Sanchi the ancient town of Madhya Pradesh,is located 46 Kms east of Bhopal. Situated over a hillock, Sanchi providesfull peace and tranquility far away from the hustle bustle of the cities.Sanchi is famous for its Stupas, Monasteries, Temples and Monolithic Pillarsdating back to 3rd B.C to the 12th century A.D. Sanchi offers a deeper insight into the rich cultural, architectural and religious heritage of India. The world famous Stupa 1 of Sanchi has been listed by UNESCO, as the World Heritage Site. The famous Sanchi Stupa 1 was built by the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka, then Governor of Ujjayini. A fragment of Chunar sand stone pillar lies near the Stupa 1, which carries the famous edict of Ashoka. The Sanchi hill is divided in various shelves like crowning shelf, intermediate shelf and lower shelf. The Stupa 2 is situated on a lower shelf, while Stupa1 and 3, the 5th century Gupta temple No. 17 and the 7th century temple No.18 are on the intermediate shelf. On the crowning shelf an ancient monastery is situated. The four gateways of Stupa 1 were built in the 1st century BCunder the Satavahanas. .
Gateways :
The gateways are carved with stories of Buddha's life and the subsequent history of Buddhism. The gateways are the finest specimen of early classicalart, which formed the base for Indian art. The inscriptions on the gateway mention donors from all over northern India and the workers of Vidisha.
Attractions at Sanchi :
» The ASI Museum - The Archeological Survey ofIndia (ASI) Museum is situated very close to Sanchi Hill. The museum has a good collection of rare and antique items of Mauryan period. It houses the lion capital of the Ashoka Pillar, several metal objects that were used by the Buddhist monks. The Ashoka Pillar presents an fine example of architectural splendor and structural balance. The museum also has the ancient sculptures in Indian art from the 3rd to the 1st century B.C. Youmay visit the museum between 9 am and 5 pm.
» Ashoka's Stupa -
The Great Stupa 1 or Ashoka's Stupa at Sanchi, is a major attraction for tourists. The most famous Stupa 1 among the many Stuaps, was built by the Great Mauryan emperor Ashoka in the 3 B.C. Out of eight Stupas only three Stupa stand today. The Stupas have the relics of Buddha like his teeth, hair and the shoulder bones. Ashoka Stupa was originally constructed in burnt mudbricks and was re-built in the mid 2 B.C.
Excursions :
» Vidisha - The ancient city is situated at a distance of 12 Kms from Sanchi. The city is also known as Besnagar, as it was situated on the conflux of two rivers Betwa and Bes. The Heliodoros Pillar of the 5 A.D dedicated to Lord Vishnu, is the most popular destination here. The local fishermen worship the pillar as Khamb Baba.
» Udaigiri- Located at a distance of 13 Kms from Sanchi, Udaigiri is a place of historical importance.The Hindu and the Jains and stone cut caves of Udaigiri are world famous. The Buddhist monks inhabited these caves in the 2 B.C. The caves contain images of Lord Vishnu.The 6th century Gupta temple is situated on the top of the hill.
Accessibility :
Sanchi is located at a distance of 46 Kms from Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh. Bhopal is easily accessible by Air, Rail and Road.
» Air - The nearest airport is located at Bhopal (46 Kms.), which connects Sanchi with the other major cities of India like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Gwalior and Indore etc.
» Rail Vidisha Railway Station is situated at a distance of 10 Kms. from Sanchi. While Bhopal Railway Station is at a distance of 46 Kms.
» Road - The road network links Sanchi with Indore,Sagar, Gwalior, Vidisha and Raisen. From Bhopal (46 Kms.) regular Bus and Taxi services are available for Sanchi.
Accommodation :
Sanchi is located very close to Bhopal and tourists can stay there. One can explore the tourists destinations at Sanchi within a day. If one wish tostay at Sanchi there are many hotels ranging from Luxury to economy. Madhya Pradesh Tourism department offers two accommodation choices Tourist Cafeteria and the Travellers Lodge. Both these places offers accommodation facility at reasonable charges. The restaurants of the hotel serve tasty foods. The other places to stay are Sri Lanka Mahabodhi Society Rest House,Buddhist Guest house and Circuit House.
Best time to Visit :
The climate of Sanchi is moderate and it can be visited any time of the year. But the Summers can prove to be very hot so it is better to visit the place during the Winters, between November to February.
