Sarnath is located about 10km out of Varanasi town. It is said that after the Buddha attained enlightenment in Bodh Gaya, he came to Sarnath where he delivered his first sermon in the Deer Park.

We visited the Mulagandha Kuti Vihar temple in Sarnath erected by the Mahabodhi Society of India amidst the brick ruins of ancient Sarnath. The temple was of relatively new construction, and the inside appeared to be under renovation and was empty.

I took this picture as I was about to leave the temple. Sunlight was streaming in through the partially open leaves of the door, conveying a mood of hope and optimism against the backdrop of the murals and frescoes on the walls, evocative of the place of worship that the temple is.