Chaukhandi Stupa at Sarnath

Chaukhandi Stupa at Sarnath:

Location: On left of the main road, about 600 m before ASI Museum, SarnathSignificance: Buddhist Stupa, was originally built as a temple to mark Buddha’s first meeting with his disciples at SarnathBuilt in: Gupta period (4th-6th century AD), the octagonal tower at top was added during the Mughal periodDistance from Varanasi: About 12 Km

Chaukhandi Stupa Sarnath

Another important Buddhist attraction in Sarnath is Chaukhandi Stupa. It is located about 13Kms from Varanasi. Stupas serve as shrine for relic of the Buddha and also are descendents of burial mounds.

It is said that Chaukhandi Stupa was originally built as a terraced temple during the Gupta period, between the 4th and 6th Century. This was erected to mark the place where Lord Buddha and his first disciples met traveling from Bodh Gaya to Sarnath.

The octagonal tower on the top of the ancient stupa was added during the medieval period. By the order of the Mughal emperor Akbar, Govardhan, the son of Raja Todarmal, the finance secretary in Akbar’s court, built this octagonal tower on top of the stupa in 1588.

The Persian inscription over one of the doorways of the stupa reads” As Humayun, king of the Seven Climes, now residing in paradise, deigned to come and sit here one day, thereby increasing the splendour of the sun, so Akbar, his son and humble servant, resolved to built on this spot a lofty tower reaching to the blue sky”.

Chaukhandi Stupa is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India, which looks after its upkeep. The Chaukhandi Stupa is topped by an octagonal tower and has a high earthen mound covered with brickwork.

Tourist attractions nearby the Chaukhandi supa are Dhamekha stupa, Dharmajika stupa, Dharmachakra stupa, ruins of Mulagandhakuti Vihara, Mulagandhakuti temple, Archaeological Ruins, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) museum, 80 ft high standing statue of Buddha in Thai Buddha Vihara.