BuddhaHome Team

SANCHI: Glorifies with Buddhist Architecture

Famous for its great stupa, Sanchi is one of the most revered sites of Buddhism. Serene Buddhist architecture adorns the site and people from around the world come to witness its beauty. Though Buddha never visited Sanchi during his lifetime, the place became one of the important Buddhist pilgrimage sites. It is still considered one of the major Buddhist destinations in India and is a must-visit.

History

King Ashoka was one of the prominent followers of Buddhism. It is said that Ashoka was deeply moved by the bloodshed he saw during the Kalinga war. Hence, he decided to give up the way of war and adopted Buddhism. He decided to spread Buddhist teachings throughout his kingdom and promote peace. As such, he erected various stupas and pillars to spread Buddhism and its teachings.

The great stupa at Sanchi is one such specimen of Ashoka’s contribution to Buddhism. It is believed that when Ashoka was journeying to Ujjain to see the Viceroy, he stopped at Vidisha (a city in Uttar Pradesh) that lies 10 km from the sacred site. There he married the daughter of a local banker, Devi. It was due to her influence that Ashoka decided to give a tribute to the place and subsequently commanded the construction of the stupa and other architecture at Sanchi.

Later, around the 3rd Century BCE, King Ashoka, a great patron of Buddhism decided to spread Buddhist teachings around his kingdom. During his rule, all the originally built stupas were opened and their relics were distributed among the 84,000 stupas that Ashoka got constructed. However, the Ramagrama stupa was left untouched by him. Hence, Ramagrama stupa is the only intact stupa with the relics of Gautam Buddha.

Places to Visit in Sanchi

Sanchi is a land with a rich history. It has numerous interesting sights that proudly tell its past glory. It is a popular Buddhist destination housing some of the most famous structures dedicated to Gautam Buddha. However, with the rule of Mughals, the place lost its lustre and vanished in history until its rediscovery in the 19^th Century. Declared as the World Heritage Site by UNESCO, Sanchi attracts travelers and pilgrims from around the world.

The Great Stupa

The main attraction of Sanchi is the Great Sanchi Stupa. Sitting on the top of a hill, the large stupa offers a beautiful sight. Though most of the stupas, that king Ashoka got constructed are in ruins, the Sanchi Stupa is in great condition and provides a great insight into Buddhism. Four gateways (also known as Toranas) situated at the four cardinal points depicting various stories related to Buddha’s life surround the main stupa. Around it, you will find the ruins of other smaller stupas and monasteries.

The Ashoka Pillar

Besides the Great stupa, stands the Ashoka Pillar. The 16.4 m high sandstone pillar is one of the famous Ashokan Pillars that is engraved with his edicts. At the top of the pillar stood a beautifully carved lion capital with four lions facing in the four different directions. At present, you will find only the base of the pillar at the location. The lion capital is preserved at the Sanchi Archaeological Museum located nearby.

Temple 40

Another interesting monument at Sanchi is the Temple 40. Believed to be built during the 3^rd Century BCE, it is a contemporary of the Sanchi Stupa. The initial structure was built on a large rectangular platform that got burnt during the mid of the 2^nd Century. Thereafter, the remains were utilized to create a pillared hall which was enlarged and modified later on.

Sanchi Archaeological Museum

Sanchi Museum has a collection of various Buddhist artifacts (objects) and other remains found during the excavation of the site. It is a large museum spread on an area of around 6.3 acres and has objects dating from 3^rd century BCE to 12^th Century BCE.

The Great Bowl

Amidst all the elaborate structures lies a huge bowl called the great bowl or the Grand Gumbha. The Bowl is made of a large stone block and was used to distribute food among the monks.

Udaygiri Caves

Situated in the Udaygiri Hills, Udaygiri Caves comprise of around 22 rock-cut caves with elaborate cravings from the Gupta era. These caves are a beautiful specimen of art and depict stories related to Hinduism and Jainism.

How to Reach Sanchi?

Located near Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, Sanchi is easily accessible via Air, Rail or Road.

Air: The nearest airport to the place is Raja Bhoj Airport (Bhopal Airport). It is connected to various prime cities. It is around 47 km from the site, and you can take a taxi to reach the place.

Rail: Bhopal Junction is the nearest station to Sanchi that has good connectivity with various cities.

Road: Sanchi is one of the prime visited historical sites making it easily accessible by road. You can reach the place via private vehicle or ride a taxi. Buses also ply regularly from neighboring cities like Indore, Bhopal, etc.