Still on UNESCO’s “Tentative List of World Heritage”? Heritage, Tourism, and Stunted Growth in Sarnath (Varanasi), India

Sarnath, the site where the Buddha delivered his first sermon, has remained on UNESCO's tentative World Heritage List for nearly 25 years despite its significance as a Buddhist pilgrimage destination. Research indicates that endogenous factors such as strict archaeological protection by the ASI, limited private-sector accommodation, and lack of independent governance have hindered tourism-led development. Exogenous factors, including the dominance of Varanasi's Hindu cultural offerings and Sarnath's secondary status in visitor itineraries, further contribute to its under-development. Fieldwork conducted in 2019 revealed multi-layered contestations that perpetuate this stagnation, highlighting the need for balanced heritage management and governance structures to unlock Sarnath's potential as a global religious and cultural destination.

Shinde, K., & Singh, R. P. B. (2023). Still on UNESCO’s “Tentative List of World Heritage”? Heritage, Tourism, and Stunted Growth in Sarnath (Varanasi), India. Heritage, 6(7), 5051–5065. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6070267