Sanchi
EasternBuddhistbuildingSouth Asia268 BCE - 1100 CE
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Location
Country
India
Region
South Asia
Coordinates
23.4793, 77.7397
Era
268 BCE - 1100 CE
Site Type
Building
About
Home of the Great Stupa of Sanchi, the oldest stone structure in India, commissioned by Emperor Ashoka and elaborated with exquisite carved gateways over the following centuries.
Significance
The finest surviving example of early Buddhist art and architecture; its toranas (gateways) are the most important pre-Gupta sculptural monuments in India.
History & Historical Arc
Founded by Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE to enshrine relics of the Buddha; expanded under the Satavahana dynasty (1st–2n…
Archaeological Notes
The Great Stupa (Stupa No. 1) preserves relics of two of the Buddha's disciples, Sariputra and Mahamoggallana, discovere…
Key Features & Structures
- Great Stupa (Stupa No. 1)
- Four carved toranas (gateways)
Visitor Information
Open daily; located 46 km northeast of Bhopal; small hilltop site easily walkable in 2–3 hours.
Related Figures
AshokaDevi of VidishaSariputraMahamoggallana
In the Bible
Source References
- UNESCO World Heritage List #524
- Archaeological Survey of India, Sanchi