The Dhamekh Stupa in Sarnath

This is our entry in Dutch goes the Photo!’s Tuesday Photo Challenge – Old.

Gautama Buddha is the Buddha upon whose teachings Buddhism was founded. During Buddha’s lifetime,  he identified four important sites for pilgrimage: Bodh Gaya, where he attained enlightenment; Lumbini, his birthplace in Nepal; Sarnath, where he delivered his first teaching, the dharma; and Kusinara, where he died and attained nirvana-after-death. 

In September 2014, we visited Sarnath, located almost one mile northeast of Varanasi in the Indian State of Uttar Pradesh. The Dhamek Stupa, built in 500 AD, enlarged several times but still unfinished, is believed to be at the same location in the deer park in Sarnath where the Buddha delivered his first teaching to his five disciples. The stupa is just over 140 feet tall and 90 feet across at the base. Because it is an important pilgrimage site, many people visit this stupa and walk around it clockwise three times while reciting a mantra or prayer.

The Dhamekh Stupa in Sarnath

This photo was taken on November 19, 2014. Specs are:

Olympus TG-3, ISO 100, f/4.5, 1/500 sec, 9.61 mm