Dhamek Stupa is one of the most important sights in Sarnath and its mostly due to its antiquity and significance of being the exact spot of Buddha’s first sermon. It was here that he revealed the eightfold path leading to nirvana. The stupa is composed of a cylindrical tower that rises around 43m and the diameter of the monument is a formidable 28m. The arched niches halfway on the monument may have once held statues of the Buddha. There are lovely elaborate carvings halfway on the monument on some sides.
Dhamek Stupa is said to have been built in the year 500 CE while the construction was ordered by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd Century BC. There’s a small museum right after the entrance which has a few basic details of the monument. The monument is under the control of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and is well-maintained with manicured gardens and benches with trees providing shade on hot afternoons.
A combined entry ticket to the ruins complex, Dhamek Stupa and Archeological Museum costs INR 20 for Indians and approximately INR 100 for foreigners.