UNESCO Grants World Heritage Status to Sarnath

• UNESCO inscribed the Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath on the World Heritage List.
• Sarnath became India’s 45th UNESCO World Heritage Property.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders hailed the recognition.
• The inscription highlights Sarnath’s significance as the site of Buddha’s first sermon.

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 25th July: The Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, becoming India’s 45th World Heritage Property. The decision was taken during the 48th Session of the World Heritage Committee in Busan, South Korea, marking a major milestone in the global recognition of India’s cultural and spiritual heritage.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath welcomed the inscription and congratulated the people of India on the achievement.

The World Heritage inscription covers two key components of the ancient site—Chaukhandi Stupa and the Archaeological Remains of Sarnath, which include the Dhamekh Stupa, Dharmarajika Stupa, Mulagandhakuti Vihara, Ashokan Pillar and several other historic structures located in Varanasi.

Sarnath holds immense significance in Buddhist tradition as the place where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon, known as the Dharmachakra Pravartana (Turning of the Wheel of the Law), after attaining enlightenment. The event marked the establishment of the Buddhist Sangha and the beginning of the teaching of the Noble Eightfold Path.

Recognised as one of the four principal Buddhist pilgrimage sites identified by Buddha himself, Sarnath flourished for centuries under royal and monastic patronage before declining after the 12th century. The site was rediscovered during the 18th century and has since been extensively excavated and conserved by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

According to the Ministry of Culture, the UNESCO inscription recognises Sarnath under criteria (iii) and (vi) for its exceptional testimony to Buddhist civilisation and its direct association with events of outstanding universal significance in the life of Buddha.

The proposal for inscription was submitted by India in January 2025 after Sarnath had remained on UNESCO’s Tentative List since 1998. The nomination underwent an 18-month evaluation process, including technical assessments by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) before receiving final approval at the World Heritage Committee meeting.

With Sarnath’s inclusion, three of Buddhism’s four most sacred pilgrimage sites—Lumbini (Nepal), Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya (India) and Sarnath—are now part of UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

The recognition also highlights the discovery at Sarnath of the Ashokan Lion Capital, which later became the National Emblem of India, as well as the renowned Dharmachakrapravartana Buddha sculpture of the Gupta period, both preserved at the site’s museum.

The government said the World Heritage status is expected to strengthen India’s position as the birthplace of Buddhism, boost cultural tourism, deepen ties with Buddhist-majority countries including Japan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, South Korea and Mongolia, and reinforce international cooperation in heritage conservation.

India now has 45 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, ranking sixth globally and second in the Asia-Pacific region in terms of the number of World Heritage properties. The country also has 69 sites on UNESCO’s Tentative List for future consideration.

The Archaeological Survey of India, the nodal agency for World Heritage matters in the country, said India remains committed to preserving Sarnath’s Outstanding Universal Value through sustainable tourism, scientific conservation and protection of the site’s authenticity and integrity.