Archaeological Museum Sarnath

Archaeological Museum Sarnath was established in 1910 and is a site museum of the ASI (Archaeological Survey of India). It was built to preserve and display antiquities found during the excavation at Sarnath. The idea of the construction of the museum was initiated by Sir John Marshall, the then Director-General of ASI. The designing of the museum was commissioned to Mr James Ransome, who was the consulting architect to the Government of India.

There are five galleries and two verandahs in the museum. There are many important artefacts that exhibit the materials and techniques used from 3rd century BC to 12th century AD found at Sarnath.

One of the most notable images at the museum is of Buddha preaching, from the Gupta period, and the Lion Capital of Ashoka. Some other objects like figures of birds, animals, male and female heads dating from 3rd century BC to 12th century AD and terracottas, decorated baked bricks and pots, images of Jain Tirthankaras Parshvanatha, and Vimalanatha, etc. The museum also has an attached archaeological park and a souvenir shop at the entrance.