3 min readLucknow, New DelhiJul 26, 2026 05:11 AM IST
Sarnath, the ancient site where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon after attaining enlightenment, has been inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, becoming India’s 45th and Uttar Pradesh’s fourth World Heritage Site.
The announcement came Saturday during the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Busan, South Korea.
Sarnath, one of the holiest sites of Buddhism, has recorded its significance on the global platform for heritage recognition. The state government stated this would strengthen Uttar Pradesh’s Buddhist Circuit on the international tourism and cultural heritage map.
According to the UP Tourism Department, Sarnath was included in UNESCO’s tentative list on July 3, 1998. Twenty-eight years on, it has been officially designated a World Heritage Site. Until now, the state’s three World Heritage Sites were the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri — all in the Agra region.
Sarnath is the sacred land where Lord Buddha, after attaining enlightenment, delivered his first sermon to humanity and set in motion the ‘Dharmachakra Pravartan’. Counted among the holy pilgrimage sites of Buddhism, Sarnath is described in ancient Buddhist scriptures such as Rishipattan.
Months ahead of its nomination, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had replaced the existing plaque at the site — to “correct” its recorded history — replacing the names of colonial rulers to credit the local royal family with discovering the site.
The Indian Express had reported in September 2025 about a proposal to change the perception that credited British archaeologists and officers for preserving the site.
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“After an extensive study of authentic documents and primary historical evidence, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), New Delhi, has acknowledged that the site of Sarnath in Varanasi first came to light during the digging carried out on the orders of Babu Jagat Singh,” said Pradeep Narayan Singh, a descendant of Jagat Singh, in a statement released in March.
“Sarnath has a close association with Lord Buddha, whose timeless message of wisdom, compassion and harmony inspires the world,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a post on X, and “This recognition celebrates India’s profound civilisational and spiritual heritage.”
Conservation architect Abha Narain Lambah, who played a key role in preparing Sarnath’s UNESCO nomination, said, “Sarnath’s identity is not limited only to its monuments.” According to her, “For nearly 2,500 years, the Buddhist pilgrimage tradition has remained alive here, and it is this integrated cultural and spiritual heritage that makes Sarnath uniquely deserving of the World Heritage status.”
