G.B. International ::- Sanchi
| Mandu | Sanchi | West India | Other States |
|---|
Sanchi
Close to Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh, Sanchi is a renowned Buddhist site. A number of Stupas, Viharas, monasteries, and numerous relics excavated from the area and nearby monuments form the tourist attractions in Sanchi.
The cluster of monuments located on some 91meters high hilltop commands an enchanting view even from a distance.
Although Sanchi was not the site of any incident in Lord Buddha's life, the past glory of Buddhism comes alive as you visit the well-preserved tourist attractions in Sanchi.
Places to See
Great Stupa No. 1The oldest stone structure in India, 36.5 m in diameter and 16.4 m high, and with a massive hemispherical dome, the stupa stands in eternal majesty, the paved procession path around it worn smooth by centuries of piligrims.
The Four Gateways
Early Buddhist art has no finer expression than these toranas that surround the Great Stupa.
The Buddha, according to the tents of early Buddhist art, is portrayed in symbols: the lotus representing his birth, the tree his enlightenment, the wheel, derived from the title of his first sermon, hte footprints and throne symbolising his presence. These have been carved with such inspired intensity and imagery that, taken together with the surrounding figures, they are considered the finest of all Buddhist toranas, and counter-balance the massive solidity of the stupa they encircle.
Stupa No. 2
This Stupa stands at the very edge of the hill and its most striking feature is the stone balustrade that rings it.
Stupa No. 3
Situated close to the Great Stupa. The hemispherical dome is crowned, as a mark of its special religious significance, with an umbrella of polished stone. The relics of Sariputta and Mahamogallena, two of the Buddha's earliest disciples, were found in its inmost chamber.
The Ashoka Pillar
Lies close to the southern gateway of the Great Stupa, and is one of the finest examples of the Ashokan pillar and is known for its aesthetic proportions and exquisite structural balance.
The Buddhist Vihar
The sacred relics of the Satdhara Stupa, a few km away from Sanchi, have been enshrined in a glass casket on a platform in the inner sanctum of this modern monastery.
The Great Bowl
Carved out of one block of stone, this mammoth bowl contained the food that was distributed among the monks of Sanchi.
How to Reach
By AirNearest airport is at Bhopal (46 km via Diwanganj and 78 km via Raisen).
By Rail
Sanchi lies on the Jhansi-Itarsi section of the Central Railways. However, the most convenient railhead is Vidisha (10 km).
By Road
Good, motorable roads connected Sanchi with Bhopal, Indore, Sagar, Gwalior, Vidisha and Raisen, besides other places.