Uttar Pradesh: Sarnath Added To UNESCO World Heritage List, Becomes State's Fourth Heritage Site

Lucknow/Varanasi, July 25, 2026: After a wait of nearly 28 years, Sarnath, the site where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon, has been inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List. The efforts of the Yogi Government have borne fruit, and Sarnath has now become India's 45th and Uttar Pradesh's fourth World Heritage Site. This historic announcement was made on Saturday during the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Busan, South Korea.

With this achievement, Sarnath, one of the holiest sites of Buddhism, has received a new identity on the highest global platform for heritage recognition. It is also expected to strengthen Uttar Pradesh's Buddhist Circuit on the international tourism and cultural heritage map.