Dhamek Stupa is a massive stupa located at Sarnath, 13 km away from Varanasi in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is the most remarkable and massive structure at Sarnath and it is one of the most visited and most revered Buddhist structures in the world.
Sarnath is famous as the place where Lord Buddha had delivered his first sermon after attaining enlightenment at Bodhgaya.
This stupa is a circular mound that is encircled by large stones. Built partly of stone and partly of brick, the Dhamekh Stupa is 28 meters in diameter at the base and 43.6 meters in height.
The borders of Dhamekh Stupa have delicately carved geometrical and floral designs depicting the figures of humans and birds.
The lower portion of the stupa is covered with stones that are chiseled with exquisite floral carvings of the Gupta period. Throughout history, this stupa has been enlarged six times, however, the upper part is incomplete.
The Dhamek Stupa was built in 500 CE to replace an earlier structure commissioned by the great Mauryan king Ashoka in 249 BCE.
History mentions that Emperor Ashoka (273-232 B.C.) was a staunch follower of Buddhism and visited Sarnath, laying the foundation of the Buddhist Sangha here.
The Dhamek Stupa is said to mark the spot (Rishipattana, which can be translated as “where the Rishi arrived”) where the Buddha gave the first sermon to his five disciples after attaining enlightenment “revealing his Eightfold Path leading to nirvana”.
The stupa carries special significance for devout Buddhist as it marks the ‘seat of the holy Buddha’ as he proclaimed his faith.
Buddhist pilgrims belonging to different countries visit this place for circumambulation of this sacred Stupa and to offer worship to Buddha.