Dhamek

Dhamek Stupa, also spelled Dhamekh Stupa, is a large brick monument located in Sarnath, near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, India. It is a major Buddhist pilgrimage site and one of the most recognizable monuments from the early Buddhist period. The stupa sits at the site traditionally identified as the Deer Park where the Buddha is said to have delivered his first sermon after attaining enlightenment.

History and dating are subject to scholarly discussion. The present brick drum of the Dhamek Stupa is generally dated to the 5th or 6th century CE, though the site is believed to have housed earlier Buddhist structures. In popular tradition the stupa is associated with Emperor Ashoka, who is credited with promoting Buddhist monuments across the subcontinent, but the earliest inscriptions at the site come from later periods.

Architecturally, the Dhamek Stupa is a cylindrical brick drum set on a stone base. Its exterior is relatively plain, reflecting its ancient origin, and it forms part of a larger archaeological complex at Sarnath that includes monasteries, other ruins, and the Sarnath Archaeological Museum.

Cultural significance: the stupa remains an important pilgrimage site for Buddhists and a major destination for visitors. It is administered by the Archaeological Survey of India as part of the Sarnath Archaeological Site, located about 13 kilometers northeast of Varanasi.