The Lion Capital and the Sarnath Museum
The Sarnath Museum is the oldest site museum of the Archaeological Survey of India, opened in the early 20th century to hold finds from the excavations. It is small, and an hour with a guide is enough to see the main pieces properly. Bags and cameras go in a cloakroom at the entrance.
The Lion Capital stands in the main hall: four lions seated back to back on a drum carved with four animals and four wheels, made from a single block of sandstone polished to a glassy finish around 250 BCE. It once topped Ashoka's pillar outside. India adopted it as the national emblem in 1950, and its wheel appears on the national flag.
Nearby is the 5th-century seated Buddha in the teaching gesture, carved in Chunar sandstone, with a halo of fine floral work, considered one of the masterpieces of Gupta art. Other galleries hold Bodhisattvas, Hindu images and architectural fragments. The museum is closed on Fridays.
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
Is the Sarnath Museum open on Fridays?
No. The Sarnath Museum is closed on Fridays, as are several other ASI site museums. It is usually open from about 9 am to 5 pm on other days. The archaeological park opposite is open daily. Check current status before you travel and plan Sarnath for a Saturday to Thursday.
Can I photograph the Lion Capital at Sarnath?
No. Photography is not allowed inside the Sarnath Museum, and cameras and phones may need to be left in the cloakroom. Postcards and books are sold at the entrance. The Lion Capital is reproduced on Indian banknotes and coins, so you will have plenty of images of it.
Why is the Lion Capital India's national emblem?
The Lion Capital of Ashoka was adopted as India's national emblem in January 1950. It represents Ashoka's rule, which promoted non-violence and tolerance, and the wheel of the dharma on its base also appears at the centre of the national flag. The emblem shows three of the four lions, as seen from one side.
Also in Sarnath
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