SARNATH ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM
Significance: Archaeological Museum
Main Attraction: Ashokan Pillar
Timings: All Days Except Friday
The museum at Sarnath has an
excellent collection of figures and sculptures from Sarnath's Mauryan,
Kushan and Gupta periods. Among them is the earliest Buddha image found at
Sarnath and many images of Hindu gods dating from the 9th to 12th
centuries.
The main attraction of this Archaeological Museum is the superb capital
from the Ashokan Pillar. It has the Ashokan symbol of four back-to-back
lions, which has been adopted as the state symbol of modern India. Below
this are representations of a lion, an elephant, horse and the bull.
The lion is supposed to represent bravery, the elephant symbolises the
dream Buddha's mother had before his birth and the horse recalls that
Buddha left his home on horseback in search of enlightenment.
The stone sculptures from the site of Sarnath are divided in several
museums, the major chunk being in the local museum. The Director General
of Archaeological Survey of India has loaned some pieces discovered from
Sarnath to this museum. They represent deities of the Buddhist and
Brahmanical pantheons.
The museum is open every day except Friday from 10 am to 4.30 pm. Entry
fee is Rs. 2.
Know more about this Package !!!
279/A, Masjid Moth, South Extention - II
New Delhi - 110 049 (INDIA)
Tel : +91-11-4164 3999 / 2626 2004
Fax : +91-11-2625 9695
Email : info@indiainfoweb.com


