Sarnath gets UNESCO World Heritage tag on July 26, 2026

Key facts

• Sarnath was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List on July 26, 2026.
• With this inscription, India now has 45 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
• India ranks sixth globally and second in the Asia Pacific Region for most World Heritage Sites.
• Sarnath was included in the tentative list of world heritage in 1998.
• The proposal for inclusion was sent in January 2025 and decided at the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee in Busan, South Korea.
• Sarnath is the site where Buddha delivered his first sermon in the 6th century BCE and is one of the four principal Buddhist pilgrimage sites.
• The inscribed property comprises two components: Chaukhandi Stupa and the Archaeological Remains of Sarnath (including Dhamekh Stupa, Dharmrajika Stupa, Mulagandgakuti Vihara, and Ashokan Pillar).