About 350 m north towards the Chaukhandi Stupa on the main road going to the Museum and archaeological site, one meets the Thai Temple on the left. Under the leadership of Ven. Phrakru Prakassmadhikun a group of Thai pilgrims visited Sarnath in 1969 to pay homage to Lord Buddha. This group visited all the sacred Buddhist sites in India. Though the leader of the group was pleased to find quite an appreciable number of Buddhists in India, he was quite justifiably concerned to see a negligible number of Buddhist temples and institutions. With this feeling, on 27th January 1969 a committee was constituted to develop a temple compound and an associated institution. The foundation stone was laid on 28 November 1974, and on 10 February 1976 this was opened for visitors. The recently built temple of the Hinayana sect (in 1993) in this compound, contains the stone statue of the Buddha in posture of bhumisparshatnudra, “the earth-touching gesture”, symbolising the Buddha’s response by calling the earth-spirit to witness his enlightenment. The underground hall of this temple is used as meditation hall. A primary school (grade 1° to 5°’) is also attached to the temple. The headquarters of the temple trust, Mrigadayavana Mahavihara Foundation, is in Bangkok (Thailand). About 185 in north on the main road, you can get off the vehicle to see the museum and walk around the archaeological site, the religious monuments and the Deer Park.