The Asoka Era Buddhist Shrine of Sanchi
Holy Place of Buddhism with Beautiful Sculptures
Apr 2, 2009
It was the emperor Asoka who in the 3rd century BCE built the first stupa here, when Sanchi was an important town on the empire’s great north-south trade route.
Day Trip From Bhopal
Over the centuries, subsequent rulers as well as travelers and traders along the route contributed to the upkeep and enhancement of the shrine. Today, although India’s main north-south railway still runs through Sanchi, the town is no longer on the main trunk roads. It is usually reached by car from the state capital Bhopal about 50 km to the south-west, most visitors staying in Bhopal and visiting Sanchi as a convenient day trip.
The shrine itself is situated on a peaceful hill reached by a gentle climb from the road. From the summit one has a magnificent view of the surrounding countryside stretching out over fields and scrubland to the Vindhya hills in the distance. It is quite peaceful here, far from the madd’ing crowd, because Sanchi unlike India’s other Buddhist sites of pilgrimage like Bodhgaya and Sravasti, is not part of the main ‘package tour’ pilgrim circuit in Bihar state and so does not attract so many visitors.
Stupa Built by Emperor Asoka
Crowning the hill are a group of ancient monasteries and stupas (hemispherical mounds containing Buddhist relics - the equivalent of Chortens in Tibet, Chedis in Thailand, Zedis in Myanmar and Chaithyas or Dagobas in Sri Lanka - pervaded by a quiet serenity. Seated here underneath the neem trees in the stillness and bright sunshine, one cannot fail to be moved by the surroundings and feel "there's peace and holy quiet here.'
Although the Buddha himself never visited Sanchi, Emperor Asoka, probably in view of the city’s strategic importance, had the first stupa constructed here some 250 years after the Buddha’s death. About a century later the original brick construction was doubled in size and (although not as large as Anuradhapura's Great Stupa of Jetavanaramaya in Sri Lanka) it is today one of the largest in India. Over the years balconies, gateways, railings and other buildings such as monasteries, preaching halls and travellers’ lodgings were added - along with intricate decorative sandstone sculptures carved in the first century BCE to replace the original wood and ivory carvings.
Scenes From Buddha's Life
The four carved sandstone gateways at Sanchi are among the finest examples of Buddhist toranas anywhere in the world. Situated respectively at the north, east, south and west entrances to the shrine, they each consist of two pillars joined by three cross beams (called architraves) which are carved as if they actually pass through the uprights. The entire surface of the four toranas is covered with rich carvings depicting scenes from the Buddha’s life, his seven incarnations and the miracles he performed.
Art of Pre-Gandhara Period
These works of art were created in the pre-Gandhara period, before it became fashionable to depict the Buddha’s human form - so he is represented in these friezes by images like a bo tree, a wheel, a tree or a stupa. There are other images – one that is particularly striking is that of the female figure at the edge of the South torana , so beautiful and lifelike, with a very modern hairstyle, reaching out to pluck a mango from an overhanging branch.
Whether you are a Buddhist devotee, a student of history or just a tourist, Sanchi is well worth a visit. You can fly to Delhi and then travel to Bhopal either by air - or take the seven hour trip on the luxury Shatabdi Express. From Bhopal it takes just over an hour by road to Sanchi.
Information About Sanchi
- For more information on India, visit the Indian Tourism home page
- For beautiful images of Sanchi, go to Buddhanet
- A very pleasant place to stay in Bhopal is the Jehan Numa Palace
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