Staying in Sarnath

HippySi · Jun 3rd, 2007, 02:24

Hi
Im in Northern India next January/ febuary and am planning to Travel from Delhi To Varanasi on the Train, then heading to Sarnath.
Im cosidering staying in Sarnath for a couple of days and going into Varanasi in the day and traveling back afterwards.
Varanasi sounds an amazing place but im not sure about staying there whilst Sarnath sounds a facinating and mellow place.
What do you good people think?
All help and advice im really grateful for. Its my first India trip and am trying to build a basic (and flexible itinery).

Thank You
HippySi

Darmabum · Jun 3rd, 2007, 02:34

You've got it pretty well down - Varanasi is an amazing place (as well as one of India's most intense); Sarnath is mellow and fascinating. Having spent my last two trips to India in Varanasi, both for six months each, I did the opposite of what you're considering. I lived in Varanasi, near Asi Ghat in the somewhat mellower south end of town. I went to Sarnath when Varanasi got a little "too amazing" (see: overwhelming). If mellow is what you want, Sarnath is the place; Varanasi, IMHO, is worth a stay, a long one. There is so much to do and see there, while Sarnath - once you've done mellow and/or are very interested in Buddhism - is mainly mellow. I'm a BIG fan of Varanasi, to me there is nothing like going to the river in the morning, before the last of the stars are out of the sky, and watching Varanasi wake up. Sunrise is spectacular . . . and getting lost in the narrow lanes of the old city is amazing too.

HippySi · Jun 3rd, 2007, 02:47

Cheers Darmabum, thanks for your reply.
Peace
HippySi

bosquef · Jun 3rd, 2007, 09:28

You can arrange to stay in some of the monasteries/temple guesthouses in Sarnath. It is very cheap, very basic, and you'll have to live more or less a monastic life - i.e. follow the same discipline as all the other pilgrims and monks at the place. I believe the Mahabodi Society (Sri Lankan) has the largest of these facilities, but there are over a dozen temples there, and I seem to recall nearly all of them having some sort of very basic accomodation, and in at least a few of them, I saw westerners.

HippySi · Jun 3rd, 2007, 15:58

Hi Bosquef.
Thanks for your reply.
Im considering staying at a monasteries when im there.
Im more than happy to live a monastic life when staying there.
Thanks again
Si

Jun 3rd, 2007, 02:24	#1
HippySi Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Bolton, UK Posts: 25	Staying in Sarnath Hi Im in Northern India next January/ febuary and am planning to Travel from Delhi To Varanasi on the Train, then heading to Sarnath. Im cosidering staying in Sarnath for a couple of days and going into Varanasi in the day and traveling back afterwards. Varanasi sounds an amazing place but im not sure about staying there whilst Sarnath sounds a facinating and mellow place. What do you good people think? All help and advice im really grateful for. Its my first India trip and am trying to build a basic (and flexible itinery). Thank You HippySi

Jun 3rd, 2007, 02:34	#2
Darmabum Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: in the mountains of Idaho Posts: 813	You've got it pretty well down - Varanasi is an amazing place (as well as one of India's most intense); Sarnath is mellow and fascinating. Having spent my last two trips to India in Varanasi, both for six months each, I did the opposite of what you're considering. I lived in Varanasi, near Asi Ghat in the somewhat mellower south end of town. I went to Sarnath when Varanasi got a little "too amazing" (see: overwhelming). If mellow is what you want, Sarnath is the place; Varanasi, IMHO, is worth a stay, a long one. There is so much to do and see there, while Sarnath - once you've done mellow and/or are very interested in Buddhism - is mainly mellow. I'm a BIG fan of Varanasi, to me there is nothing like going to the river in the morning, before the last of the stars are out of the sky, and watching Varanasi wake up. Sunrise is spectacular . . . and getting lost in the narrow lanes of the old city is amazing too. __________________ Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate; our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure - Marianne Williamson

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Jun 3rd, 2007, 02:47	#3
HippySi Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Bolton, UK Posts: 25	Cheers Darmabum, thanks for your reply. Peace HippySi

Jun 3rd, 2007, 09:28	#4
bosquef Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Indiana (USA) Posts: 48	You can arrange to stay in some of the monasteries/temple guesthouses in Sarnath. It is very cheap, very basic, and you'll have to live more or less a monastic life - i.e. follow the same discipline as all the other pilgrims and monks at the place. I believe the Mahabodi Society (Sri Lankan) has the largest of these facilities, but there are over a dozen temples there, and I seem to recall nearly all of them having some sort of very basic accomodation, and in at least a few of them, I saw westerners.

Jun 3rd, 2007, 15:58	#5
HippySi Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Bolton, UK Posts: 25	Hi Bosquef. Thanks for your reply. Im considering staying at a monasteries when im there. Im more than happy to live a monastic life when staying there. Thanks again Si

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