Shechen Stupa

The structure consists of four arms and hence the name. It was constructed in the 4th - 5th century CE, during the Gupta period.The stupa marks the spot where the Buddha met the five ascetics. The stupa finds a mention in the travelogues of the famous Chinese traveller Xuanzang (Husan Tsang) who visited the site around 7 century CE. The stupa is topped with an octagonal turret. This turret is a later addition and dates back to the Mughal period. It was commissioned by Akbar in 1567 to commemorate Humayun’s visit to Sarnath in 1532.

A standing Buddha statue, 24.3 metres (80 feet) in height, inspired by the Bamiyan Buddha is located inside the temple complex.

A small, but impressive collection of artifacts excavated from the site. The sculptures are particularly of interest, including the Lion Capital of Ashoka, the national emblem of India. The museum building dates back to 1910 and has a red sandstone finish, which blends with the surrounding excavated ruins. The museum has 7 galleries out of which two are verandah galleries.