Tour to Sarnath: Gem among Religious Tours to India

Sarnath, a small Buddhist place in the wonder state of Uttar Pradesh, came into limelight with a UNESCO project a few days back. The project was funded by Japan and it declared Sarnath as ‘the biggest Buddhist settlement in all of Central India’. Quite fascinating!! Every news channel & newspaper was full of stuff like ‘eight structures identified’, ‘14 more monasteries revealed’, ‘23 stupas found’ etc. Luckily, two friends of mine organized a short trip to Sarnath on the occasion of Buddha Purnima (last week of April). The journey from Delhi to Varanasi was smooth and relaxing, but reaching Sarnath from Varanasi (only 10 km) proved to be really hectic and tiring because of a big fair to celebrate the day of the Buddha's birth, nirvana and death.

Tour to Sarnath

Next morning, we hired a Toyota Qualis and started our exploration. Our first halt was Dhamekh Stupa, the largest in the region. Built around 500 AD, this remarkable structure is cylindrical in shape with 28 m diameter and 43.6 m height. While listening to a guide who was leading a Spanish group, we came to know that it marks the spot where Lord Buddha proclaimed his faith in front of his first five followers. All three of us were surprised to see the architectural beauty of the Stupa, which lays in its fine floral carvings of Gupta origin and Buddhist inscriptions dating back to 6^th century.

While having lunch at a restaurant, the driver told us that Emperor Ashoka visited Sarnath around 234 BC and spread Lord Buddha's message of love and compassion throughout his vast empire. He also constructed a stupa here, named Chaukhandi Stupa. We visited the site, which is a lofty mound of brick work. Its square edifice is surrounded by an octagonal tower.

In the evening, we also paid short visits to the Archaeological Museum and Chinese & Tibetan Temples. The best part with the Archeological Museum is that it houses the superb Lion capital of the Ashoka Pillar, which has been adopted as the National Emblem of India. Most of the structures were built between the 3^rd century BC and the 11^th century AD. Still Sarnath boasts of having the most expansive ruins among the places related to Lord Buddha.

Darjeeling Tourism: The Best Of Sightseeing & Adventure

It wasn't easy. I've experienced sleepless nights. Coffee was my only companion in silent nights when I was going through a number of Indian tour guides searching for a quiet, relaxing and lazy destination. Finally, I noticed a small town – Darjeeling – at the foot of Himalayas, filled with clean fresh mountain air and offering marvellous views of snow capped Everest, Kabru, Kanchenjunga, Jannu and other peaks. Around 6 km away, before reaching Darjeeling, I stopped at Ghoom – a renowned place dominated by the famous Yiga Choeling Monastery. As I entered the monastery, I found 15 images of the Maitreya Buddha, ancient palm leaves and paper manuscripts in Tibetan language.

Darjeeling Tourism

After having a quick bite at a roadside dhaba, I visited the Museum of Natural History that showcases a wonderful collection of Himalayan animals, reptiles, birds and insects. On my way to the city centre, I also paid short visits to Aloobari and Bhutia Busty monasteries. These holy Buddhist places not only showcase the rarest of antique articles and manuscripts but also depict an excellent architectural pattern. My hotel was quite close to the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park that is the only center in India for the breeding of snow leopard.

The next morning, I started my exploration with the Mountaineering Museum (run by the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, which trains mountaineers). I also wanted to experience the thrill of mountaineering, for which the museum authority provided me with all the equipments and clothes along with a trained assistant. Sanjog, my assistant, told me that it is the first place in India where Dr. Hooker organized trekking in the 1840s. I also enjoyed breathtaking views of Everest and Kanchenjunga peaks from high altitudes.

My next destination was the Observatory Hill, which is attached to strong religious faiths for the Hindus. The renowned Mahakal temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is a holy Hindu site here. Post lunch, I headed towards the market, where I found all the shops loaded with good quality woolens and other Tibetan crafts like carpets, wood and leather work. My driver took me to the Tibetan Refugee Self Help Center for the best of souvenirs, which is frequented for ethnic Tibetan artifacts.

At the end, I also enjoyed a journey in the Toy Train of Darjeeling. Started in September 1881, the train was declared a World Heritage icon in 1999 by UNESCO on the recommendation of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. That short journey left a long-lasting memory to me.