UNESCO grants World Heritage status to Sarnath

Sarnath, one of India’s ancient Buddhist sites, was inscribed onto the UNESCO World Heritage List, on Saturday. The site became India’s 45th site to receive this recognition. India has the sixth-highest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites globally and the second-highest in the Asia-Pacific region.

Even though the ancient site of Sarnath remained in the tentative list of world heritage since 1998, the proposal to include the site to the world heritage list was sent for consideration of the World Heritage Committee in January 2025. The 48th session of the World Heritage Committee, at Busan, South Korea, took the decision on the inscription.

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“A proud moment for every Indian! Delighted that Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Sarnath has a close association with Lord Buddha, whose timeless message of wisdom, compassion and harmony inspires the world,” Prime Minister Narendra said in a post on X, lauding the decision.

“This recognition celebrates India’s profound civilisational and spiritual heritage. It will also inspire more people across the world to come to Sarnath and connect with the ideals of Lord Buddha,” the PM added.

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India’s Culture minister, Gajendra Shekhawat, highlighted India’s enduring role as the cradle of ideas that continue to inspire the world across generations.

“The serial property contains the architectural and archaeological remains of Sarnath, the sacred site where the Buddha is believed to have delivered his first sermon in the 6th century BCE and met his earliest disciples,” says the description of the newly inscribed site highlights on the UNESCO website.

“Identified by the Buddha himself as one of the four principal Buddhist pilgrimage sites, Sarnath grew over many centuries through royal, monastic, and lay patronage, resulting in the construction of numerous stupas, temples, and viharas,” it added.

“After flourishing as a major Buddhist centre, Sarnath declined in the 12th century CE and fell into obscurity until its rediscovery in the 18th century. Today preserved as two archaeological zones, it remains both an important tourist destination and a revived pilgrimage site for Buddhists worldwide,” states UNESCO.

The culture ministry highlighted the two components that preserve the architectural and archaeological remains of the ancient site of Sarnath are Chaukhandi Stupa and the Archaeological Remains of Sarnath (Dhamekh Stupa, Dharmrajika Stupa, Mulagandgakuti Vihara, Ashokan Pillar, etc.) – located within Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.

“World Heritage status would reinforce India's identity as the birthplace of Buddhism and enhance cultural diplomacy with nations such as Japan, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, South Korea and Mongolia,” states a statement released by the culture ministry.

“This recognition would further support India's efforts to promote Buddhist heritage as a bridge for international engagement and would also showcase India's expertise in heritage conservation,” adds the ministry.