Explore a different destination  Ashoka Pillar
Isipathana Deer Park, Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, India

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This sight is located in Sarnath, an hour from Varanasi, India. For travel information about Varanasi, read the Varanasi Travel Guide. To prepare for a trip to India, read also the India Travel Guide. Looking for budget accommodation there? Use AsiaExplorers Budget Accommodation Guide, the no-frills website to cover your budget accommodation needs.


The Ashoka Pillar in one of the artefacts to be seen at the Sarnath Archaeological Park. It is one of many pillars inscribed by Emperor Ashoka between about 243 B.C. and 242 B.C. and placed all over his empire. On these pillars are edicts covering a wide range of topics including religion, law, religious tolerance and the protection of animals.



Ashoka Pillar, Sarnath Archaeological Park, Sarnath.


Only ten pillars still exist today, out of over 30 Ashoka pillar edicts. The pillars are on average about 40-50 feet high and weighed up to around 50 tons each. At Sarnath, between two and three hundred years after Shakyamuni Buddha first turned the Wheel of Dharma, the Emperor Ashoka erected a pillar. The four lions at its crown representing the "lion's roar of the dharma" (shakyasimha) in the cardinal directions, were adopted by modern India as the national emblem. At the lions' base is the Wheel of Dharma reproduced at the center of the Indian flag. The Lion Capital can be viewed at the Sarnath Archaeological Museum near the park.

I visited the Ashoka Pillar with a small group of AsiaExplorers members when we were Varanasi, and we made a day-trip here.

Getting Accommodation in Varanasi

If you're planning a trip to Varanasi, the Varanasi Budget Accommodation Guide provides a regularly updated list of budget accommodation in the city, showing you an estimated price for each place. As a visitor to Varanasi, it would be best to choose accommodation close to the Ganges River, which is the focus of activity throughout the day. If you prefer to say at a hotel, view list of Varanasi Hotels.

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Find Local Tours in India

When travelling to an exotic destination as India, it is important to use a reputable tour operator. As an independent traveler, you have the freedom to create your own vacation according to your own schedule. Here are some local tours of India which you may want to consider. They are provided by Viator, a big and reputable tour scheduling organisation, so you can peace of mind when placing your booking.

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AsiaExplorers is researched and written by Timothy Tye. Reasonable care is taken to check and verify the accuracy of the content. AsiaExplorers disclaims responsibility for any inconvenience, mishap, injury or death resulting from following the tips and advice provided directly or indirectly by this website. All pages may be printed out for your own personal, non-commercial use. Photographs not credited to a third party belong to Timothy Tye and may not be reused in any form unless you are first given permission. Write in to inquire if interested. Third party photographs are governed by their respective licenses. The author is a Christian. Click here if you are interested to know more about his Christian beliefs. To contact AsiaExplorers, use the following email address: