Heritage Sites of Varanasi & Sarnath
From the continuous 7-kilometer amphitheater of the 84 Ghats along the Ganges to the peaceful deer parks of Sarnath where Buddha set forth the Wheel of Law, Varanasi is a grand tapestry of royal Maratha fortresses, Buddhist stupas, and ancient universities.
Living History
The Sacred 84 Ghats of Kashi
The crescent-shaped western bank of the sacred Ganges is lined with 84 continuous ghats built by Marathas, Scindias, Holkars, and Rajput kings between the 14th and 18th centuries. Every ghat has its own mythology, royal palace, and eternal story, from birth rituals at Assi to moksha at Manikarnika.
✦ Suryanshu's Chronicler Note
"To truly understand Kashi, walk from Assi to Rajghat at first light. You will see life, death, celebration, bathers, sadhus, and centuries of architecture unfold in a single continuous canvas."
Living History
Sarnath Deer Park & Dhamek Stupa
After attaining enlightenment under the Bodhi tree at Gaya, Gautama Buddha traveled to Sarnath to deliver his first sermon (Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta) to his five former disciples. Here stand the monumental 43-meter high Dhamek Stupa (built by Emperor Ashoka in 249 BCE) and the Ashoka Lion Capital.
✦ Suryanshu's Chronicler Note
"The Sarnath Archaeological Museum houses the original 3rd-century BCE polished sandstone Lion Capital of Ashoka, which is the national emblem of modern India. The serene Deer Park invites quiet contemplation."
Living History
Ramnagar Fort & Royal Museum
Constructed in 1750 by Kashi Naresh Maharaja Balwant Singh, this massive cream-colored Chunar sandstone fortress commands the eastern bank of the Ganga. The fort houses the iconic Saraswati Bhawan museum showcasing vintage American cars, bejeweled palanquins, ivory carvings, and an eccentric 1852 astronomical clock.
✦ Suryanshu's Chronicler Note
"Visit during the month of Ashwin (Dussehra) to witness the world-famous 31-day Ramlila of Ramnagar, performed in open-air natural settings with no microphones or modern electricity, under the royal patronage."
Living History
Chet Singh Fort on Shivala Ghat
With its imposing fortress walls and grand stone watchtowers jutting into the river, Chet Singh Fort witnessed fierce combat in 1781 when the British Governor-General Warren Hastings attempted to arrest Maharaja Chet Singh. The local Banarasi troops revolted, and the Maharaja dramatically escaped down a rope made of turbans into a boat.
✦ Suryanshu's Chronicler Note
"Best photographed from a boat in the afternoon when the sun highlights the battle scars and majestic stone balconies overlooking the river currents."
528 BCE
First Sermon of Buddha
Sarnath: Where The Wheel of Dhamma Began To Turn
Just 10 kilometers northeast of the ghats lies Sarnath (Isipatana), one of the four principal pilgrimage sites of Buddhism. Here, under the shade of ancient trees in the Deer Park, Siddhartha Gautama delivered his very first sermon—the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta—expounding the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.
Standing at the center is the massive cylindrical Dhamek Stupa, rising 43.6 meters into the sky. Emperor Ashoka visited this site in the 3rd century BCE and erected the iconic Lion Capital of Ashoka, which now serves as the revered National Emblem of India.