While tourists and pilgrims visit Sarnath throughout the year, the crowd is more in the winters and during the Buddhist festivals.
What is the best time to visit Sarnath weather-wise?
Weather wise, Mid-November to Feb is the best time to visit Sarnath.
India is hot most of the year. Sarnath is in the northern part of the country, and the temperature in the peak summer season is above 40 degrees Celsius, making it extremely unbearable.
Although tourists can be seen throughout the year, it would be wise to avoid the summers (April to June) for a comfortable visit.
The weather is pleasant from mid-November to mid-December. The end of December and January could be cold, with temperatures going down to 6-8 degrees Celsius. Your travel in peak winter could also be hampered by dense fogs that impacts train speed and flight timings.
What is the best time to visit Sarnath festivities?
Sarnath is primarily a Buddhist religious site and there are a couple of big festivals around it.
Buddha Purnima is one of the most important festival of the year at Sarnath. It occurs on the full moon day in the Indian month of Baisakh and usually occurs in the month of April and May. Buddhist pilgrims from across the world gather at Sarnath to commemorate the occasion.
The founding day of the Mulagandha Kuti Vihara (where Buddha delivered his first sermon) is celebrated on the first full moon of November. During the day, pilgrims participate in a colorful procession with chariots and elephants. It is said that the procession also displays a tooth belonging to Gautam Buddha.
There is also the Dev Deepawali Hindu festival, which is observed on the Indian calendar of Kartik Purnima (usually in October-November). While Sarnath is well-lit and decorated for this occasion, it will be difficult to get accommodation anywhere in Varanasi during this period. The hotels are either unavailable or way too expensive.
Other than that, Varanasi observes an in-flux of Hindu pilgrims during the Indian month of Sawan (July-August). Some of those pilgrims also stay in Sarnath.
