a testament to the Buddha’s life and teachings, as demonstrated by centuries of religious construction and devotion.

India is now sixth in the world and second in the Asia-Pacific region with 45 World Heritage sites (37 cultural, 7 natural, and 1 mixed). The Archaeological Survey of India, which has worked on Sarnath for over 150 years, is ready to support sustainable tourism and protect the site’s authenticity.

This inscription is both an honour and an invitation. Pilgrims and travellers from countries like Japan, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar visit Sarnath, where the site continues to share its message of peace and mindfulness. Sarnath’s lasting importance is seen in its historic monuments and ongoing spiritual meaning.