One of the best destination to explore for Buddhist pilgrims, from all over India and abroad, Sarnath seems hardly the place tourists or pilgrims can reach  easily or stay comfortably without spending huge ransom amount.

The city is going to host the International Buddhist Conclave, a major event for the promotion of tourism in the city and officials of the Tourism department are hoping for growth of about 20 per cent in the number of Buddhist tourists and pilgrims who would be arriving this year.

A close look on the pending projects and amenities available in Sarnath, an important halt in the Buddhist circuit itinerary, speaks volumes on how prepared the city is to welcome the massive tourist footfall. The city lacks basic health facilities, besides other civic amenities as per a report in TOI.

According to Bhante Seewalee, joint secretary of the Maha Bodhi Society of India, there is only one additional primary health centre (PHC) to cater to the needs of a huge population.\\\\\\\"The area needs more public conveniences, better health centres and an improved system of lodging and eating. There is no public drinking water facility in the area outside the main temple, besides a paucity of public toilets and affordable guests houses.

Pilgrims are either dwelling in monasteries run by the society or in the monasteries of other Buddhist countries built here,\\\\\\\" said Bhante, adding that most of the pilgrims in Sarnath area complaining about the badly maintained Railway station, absence of drinking water taps and poor sanitation.\\\\\\\" \\\\\\\"It is the scenic beauty of the place that attracts pilgrims and tourists most. Otherwise, facilities, especially medical, are missing. Roads leading to Sarnath are in need of proper attention too. 

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