Chinese Buddhist Temple, Sarnath
Also Known As · Chinese Temple Sarnath, Chinese Mahayana Temple, Cheeni Mandir Sarnath
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh · monument
Quiet, incense-scented and contemplative — a small red-and-gold Chinese monastery courtyard away from the crowds.
- Days OpenOpen daily
- Entry FeeFree Entry
- Best SeasonWinter (October–March), when Varanasi's weather is mild and pleasant for walking the Sarnath temple circuit.
- Best Time of DayEarly morning, just after the 6 AM opening, or the golden hour before sunset.
- Time Needed15–30 minutes
- Nearest MetroVaranasi has no metro. The nearest railhead is Sarnath Railway Station
- Crowd LevelsLow. One of Sarnath's least-visited temples — usually calm even when the Dhamek Stupa is busy. It can see brief spikes around Buddha Purnima (May).
- Kid Friendly4 of 5
- Wheelchair AccessPartial
Tucked into the leafy pilgrim quarter of Sarnath, barely a few hundred metres east of the Dhamek Stupa and next door to the Mulagandha Kuti Vihar, the Chinese Buddhist Temple is one of the most quietly rewarding stops in the deer-park town where the Buddha preached his first sermon. Founded in 1939 by Tao-Kai, an abbot from Beijing, together with Fa-Yuan-Tsu of the Eastern Asian Buddhist association, the temple grew on what was once a humble vegetable plot. Its distinctive ceremonial gate and enclosing compound wall were added in 1952, giving the compound the classic look of a Chinese monastery: sweeping tiled eaves, vivid vermilion and gold woodwork, and a calm courtyard shaded by trees.
Where to Eat Nearby
Nearby Vegetarian Eats
Satvik pilgrim thali houses, Sarnath (Ashok Marg)
0.5 km awayPure-veg pilgrim thali
Ksheer Sagar, Sonarpura
9 km awayPure-veg sweets, rabri and thali
Kashi Chat Bhandar, Godowlia
10 km awayPure-veg tomato chaat and tikki
About
Tucked into the leafy pilgrim quarter of Sarnath, barely a few hundred metres east of the Dhamek Stupa and next door to the Mulagandha Kuti Vihar, the Chinese Buddhist Temple is one of the most quietly rewarding stops in the deer-park town where the Buddha preached his first sermon.
- Founded in 1939 by Tao-Kai, an abbot from Beijing, together with Fa-Yuan-Tsu of the Eastern Asian Buddhist association, the temple grew on what was once a humble vegetable plot.
- Its distinctive ceremonial gate and enclosing compound wall were added in 1952, giving the compound the classic look of a Chinese monastery: sweeping tiled eaves, vivid vermilion and gold woodwork, and a calm courtyard shaded by trees.
- Step through the gate and the noise of the road falls away.
- The prayer hall is a modest but immensely peaceful space, its air soft with sandalwood incense and lit by rows of red paper lanterns.
- Gilded Buddha figures of varying sizes sit on the altar in the Mahayana style, quite different from the Theravada and Tibetan shrines scattered elsewhere in Sarnath.
- A highlight for the curious traveller is a large illustrated board, captioned in Hindi, English and Chinese, tracing the epic seventh-century journey of the monk-scholar Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang), who travelled from China to India during the reign of King Harshavardhana and left one of history's most valuable accounts of ancient Sarnath.
- Panels on the life of the Buddha make this one of the town's most genuinely educational corners, and because it draws so few visitors, you often have the hall almost to yourself.
- The temple is a working place of worship maintained by resident monks, so it rewards an unhurried, respectful visit rather than a quick photo stop.
- Remove your shoes before entering the hall, keep your voice low, and ask before photographing the altar or any monk at prayer.
- Combined with the neighbouring Mulagandha Kuti Vihar, the Dhamek Stupa, the Sarnath Museum and the several other national temples nearby, it slots neatly into a half-day of gentle, walkable sightseeing.
- For vegetarian travellers, Sarnath is close to effortless.
- As a Buddhist pilgrimage centre it is overwhelmingly meat-free, and simple pure-vegetarian eateries line the approach roads serving thalis, chole bhature, paneer dishes, samosas and hot chai.
- You will find no pressure to eat anything you would rather avoid here; a plate of satvik dal, sabzi and roti, or a glass of sweet lassi after your temple round, is very much the local rhythm.
