UNESCO World Heritage Sites, India

[minisoji]

Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi

Sanchi is known for its masterpieces of Buddhist art –Buddhist stupas, monasteries, temples and pillars dating from the 3rd century B.C to the 12th century A.D. The site consists of mainly three stupas.


Buddhist Stupa

The most famous of the stupas- Stupa No.1 is a hemispherical dome, crowned by a triple umbrella, 36.60 meter in diameter. A railing encircles the stupa cut by four exquisitely carved gateways or toranas. The The torana consists of two upright pillars that are square in shape and support a super structure of three architraves with volute ends. Both sides of the architraves as well as various faces of the uptight pillars are sculpted with depiction of religious subjects, elephants dwarfs or ganas (attendants), lions, auspicious emblems, vriksha devatas ( symbolizing different types of trees), incidents and stories from the life of the Buddha.

Stupa No.2 consists of the Buddhist symbols like the Bodhi tree, a throne and the wheel of law. There are elaborates carvings on the pillars flanking the entrances. Some of them are lions supporting a chakra (wheel) vidyadhars (bearers of wisdom), bringing garlands and the wish fulfilling wine.

Temple 17 consists of a flat roofed square sanctum with a portico supported on four solid pillars, nearby is the 2nd century B.C. Heliodorus pillar, the 5th century A.D. Udayagiri cave and monuments at Vidisha, all within 10 km radius.

Travel Information

Timings : Open on all weekdays from sunrise to sunset. Entry fee for those above 12 years: Rs 5. Free entry on Fridays.

Best time to visit : November to February

Access : Located in Madhya Pradesh, Sanchi is connected to Bhopal by road which is 46 km away via Diwangani and 78 kilometers away via Raisen. To get to this site, one must reach Bhopal which is well connected by air, rail and road to Delhi, Mumbai, Gwalior and Indore, and thereafter use the motorable road to Sanchi.

Where to stay : Sri Lanka Mahaboodhi society rest house, travelers lodge, Buddhist guest house, circuit house.

Places to visit : Vidisha, Udaygiri caves, Gyraspur, Udaypur.