Sarnath becomes India's 45th Unesco World Heritage Site, PM calls it a proud moment

Published 25 July 2026 · local

India's ancient Buddhist site of Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh was on Saturday inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List during the 48th session of the

India's ancient Buddhist site of Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh was on Saturday inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List during the 48th session of the Unesco World Heritage Committee in Busan, South Korea. Unesco announced the decision in a post on X, saying, "New inscription on the Unesco World Heritage List: Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath, India." The inscription makes Sarnath India's 45th site on the Unesco World Heritage List. Read Full Story Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the recognition and described it as "a proud moment for every Indian." "A proud moment for every Indian! Delighted that Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh has been inscribed on the Unesco World Heritage List," PM Modi said in a post on X.

The Prime Minister said Sarnath has a deep connection with Lord Buddha, whose timeless message of wisdom, compassion and harmony continues to inspire the world. "This recognition celebrates India's profound civilisational and spiritual heritage. It will also inspire more people across the world to come to Sarnath and connect with the ideals of Lord Buddha," he said. Located around 10 kilometres from Varanasi, Sarnath is one of the most significant pilgrimage sites for Buddhists across the world. It holds a unique place in history as the site where Gautam Buddha delivered his first sermon. The decision to inscribe Sarnath on the World Heritage List was taken during the ongoing 48th session of the Unesco World Heritage Committee in Busan, South Korea.

In August 2025, Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply that India had submitted a dossier titled "Ancient Buddhist Site, Sarnath" to the Unesco World Heritage Centre for the 2025-26 nomination cycle. The World Heritage Committee is one of the two bodies that govern the Convention for the Protection of the World's Cultural and Natural Heritage. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also welcomed the development, saying, "Our cultural pride soars even higher today as Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh has been included in the Unesco World Heritage List." Calling it an endorsement of India's ancient heritage associated with Lord Buddha, Shah said the recognition would take the Buddha's luminous wisdom to more people and inspire them to embrace the ideals of peace and enlightenment for a better world.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India's timeless civilisational heritage continues to receive global recognition. "Sarnath's inscription on the Unesco World Heritage List is a proud moment for every Indian and a shining reflection of Uttar Pradesh's glorious spiritual and cultural legacy," he said, adding that Uttar Pradesh welcomes the world to experience this eternal heritage. Ends