Sarnath, also known as Isipatana and formerly as Mrigadava, is the location where the Buddha held his first public discourse, after he had attained Enlightenment.

Today, it is still home to the remnants of one of several former Buddhist monasteries that were established in Sarnath following that major event in the life of the Buddha.

When the Chinese monk Xuanzang (fig.), known in Sanskrit as Tripitaka (fig.), visited Sarnath in 640 AD, he recorded that the then monastery had over 1,500 monks. In the background stands the Dhamekha Stupa, which is said to cover the exact spot where this first sermon was given to the panjawakkie and which is believed to contain relics of the Buddha.