Varanasi & the east · Where the Buddha gave his first sermon
Sarnath group trip guide
Sarnath: Where the Buddha gave his first sermon in Varanasi & the east, Uttar Pradesh. From Varanasi it is 11 km by road, 1–2 hours with stops. Groups give it half a day. A 17-seater tempo traveller with driver from Varanasi costs ₹6,800–8,400 for a same-day round trip, as of Oct 2026.
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Photo: Preeti Prajapati, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped), via Wikimedia Commons
- From Varanasi
- 11 km by road
- Time to give it
- Half a day
- Best season
- October to March
- Fare from Varanasi
- ₹6,800–8,400 round trip (Oct 2026)
- Nearest airport
- Varanasi (VNS)
At Sarnath's Deer Park the Buddha gave his first sermon after his enlightenment, setting the wheel of the Dharma in motion.
The great Dhamek Stupa stands among the ruins of old monasteries, and the Sarnath museum holds the lion capital of Ashoka, India's national emblem.
How many are going?
Slide to your group size: the vehicle that fits, and its fare to Sarnath from each city, from the tables below.
Fits your group
Tempo Traveller 17-seater or Force Urbania (luxury van)
13–17 or 10–17 seats
₹6,800–8,400 for a full day (250 km)
Varanasi → Sarnath
₹6,800–8,400
Tempo Traveller 17-seater · 11 km one way · 1 day, round trip
Tap a route:
Indicative fares from the tables on this page (see the notes under them); operators quote the exact price.
Why groups go
A half-day from Varanasi, and the first stop of the Buddhist circuit for groups from Asia and from across India.
The Buddhist circuitMughal & Nawabi heritage
How far is Sarnath
Road distance from our route catalog, one way.
| From | Road km | With stops | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Varanasi | 11 km | 1–2 h | – |
| Lucknow | 294 km | 6–7 h | – |
| Agra | 605 km | 12–13 h | – |
| Ghaziabad | 767 km | 15–17 h | – |
| Prayagraj | 133 km | 3–4 h | – |
Group fares from Varanasi
Round trip with driver, 1 day, by vehicle.
| Vehicle | Seats | Round trip, 1 day |
|---|---|---|
| SUV / Innova | 6–7 | ₹4,700–6,300 |
| Tempo Traveller 12-seater | 9–12 | ₹5,800–7,400 |
| Tempo Traveller 17-seater | 13–17 | ₹6,800–8,400 |
| Tempo Traveller 20–26 seater | 18–26 | ₹7,900–10,000 |
| AC Coach 40–49 seater | 36–49 | ₹15,000–20,200 |
Indicative range, updated Oct 2026; actual quotes from verified operators may differ. For a day trip with driver: vehicle hire at the class's ₹/km band (minimum 250 km a day), driver allowance ₹500 a day, night halt ₹300, 5% GST. Tolls and parking are extra, at actual cost. Post your trip for exact itemised quotes.
Indicative range, updated Oct 2026; actual quotes from verified operators may differ. For a day trip with driver: vehicle hire at the class's ₹/km band (minimum 250 km a day), driver allowance ₹500 a day, night halt ₹300, 5% GST. Tolls and parking are extra, at actual cost. Post your trip for exact itemised quotes.
When to go and how long
- Best season: October to March.
- Time to give it: Half a day.
- Who goes: Buddhist pilgrims, School groups, International visitors.
Add on nearby
Circuits that include Sarnath
Arriving from abroad or another state
- Nearest airport: Varanasi (VNS).
- Nearest railway station: Varanasi Junction.
- Operators quote the airport or station pickup with the whole trip: put your arrival in the request.
Operators for Sarnath
Approved operators who take groups to Sarnath. Ask for quotes here: your request reaches them through the platform and you compare itemised offers.
VIJAY TRAVELS
VerifiedVehicle Owner
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
11 km by road from Sarnath
2 vehicles · 7–16 seats
Official pages and sources
Opening hours, tickets and permits change: check them on the official pages before you travel.
How booking works
- Post your trip onceDates, pickup, places and group size. It takes two minutes and costs nothing.
- Verified operators quoteWe invite up to 6 verified operators near you, aiming for 3 quotes, and invite more if fewer reply within 2 hours.
- Compare itemised quotesVehicle, driver allowance, night halts, tolls and taxes, line by line, side by side.
- Book and pay the operatorAccept a quote and pay the operator an advance (25%) directly. No Yippigo fee: free until 31 December 2026.
Questions groups ask
Varanasi se Sarnath kitne km hai? (How far is Sarnath from Varanasi?)
11 km by road: 1–2 hours in a tempo traveller or bus with tea and meal stops (group vehicles average 45–50 km an hour, about 35 on ghat roads). Road distance from our route catalog.
Sarnath ke liye tempo traveller kitne ka padega?
Round trip from Varanasi (11 km one way, 1 day) with driver: 17-seater ₹6,800–8,400, 40–49 seater bus ₹15,000–20,200. Indicative, as of Oct 2026; post the trip for the exact rate.
What does a group trip to Sarnath cost?
Round trip from Varanasi with driver: SUV / Innova ₹4,700–6,300; Tempo Traveller 12-seater ₹5,800–7,400; Tempo Traveller 17-seater ₹6,800–8,400; Tempo Traveller 20–26 seater ₹7,900–10,000; AC Coach 40–49 seater ₹15,000–20,200. Indicative, as of October 2026, with driver allowance and 5% GST; hotels, food and entry tickets are extra.
How many days do we need for Sarnath?
Half a day. With the drive from Varanasi, plan a day trip, or 2 days to see more in all. A half-day from Varanasi, and the first stop of the Buddhist circuit for groups from Asia and from across India.
When is the best time to visit Sarnath?
October to March.
Which vehicle for our group?
4 people: Sedan; 7 people: SUV / Innova; 12 people: Tempo Traveller 12-seater + Force Urbania (luxury van); 17 people: Tempo Traveller 17-seater + Force Urbania (luxury van); 26 people: Tempo Traveller 20–26 seater; 45 people: AC Coach 40–49 seater.
How do we reach Sarnath from abroad?
Nearest airport: Varanasi (VNS). Nearest railway station: Varanasi Junction. Operators quote the airport pickup and the whole trip with a driver.
- Free to post
- Compare itemised quotes
- Pay the operator a 25% advance only after you accept a quote
- Operators quote only once their vehicle's papers are approved