Introducing Sanchi
Rising from the plains, 46km northeast of Bhopal, is a rounded hill topped with some of India’s oldest Buddhist structures.
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In 262 BC, repentant of the horrors he had inflicted on Kalinga in present-day Orissa, the Mauryan emperor Ashoka embraced Buddhism. As a penance he built the Great Stupa at Sanchi, near the birthplace of his wife. A domed edifice used to house religious relics, it was the first Buddhist monument in the region and many other religious structures followed.
As Hinduism gradually reabsorbed Buddhism, the site decayed and was forgotten. In 1818 a British army officer rediscovered its treasures, leading to immense damage at the hands of amateur archaeologists and treasure hunters before a proper restoration took place between 1881 and 1919.
Although Sanchi can be visited from Bhopal, the crossroads village is a relaxing spot to spend the night. The stupas are best visited at dawn and at dusk, when the stone still glows with the heat of the day as the sun sinks behind the surrounding hills.
Last updated: Feb 17, 2009
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RE: india for 4 months please help
by mattyboy876 02 September 2011
When you have four months, I don't think you need to worry too much about an itinerary. You have plenty of time, just have an idea of…
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RE: Delhi to Mumbai
by Giora 10 August 2011
I like the MP-UP route, Agra, Gwalior, Bhopal (I think the city is fascinating, but certainly the nearby sight of Sanchi is one of the…
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