Copyright infringement not intended

Picture Courtesy:  INDIANEXPRESS

Context

Sarnath, located near Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, has been on India’s Tentative List since 1998, is under consideration for UNESCO World Heritage status in the 2025–26 cycle.

Historical and Cultural Significance of Sarnath

Historical Names:  Rishipatana, Mrigadava, and Mrigadaya.

Site of Buddha's First Sermon: Place where Gautama Buddha delivered his first sermon, the Dharmachakra Pravartana (Turning of the Wheel of Dharma), after attaining enlightenment.

Foundation of Buddhism: The sermon established the core tenets of Buddhism, including the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, and marked the beginning of the Buddhist Sangha (community).

Sacred Pilgrimage Site: It is one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the world, along with Lumbini (birth), Bodh Gaya (enlightenment), and Kushinagar (death).

Patronage by Emperor Ashoka: In the 3rd century BCE, Emperor Ashoka built several stupas and monasteries at the site, promoting it as a major Buddhist center.

National Emblem of India: The famous Lion Capital from the Ashokan Pillar erected at Sarnath was adopted as the State Emblem of India.

Major Monuments

• Dhamek Stupa: A massive stupa marking the exact location of the first sermon.
• Ashokan Pillar: 3rd century BCE, this pillar was originally crowned by the famous Lion Capital, which features four lions back-to-back. The Lion Capital is now preserved in the Sarnath Archaeological Museum and serves as the National Emblem of India.
• Dharmarajika Stupa: Initially built by Emperor Ashoka to house the relics of the Buddha.
• Chaukhandi Stupa: Commemorates the spot where Buddha met his first five disciples.
• Mulagandha Kuti Vihar: A modern monastery constructed by the Mahabodhi Society in 1931, known for its beautiful frescoes depicting scenes from the Buddha's life.

Center of Learning and Art: For over 1,500 years, Sarnath was a flourishing hub for Buddhist art, architecture, and philosophy, especially during the Gupta period.

What are UNESCO World Heritage Sites?

UNESCO World Heritage Sites are places of exceptional cultural, historical, or natural significance that are protected under the 1972 World Heritage Convention; 196 countries have ratified, including India.

Categories: Sites can be cultural (monuments, historic buildings), natural (deserts, forests, mountains), or mixed, containing elements of both cultural and natural significance.

Criteria for selection: To be inscribed on the World Heritage List, a site must meet at least one of ten selection criteria, which were revised in 2004.

Nominations: Countries must first add a site to a "Tentative List" before formally nominating it for World Heritage status. 

Indian sites in the World Heritage List

44 World Heritage Sites; 36 cultural sites, 7 natural sites, and one mixed site (Khangchendzonga National Park).

Most recent addition: The Maratha Military Landscapes, a network of 12 forts, was inscribed on the list in July 2025.

Tentative list: India has 62 sites on its Tentative List, a mandatory step before formal nomination.

Nodal Agency: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) acts as the nodal agency for all World Heritage matters in India.

UNESCO Nomination Process

Tentative list

Countries must first create an inventory of significant sites, known as a Tentative List. A site must be on this list to be considered for nomination. 

Nomination file

A detailed nomination file is prepared for a chosen site from the Tentative List. This file must include documentation, maps, and demonstrate "Outstanding Universal Value" based on specific criteria.  

Evaluation by Advisory Bodies

The World Heritage Centre sends the nomination file to independent Advisory Bodies for evaluation: 

• International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) evaluates cultural sites.
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) evaluates natural and "mixed" sites.
• International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) advises on the conservation of cultural sites. 

Field mission and review

Advisory Bodies conduct evaluations, including field missions by experts to assess the site. 

Review by the World Heritage Committee

The World Heritage Committee makes the final decision annually based on the evaluations. The Committee can Inscribe, Defer (request more information), Refer back (recommend revisions), or Not Inscribe (reject the nomination). 

Final decision

If approved, the site is added to the World Heritage List. The country is then responsible for its protection and preservation. 

Source: INDIANEXPRESS