Sanchi Stupa is situated on the banks of Betwa River in Raisen district. It is at a distance of 46 km from Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh state of India in the northeastern part. This place is world-famous for its attractive artworks. Sanchi Stupa was included in the World Heritage Site on 15 October 1982 by UNESCO.
History of Sanchi Stupa
Sanchi Stupa Bhopal was established in the 3rd century BC by the king Ashoka of the Maurya dynasty. The relics of Lord Buddha are kept at this place. Sanchi Nagar is situated on top of a hill and is surrounded by lush green gardens. Due to which the tourists coming here feel peace and joy. A lot of tourists are attracted to this place. The statues and monuments present at this place give you a good glimpse of Buddhist art and architectural art.
Sanchi Stupa is also known as Stupa number one. In Sanchi, the work of setting up the temple, Stupa and monuments was started in the 3rd century BCE on the orders of Emperor Ashoka and the entire construction work continued till 12th century AD. Ashoka Pillar, the insignia of India, was also built during this time. Sanchi was a trading place.
According to a version of the Mahavamsa of Sri Lanka's Buddhist period, Ashoka was associated with Sanchi province long back. When Ashoka was a successor and used to come as Viceroy. At the same time, he was stopped at Vidisha (10 km from Sanchi). During this time, he married the daughter of a local moneylender of the same name known as Devi. Later Ashoka and Devi received sons Mahendra and daughter Sanghamitra. Emperor Ashoka fought many wars during his life, but after the destruction and massacre in the Kalinga war, his heart changed and he embraced the Bodh religion. He sent his son Mahendra and daughter Sanghamitra to Sri Lanka to propagate Buddhism.
Architecture and Structure
The nucleus of the Sanchi Stupa Bhopal is a hemispherical brick structure built over the relics of Lord Buddha, at the base of which is a raised roof. A railing at the summit and a stone canopy forming a parasol-like structure that appears to be of high quality. The diameter of the original structure was half that of the current structure.
Brick was sparingly used in the original structure of Sanchi Stupa Bhopal. The emperor Ashoka's union originated from the neighboring city of Vidisha. The workers were called from here to build this beautiful building. In this way, the residents of Vidisha played an important role in the construction of this building, it is believed that the hill located here used to enchant the emperor very much.
Sanchi Stupa has a solid core in the Holy Hemisphere that cannot be entered but inside it, the sacred and original remains of Lord Buddha are kept. The Harika or square railing located in the middle tells about the sacred burial place here. This great stupa has three circular Chhatra discs and a trinetra of Buddhism. Emperor Ashoka built Sanchi Stupa in the honor of Lord Buddha. Sanchi Stupa Bhopal is about 54 feet in height. Most of the Buddhist statues enshrined in this stupa were polished with a Mori carpet which gave the statues a glass-like glow. This stupa is known as a symbol of salvation from the cycle of birth, life, death, and rebirth of Lord Buddha. This stupa is in the middle of the four doors which describe various aspects of the stories of Lord Buddha and Jataka. The national symbol of India is derived from Sanchi itself.
How to reach Sanchi Stupa
There is a railway station in Sanchi for which you can reach via train from Bhopal or Indore but there is no airport here. About 46 km from Sanchi Raja Bhoj Airport in Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, is the closest airport to Sanchi and some international flights are also operated from here, apart from this you can also decide your journey through bus or taxi as per your convenience.
Best time to visit Sanchi Stupa
The best time to visit Sanchi Stupa Bhopal is considered to be from October to March as the temperature is favorable during this time, which can prevent any kind of discomfort. After this, the temperature increases during the summer, although the monsoon season is also favorable for visiting here. The only thing to keep in mind before making a trip plan here in this season is that if there is more rain then you may have some inconvenience in visiting Sanchi city.
Places to visit near Sanchi Stupa
Sanchi Stupa has located 46 km from the Bhopal city and there are several famous tourist places where visitors should go which includes Upper Lake, Lower Lake, Van Vihar, Moti Masjid, Birla Mandir, Shaukat Mahal, Gohar Mahal, etc.
Sanchi Stupa Timings and Entry Fees:
Sanchi Stupa Timings:
6:30 A.M. to 6:30 P.M.
Sanchi Stupa Entry Fees:
INR 30 per person for Indian citizens as well as the residents of SAARC and BIMSTEC countries (Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives, Afghanistan, Thailand, Myanmar) and INR 500 for other foreign nationals for visiting Sanchi Stupa.
