India’s ancient Buddhist site of Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh was on Saturday inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The decision was taken during the ongoing meeting of the UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee’s 48th session in Busan, South Korea. This is India’s 45th site to join the list of UNESCO World Heritage.
The UNESCO said in a post on X: “BREAKING! New inscription on the @UNESCO #WorldHeritage List: Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath, #India”.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the inscription, stating that the site has a deep connection with Lord Buddha, whose timeless message of wisdom, compassion and harmony inspires the world. “A proud moment for every Indian! Delighted that Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List,” Modi said in a post on ‘X’.
“This recognition celebrates India’s profound civilisational and spiritual heritage. It will also inspire more people across the world to come to Sarnath and connect with the ideals of Lord Buddha,” he added.
Sarnath, located 10 kilometres from Varanasi, is a profoundly significant pilgrimage site for Buddhists worldwide. It holds an unparalleled place in history as the location where Gautam Buddha delivered his first sermon.
In August 2025, Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said that India had submitted a dossier titled “Ancient Buddhist Site, Sarnath” to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre for the 2025-26 nomination cycle. He said this in a written response to a query in the Lok Sabha.
The World Heritage Committee is one of the two bodies governing the Convention for the Protection of the World’s Cultural and Natural Heritage.
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