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Sanchi Stupa

At a distance of 46 km from Bhopal, Sanchi is an exotic example of Buddhist architecture of ancient India. It is believed that Emperor Ashoka (273-236 BC) built these most magnificent structures of ancient India called the Stupas. Stupas are the large hemispherical domes containing a central chamber, in which the relics of the Buddha were placed. These Stupas trace the development of the Buddhist architecture and sculpture at the same location beginning from the 3rd century B.C. to the 12th century AD.

The Grand Stupa built by Ashoka at Sanchi is focal point of a 91 –meter-high turf covered and tree-dotted hill and marks an important stage in the evolution of Indian architecture. The great Stupa is 36.5 meters in diameter and rises almost 16.5 meters high.A balustrade encircles the entire structure and provides incarnations as Bodhisattva have provided the principal inspiration for the artistes. The intricately carved gateways hold the greatest fascination for visitors. Gateways, the four ornamented (torans) built at the cardinal points in front of the entrances were erected around 3.5 B.C by the Satvahana ruler, Satkarni. Each torans consists of two upright pillars nearly 34 feet high. The two richly carved pillars, rise to be crowned by carved lions-the famous Ashoka Lions, now the official seal of India –elephants and dwarfs.
The eastern gateway depicts Buddha’s journey towards enlightenment. It shows the young prince Siddhartha Gautama , leaving his father’s Palace and setting off on his journey to enlightenment. The western gateway depicts the seven incarnation of the Buddha. The northern gateway, crowned by a wheel of law, illustrates the miracles associated with the Buddha as told in the Jatakas. The southern gateway is the oldest and reveals the birth of Gautama in series of dramatically rich carvings. It also depicts the wheel of forth, the first sermon given by the Buddha at Sarnath. Ashokan Pillar Just to the right of the southern gateway lie the remains of Ashokan pillar erected by Ashoka in the 3rd century, displaying all the characteristics of such monoliths – exquisite proportion, brilliant polish, succinct instructions. Centuries of exposure to weather has not diminished its metallic glow.
Excursions from Sanchi In the area around Sanchi there are a number of site, some of which are Buddhist . Vidisha In the 5th-6th centuries BC Videsha was an important trade center of the Sunga dynasty where Ashoka was governor in the 3rd century BC. He married a local princess, establishing his contact with Sanchi. The ruins of Bijamandal Mosque and Gumbaz- Ka Makbara, both dating from the Muslim period with remains of votive pillars nearby. The museum at Vidisha contains some of Bbesnagar’s earliest antiquities. Udaygiri caves (13 km) Udaygiri caves were produced during the regime of Chandraguta II (382-401). The caves have all distinct features that gave Gupta art its unique vitality, vigour and richness of expression. The beautifully molded capitals, the design of the entrance gateway and the system of continuing the architrave as a string course around the structure. Besnagar 3 km after crossing the Betwa river. The Heliodorus Pillar, A monolithic free standing column, similar to Asokan pillars but much smaller in size has been dated to 140BC. The inscription states that it was a Garuda pillar erected in owner of Vasudeva by Heliodorus, a resident of Taxila (now in Pak) who had been sent as an envoy to the court of Bhagabhadra . This is a part of the evidence, which shows that relations existed between the Greeks in the Punjab and the kings of this area and that Heliodorus had become a follower of lord Vishnu.

Udaypur 60 km from Udaygari. The colossal Neelkantheswara temple is the center- piece , an outstanding example of 11th century Paramara architecture.Its beauty lies in its well proportionate and gracefully designed Shikhar (spire) and the delicate carving adorning its sites. Some regard the spire as being unequalled. Built of red stand stone and standing on a high platform the temple consists of garbha-griha (shrine room) . A sabha mandap (Hall) and three parvesh mandaps (entrance porches)

Gyaraspur (40 km North East of Sanchi) :-Important place of the medieval period, now lies in ruins, where one can see temples called Athkhambha (Eight Pillars) and Chaukhamba (four pillars) belonging to the 9th and 10th centuries A.D. The 10th century MAHADEV temple on the hill above the village, is the most striking of the remains with the ruins of stupa. The ruins of an 8-pillared temple,"Athakhambe" and a 4 pillared "Chaukhamba" date fro m 9th and 10th centuries. 

Getting There
By Air : The nearest airport is Bhopal.
By Rail : The nearest railhead is at Vidisha, which is 10 kms from the city.
By Road : Sanchi is well connected to Bhopal, Vidisha and Indore with a well laid out road network.


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