About 600 m before the museum along the main road, on the left side one encounters the first stupa. Through the recent renovation, landscape gardening and preservations the scenic beauty of the area becomes more attractive. Based on archaeological excavations it is believed that this stupa, or a terraced temple, appears to be constructed prior to the times of Gupta kings, i.e. 5 century. This site assumed to be the actual spot where the Buddha after his enlightenment met five ascetics who earlier left him in disgust at his alleged backsliding, and finally gave the First Sermon, “The Four Noble Truths”. The Persian inscription over one of the doorways of the stops, reads” As Humayun, king of the Seven Climes, now residing in paradise, deigned to come and sit here one day, thereby increasing the splendour of the sun, so Akbar, his son and humble servant, resolved to built on this spot a lofty tower reaching to the blue sky”. By the order of Akbar, Govardhan, son of the Raja Todarmal, the finance secretary in teAkbar’s court, built this octagonal tower on top of the stupa in 1588.

Chaukhandi Stupa Map – Sarnath