Sarnath Archaeological Museum, Varansi, Uttar Pradesh - 28

The main exhibit includes one of the earliest images of Buddha. It also has the prized Ashokan pillar and a large collection of figures and sculptures form the Mauryan, Kushan and Gupta periods.

Sarnath Archaeological Museum is known as an oldest museum of the Archaeological Survey of India. In order to maintain the ancientnesses found from this site, a conclusion was taken in 1904 by the Government to build a site museum next to the dug up site at Sarnath. The building was completed in 1910 to house, display and study the ancientnesses. The building forms half of a religious residence (Sangharama) in plan. There are five galleries and two verandahs. The antiquities in the museum are dateable from 3rd century BC to 12th century AD.

The galleries have been baptized on the basis of their contents, the northern most gallery is Tathagata while next one is Triratna. The main hall is known as Shakyasimha gallery and adjacent to it on south is named as Trimurti. The southern most is Ashutosh gallery, the verandahs on northern and southern side are named as Vastumandana and shilparatna respectively.

Trimurti gallery contains pot curving outward seated Yaksha figure, image of Trimurti (Brahama, Vishnu and Mahesh) Surya, Saraswati, Mahisasur mardini and some secular objects like figures of birds, animals, male and female heads as well as some stucco figures.

Ashutosh gallery exhibits Brahmanical deities like Shiva in different forms, Vishnu, Ganesh, Kartikeya, Agni, Parvati, Navagrahas, Bhairava and a colossal Andhakasuravadha (killing of demon Andhaka) by Shiva.

Mostly architectural members are on display at two verandahs of the museum. A large lintel depicting story of shantivadina Jataka is a beautiful piece of Art.

This museum remains open from 10.00 am to 05.00 pm and closed on Fridays.

Entrance Fee : Rs. 2/- per head and children up to 15 years free to see this unique museum.

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