Sarnath Gains World Heritage Recognition

Sarnath has been added to the World Heritage List, giving India’s Buddhist tourism circuit a major international boost. Located near Varanasi, the site is where Gautama Buddha delivered his first sermon and established the Buddhist Sangha. The recognised area includes the Chaukhandi Stupa, Dhamekh Stupa, Dharmarajika Stupa, Mulagandhakuti Vihara and the Ashokan Pillar. The inscription takes India’s total number of World Heritage properties to 45. For tourism stakeholders, the recognition could increase pilgrimage and cultural travel from Buddhist-majority markets while encouraging stronger conservation, visitor-management and interpretation facilities at one of Buddhism’s four principal pilgrimage destinations.