The Dhamek Stupa stands out prominently in Varanasi's Sarnath, one of the four important locations, including Lumbini, Bodhgaya and Kushinagar, linked to Buddha's life events: birth, enlightenment, and first teachings. It was constructed in 500 CE to replace an earlier structure built by King Ashoka in 249 BCE. This Stupa symbolizes the deer park (Rishipattana), where Buddha delivered his initial sermon to followers after enlightenment, introducing his "Eightfold Path."
With a diameter of 28 meters at its base and a height of 43.6 meters, the Stupa is a blend of stone and brick. The lower part's stone surface boasts intricate floral carvings with Gupta influences.
Situated on the southeastern side of Sarnath, the Dhamekh Stupa was built with foundations extending deeply through the Kushan and Mauryan historical periods. It might have been built around the same time as the base of the Ashokan column. Created during the Gupta period, the Stupa's floor sits on the highest point of the concealed area. A study suggests that the lower dome's stone construction belongs to the Gupta period.
A UK-based archaeologist F.O. Oertel had proposed that the Stupa's construction site marks where Maitreya (future Buddha) received assurance from Buddha, but the claim requires thorough research.
The Turks reportedly destroyed Sarnath in the 12th century. Most of the site remained in ruins for nearly a thousand years, except for the Dhamekh Stupa. Around1815, Col Mackenzie and later Alexander Cunningham, a prominent archaeologist who restored major Buddhist sites in India, began organized excavations in Sarnath, unearthing valuable treasures, including the Dhamek Stupa. Over time, the Stupa reportedly underwent six expansions, yet the upper section remains unfinished. Its walls showcase finely carved human and bird figures alongside inscriptions in the Brahmi script. Sarnath, where the Stupa is located, continues to be on UNESCO's tentative list for nearly 25 years (since 1998).