- Carry your own water, and note that food and drink are best enjoyed outside the temple grounds rather than within the prayer hall.
Timings & Entry Fee
Visiting Hours
- • Monday–Sunday: 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Entry Fee: Entry is free. There is no ticket for the temple; a small voluntary donation box is kept inside the hall.
Verified: July 2026
Location & How to Reach
Address
Chinese Buddhist Temple, near Mulagandha Kuti Vihar, Dharmapala Road, Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, 221007
Adjacent to Mulagandha Kuti Vihar, about 650 m east of the Dhamek Stupa complex
🚇 Nearest Metro: Varanasi has no metro. The nearest railhead is Sarnath Railway Station (about 0.5 km); the main city terminus is Varanasi Junction (BSB), roughly 10 km away.
🚶 Walking from Metro: Not applicable — there is no metro. From Sarnath Railway Station the temple is about a 7–10 minute (0.5 km) walk; from the Dhamek Stupa it is an 8–10 minute stroll east.
Distance from
- • Sarnath Railway Station: 0.5 km (~6 min)
- • Dhamek Stupa: 0.6 km (~8 min)
- • Varanasi Junction (BSB): 10 km (~35 min)
Parking
street · 20–50
No dedicated temple car park. Vehicles use the shared public parking near the Dhamek Stupa / Sarnath Museum, a short walk away; small fees apply for cars and autos.
🚕 Ride Hailing Tip: Ola and Uber operate in Varanasi but can be patchy in Sarnath; it is often easier to keep your auto or taxi for the round trip, or to hail a shared auto back towards the city from Sarnath crossing.
How to Reach: Sarnath lies about 10 km northeast of Varanasi's old city. Varanasi has no metro. Take an auto-rickshaw, taxi or app cab from Varanasi Junction (BSB) or from the ghats; the drive takes 30–45 minutes depending on traffic. Sarnath Railway Station is roughly 0.5 km away, and Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (Babatpur) is about 25 km. From the Dhamek Stupa complex the temple is an easy 8–10 minute walk east, past the Mulagandha Kuti Vihar.
Things to Do
- Sit quietly in the incense-scented prayer hall before the gilded Buddha figures
- Study the trilingual map tracing Xuanzang's journey from China to India
- Read the illustrated panels on the life of the Buddha
- Photograph the vermilion-and-gold Chinese gate in morning light
- Walk next door to the Mulagandha Kuti Vihar and on to the Dhamek Stupa
Best Time to Visit
History & Significance
History
The Chinese Buddhist Temple was founded in 1939 by Tao-Kai, an abbot from Beijing, in collaboration with Fa-Yuan-Tsu, president of the Eastern Asian Buddhist association.
- It was built on a former vegetable plot within the Sarnath temple belt, close to the ruins where the Buddha delivered his first sermon.
- In 1952 the temple's now-familiar ceremonial gate and surrounding compound wall were added, completing its classic Chinese-monastery character.
- The temple deliberately honours the historic bond between China and Sarnath through Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang), the seventh-century Chinese pilgrim-scholar whose detailed writings on Sarnath, composed during King Harshavardhana's reign, remain a key source for reconstructing the site's ancient past.
🏛️ Architect: The temple follows a traditional Chinese Mahayana monastery plan rather than the work of a named modern architect: a gated compound in vermilion and gold, tiled sweeping eaves, a single peaceful prayer hall with gilded Buddha figures, and hanging red lanterns. The 1952 gate and boundary wall give the courtyard its defining Chinese silhouette.
Significance
As Sarnath's Chinese Mahayana temple, it represents the Chinese Buddhist tradition among the town's cluster of international shrines built by different Buddhist nations.
- Its Xuanzang route map and trilingual Buddha panels make it an unusually educational stop, and it embodies the enduring cultural link between China and the birthplace of the Buddha's teaching.
- Its calm, near-empty halls also make it one of the most contemplative corners of the Sarnath pilgrimage circuit.
Places to Visit Nearby
Dhamek Stupa
0.6 km awayThe monumental brick stupa marking the spot of the Buddha's first sermon — Sarnath's icon.
Mulagandha Kuti Vihar
0.2 km awayA 1931 Mahabodhi Society temple with vivid frescoes by Kosetsu Nosu, right next door.
Sarnath Archaeological Museum
0.5 km awayHome to the original Ashokan Lion Capital, India's national emblem.
