The Great Sanchi Stupa

Conquer the angry man by love
Conquer the ill-natured man by goodness
Conquer the miser with generosity
Conquer the liar with truth.

Sanchi is a small village located at about 46 km north east of Bhopal in the central part of the state of Madhya Pradesh. The village of Sanchi is the home to several Buddhist monuments, mostly from the third century BCE to the twelfth century CE. Emperor Asoka built stupas in Buddha's honour at many places in India and amongst all Stupas , the stupas at Sanchi are considered to be the most significant and magnificent structures of ancient India. The site has been inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site's list.

Stupas are large hemispherical domes, containing a central chamber where the relics of Lord Buddha were placed. The Buddha is not represented through figures at Sanchi, but through symbols, as was the tradition in the early period of Buddhism. The lotus represents the Buddha's birth, the tree signifies his enlightenment, the wheel represents his nirvana or salvation. This Great Stupa served as a nucleus to the large Buddhist establishment during the later period. The Great Stupa at Sanchi is the legacy of one of India's most charismatic emperors, Asoka. The stupa is 36.5 mt in diameter and 16.4 MT high, with a massive hemispherical dome, it stands in eternal majesty. The carved getaways depict the different stages of the Buddha's life.
The De Facto
Location - Madhya Pradesh
Built In - 273-236 B.C
Best Time To Visit - November to February
Timings - open all all weekdays from sunrise to sunset
Entrance Tariff - Rs. 5 , free on Friday

Access
Located in Madhya Pradesh, Sanchi is connected to Bhopal. By road which is 46 kilometers away via Diwanganj 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.

Did You Know?

• The carvings here are done with the precision of Jewellers.
• The decoration of the stupa gateways also includes male and female tree spirits. The female tree spirits are symbols of fertility and often clutch overhanging trees full of flowers or fruit. They were used by the Buddhists as welcoming figures on the gateways.