Meditate at Sarnath Where Buddha Gave His First Sermon

Sarnath is just 10 km from Varanasi but feels like another world. The Dhamek Stupa, where Buddha delivered his first sermon, radiates a silence that the ghats cannot offer. Go early morning before tour buses arrive. The archaeological museum houses the original Lion Capital — India's national emblem. Shared autos from Varanasi Cantt cost just ₹30.