Family & Accessibility
Family Highlights
- • Colourful red-and-gold Chinese architecture that children find striking
- • Illustrated Xuanzang journey map and Buddha life-story panels in English
- • Calm open courtyard safe for young children
- • Easily combined with the deer park and Dhamek Stupa nearby
Photography & Drone
💰 Equipment Fees: None — there is no photography or camera fee.
📍 The Golden Spot: The red-and-gold ceremonial gate framing the courtyard, best shot in soft morning light.
🌅 Best Light Time: Early morning soon after opening, or the golden hour before sunset.
Tips & Safety
⚠️ Common Scams
Unofficial 'guides' at Sarnath
Freelance guides sometimes attach themselves to visitors at the Sarnath temples and demand a fee afterwards.
Official AdviceAgree on any guiding and price up front, or politely decline; the temple itself needs no guide.
Overpriced auto fares from the city
Some drivers quote inflated one-way fares to Sarnath knowing return transport is scarce.
Official AdviceNegotiate a round-trip fare with waiting time, or use a metered app cab where available.
💡 Insider Tips
🌅 Secret View: Step to the rear of the courtyard for a clean view of the temple's tiled Chinese eaves rising against the sky, with almost no crowds in frame.
🎯 Crowd Hack: Come right at the 6 AM opening or in the last hour before closing; midday tour groups cluster at the Dhamek Stupa, leaving this temple almost empty.
💎 Secret Fact: The temple stands on land that was once a simple vegetable plot, and its founder Tao-Kai was an abbot from Beijing — a rare living link between Chinese Mahayana Buddhism and the very ground where the Buddha first taught.
⚡ Express Tour
Fifteen minutes: shoes off, a quiet circuit of the incense-scented hall, a look at the Xuanzang route map, then straight on to the Mulagandha Kuti Vihar next door.
🔭 Deep Dive Tour
Ninety minutes: pair the temple with Mulagandha Kuti Vihar's frescoes, the Dhamek Stupa lawns, and the Sarnath Museum's Lion Capital, reading each temple's panels on the Buddha's life as you go.
🙏 Etiquette & Dress Code
Do's
- Remove your shoes before entering the prayer hall
- Keep your voice low — this is an active place of worship
- Read the trilingual Xuanzang route map and Buddha life panels
- Combine the visit with the adjoining Mulagandha Kuti Vihar and Dhamek Stupa
- Drop a small voluntary donation in the box if you wish
Don'ts
- Don't photograph the altar or monks at prayer without asking first
- Don't touch or sit on the shrine statues or ritual objects
- Don't carry food, drink or leather items into the hall
- Don't rush through — the temple's appeal is its stillness
👕 Dress Code: Modest dress covering shoulders and knees is expected, as at any working temple. Shoes must be removed before entering the prayer hall; slip-on footwear is convenient.
📷 Photography Rules: Photography of the exterior, gate and courtyard is generally fine. Inside the hall, ask a resident monk before photographing the altar, and never photograph anyone at prayer without consent. Tripods and drones are discouraged; there is no photography fee.
Good to Know
💳 Money & Connectivity
🏧 Nearest ATM: ATMs are available near Sarnath crossing and along Sarnath Road, roughly 0.5–1 km away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an entry fee for the Chinese Buddhist Temple in Sarnath?
No. Entry is free. A voluntary donation box is kept inside the hall for those who wish to contribute.
What are the temple's opening hours?
It is open every day from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
When was the temple built?
It was founded in 1939 by Tao-Kai, an abbot from Beijing; its ceremonial gate and compound wall were added in 1952.
How do I reach it from Varanasi?
Sarnath is about 10 km from Varanasi's old city. Take an auto-rickshaw, taxi or app cab (30–45 minutes). Varanasi has no metro; Sarnath Railway Station is about 0.5 km away.
Is it worth visiting compared with the other Sarnath temples?
Yes — it is small but exceptionally peaceful and rarely crowded, and its Xuanzang map and Buddha panels make it one of the more educational stops. It pairs perfectly with the neighbouring Mulagandha Kuti Vihar and Dhamek Stupa.
Are there good vegetarian places to eat nearby?
Yes. Sarnath is a Buddhist pilgrimage town and overwhelmingly vegetarian; simple pure-veg eateries along Sarnath Road serve thalis, chole bhature, paneer dishes and chai within a few minutes' walk.