‘Buddham Sharnam Gachhami’ these three enlightening words cross the mind as one enters the sacred Buddhist land Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh. Sanchi is full of remarkable specimens of Buddhist art and architecture from the early Mauryan period. It is famous in the world for stupas, monolithic Asokan pillar, temples, monasteries and sculptural wealth. Also known as Caityagiri, Sanchi is the religious centre founded by great emperor Ashoka.
Major attractions of Sanchi
Stupas
Among many heavily carved large hemispherical domes, the Sanchi stupa is the greatest stupa and is one of the oldest stone structures in India. Its structural magnificence and meticulousness is akin to the precision that are required by delicate jewelry. The great stupa was constructed in 3rd century by the great emperor Ashoka. It is a stunning specimen of the ancient architecture. It has been declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Ashoka pillar
Located near the famous Sanchi Stupa, the Ashoka Pillar represents elegance, creativity and exquisite architecture. Towering to a height of 16.4 meter, the pillar has sculptures of four lions at the top. It dates back to 3rd century BC. The major highlight of the pillar is its exquisite polish which makes it shine even today.
Udayagiri caves
Udayagiri caves are a group of 20 caves that make an interesting presentation of the past. These caves comprise of both Hindu and Jain caves that run in sequence one after another. Some of the caves are located at the top of the hill while most of them are located in the foothill.
Gupta temple
The temple is one of the marvelous architectural excellences of the Gupta period. The structural beauty of the temple is so captivated that it is considered one of the most logical designs. The artisans of the Gupta period brought a new era in the field of temple-architecture.
The Great Bowl
Made from a single enormous rock, the great bowl is a famous historian landmark. During the early days, it was used as a food container for the monks of Sanchi.
Shopping in Sanchi
Some favorite shopping hotspots are the Chowk and the New market where finest qualities of muslin and religious items are available.
How to reach
Nearest airport is in Bhopal, 46 km from Sanchi. Sanchi is well-connected to the major cities of the countryt by rail and road also.
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Airport Representative was very Good Tour & Guide Services was very Good Ground Services was excellent Hotel Services was excellent -
Generally all are good except that in shimla. Silverine hotel is not a suitable hotel for elderly people as they need to walk up and downhill to the hotel….though the place is ideal for shoppers -
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