Sarnath

Seeking to regain its moorings in the key state of Uttar Pradesh, Congress will hold a three-day camp this week in Varanasi - the Lok Sabha constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi - to garner support of youths.

One of the branches of the historical `Bodhi tree` in Sarnath, where Gautama Buddha had given his first sermon and set in motion the `Dharma-Chakra`, has fallen.

Aiming to connect with Buddhists of Varanasi-Sarnath region, Narendra Modi on Thursday said ancient Chinese traveller Hsuan-Tsang had visited his birthplace at Vadnagar in Gujarat.

All Buddhist sites between Bodh Gaya and Sarnath in Bihar would be documented, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said on Thursday.

A special train was today flagged off from here with over 80 passengers for an eight-day long journey to various Buddhist heritage sites across India.

The 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje has begun his annual spring teachings at Sarnath, the birthplace of Buddhism, in Uttar Pradesh, a monastery official said on Thursday.

As the controversy over the recovery of foreign and Indian currency worth Rs 70 million from the 17th Karmapa`s monastery is gradually coming to an end, the Karmapa is headed next month to Sarnath, the birthplace of Buddhism.