Sanchi Stupa
Location
About
A complex of Buddhist monuments centred on the Great Stupa, originally commissioned by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE and expanded over the following centuries with elaborately carved gateways (toranas) depicting scenes from the Buddha's life and Jataka tales. It is among the oldest surviving stone structures in India and one of the best-preserved examples of early Buddhist architecture, having survived largely intact due to the site's abandonment and later rediscovery in 1818. Sanchi was never actually visited by the Buddha himself, but flourished as a monastic centre due to its proximity to the trade hub of Vidisha. The site includes several smaller stupas, monasteries and temples built across a thousand years of continuous Buddhist activity.
Good for
Opening hours
| Mon–Sun | 6 AM – 6 PM |