The Buddha delivered his first sermon, known as 'Turning of the wheel of law' at

The Buddha delivered his first sermon at Sarnath, located near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh [2]. This pivotal event is traditionally known as 'Dharmachakraparivartana' or the 'Turning of the Wheel of the Great Law' [2]. After attaining enlightenment at Bodh Gaya at the age of 35, Siddhartha Gautama traveled to a deer park in Sarnath to preach to five skeptical followers [2][t1]. During this sermon, he expounded the Four Noble Truths and the Middle Path, effectively establishing the Buddhist Sangha [2][t3]. The Dhamek Stupa at Sarnath is believed to mark the exact spot where this sermon took place [t5][t6]. While other sites like Bodh Gaya are associated with his enlightenment and Sravasti with his longest period of residence, Sarnath remains the specific location for the 'Turning of the Wheel' [1][t1][t2].

Sources

1. [1] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings > 7. Stupas > p. 96
2. [2] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 3: Rise of Territorial Kingdoms and New Religious Sects > Life of Buddha > p. 41