The deer park at Sarnath is where Buddha delivered his first sermon, after becoming enlightened sitting under a tree in nearby Bodh Gaya. This event marked the birth of Buddhism, in 528BC. There are many stupas around Sarnath now, and although some of them are low-budget or poorly maintained there are also many that are actively used by monks today. There is also a huge brick stupa here to mark the spot where Buddha gave his sermon to his five disciples.

Hinduism was already an ancient religion when Buddha preached here, and its origin is not far away at the Ganges River in Varanasi.

Click here to see some Buddhist prayer stones and prayer wheels in Nepal.