Mulagandha Kuti Vihar (Sarnath) FAQs In 2026 - 2027

Mulagandha Kuti Vihar is a Buddhist temple located at Sarnath, near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, India. It is a modern temple built by the Maha Bodhi Society in 1931 and is famous for its murals and frescos that depict the life of Lord Buddha. The temple represents a fusion of traditional Buddhist architectural elements with modern ones.

Mulagandha Kuti Vihar holds religious significance as it is situated at Sarnath, where Gautama Buddha delivered his first sermon after attaining enlightenment. The sermon is known as 'Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta,' meaning 'The Setting in Motion of the Wheel of Dharma.' This location is therefore one of the four key sites for Buddhist pilgrimages.

Visitors to Mulagandha Kuti Vihar can admire the beautiful frescos and murals painted by Japanese artist Kosetsu Nosu, which illustrate scenes from the life of the Buddha. The temple also houses a sacred relic of the Buddha, a Bodhi tree planted from a sapling of the original tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment, and well-manicured gardens.