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Sanchi
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Excursions |
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Gyraspur |
 It is 41 km north-east of
Sanchi, Gyraspur was a place of considerable importance in the
medieval period. Here in the ruins called Athkhamba (Eight Pillars) and Chaukhambe
(Four Pillars) are what remain of the columned halls of two temples belonging to the
9th and 10th centuries AD. The faceted shafts of Athakhambe, with their extreme delicacy
of carving, testify to the high degree of craftsmanship during the period. |
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Andher & Mural Khurd |
| It is near about17 and 12 km respectively. Ruins of ancient stupas can be
seen here. |
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Heliodorous Pillar |
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is close to the ruins are the remains of votive pillars with palm-leaf capitals; the only one that still stands is the Heliodorous Pillar, also known as Khamba Baba. A monolithic, free-standing column, the pillar bears an inscription which states that it was a Garuda Pillar, raised in honour of Vasudeva by
Heliodorus, a resident of Taxila, who had been sent to the court of Bhagabhadra as an envoy of the
Indo-Bactrian monarch, Antialkidas. This inscription is a particularly valuable historical record, revealing both the relations that existed between the region and the Greek kingdoms of the Punjab, and the remarkable fact that a Greek had become a follower of the Hindu god Vishnu. The inclusion of the name of Antialkidas dates the erection of the Pillar to approximately 140 BC. |
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Rahatgarh |
| Rahatgarh is situated on the Sagar-Bhopal road is
Rahatgarh, 82 km from Sanchi. It has a medieval fort and a picturesque water
fall. |
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Sonari
and Satdhara |
| There is a group of eight Stupas at Sonari is 10 km, on one of which
numerous relics are recorded. At Satdhara is 11 km West of Sanchi,
there are two stupas. |
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Udaygiri
Caves |
It is 13 km from Sanchi and 4 km from Vidisha are
a group of rock-cut cave sanctuaries carved into a sandstone hill that stands
sentinel-like on the horizon. An inscription in one of these states that it was
produced during the region of Chandragupta II (382-401 AD), thus dating these
caves to 4th-5th century AD.
The caves possess all the distinctive features that gave Gupta art its unique
richness of expression; the beautifully moulded capitals, the treatment of the intercolumniation, the design of the entrance way and the system of continuing the architrave as a string-course around the structures.
The shrines are progressively more spacious and ornate. Cave No.9 is remarkable for its large ceiling and massive, 8 feet high pillars, its long portico and pillared hall. Throughout, there is evidence that the master craftsmen of Besnagar practised their art with skill and artistry under the
Guptas, four centuries later. In Cave No.5, a massive carving depicts Vishnu in his Varaha avatar, aloft one tusk. Yet another stupendous sculptures is of the reclining Vishnu.Taken as a whole, this group is a rich representation of the vitality and strength of Gupta art and architecture. |
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Udaypur |
It is 93 km from Sanchi via vidisha and ganj
basoda. The colossal Neelkanteshwar temple here is an outstanding example of Parmara art and architecture of the 11th century AD. The crowning beauty of this temple is its well proportioned and gracefully designed spire and delicately carved medallions adorning its sides. Built of fine red sandstone and standing on a lofty platform, the temple consists of a garba-griha (shrine room), a sabha mandap (hall) and three pravesha mandaps (entrance porches).
Bijamandal, Sahi Masjid and Mahal, Sher Khan-ki-Masjid and Pisnari-ke-Mandir are some of the other monuments in
Udaypur. |
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Vidisha |
Vidisha or Besnagar, as it is called in the Pali scriptures, once the prosperous capital of the Western dominions of the
Sungas, contains some remarkable antiques that throw light on the considerable architectural development of the period.
Situated in the fork of the Betwa and Bes rivers, Vidisha, 10 km from Sanchi, occupies an important place among the ancient cities of India. In the 6th and 5th centuries BC, it became an important trade centre and a bustling city under the
Sungas, Nagas, Satvahanas and Guptas. The Emperor Ashoka was governor of
Vidisha and it finds mention in Kalidasa's immortal
Meghdoot. Deserted after the 6th century AD, it came into prominence again as Bhilsa during the medieval period (9th to 12th centuries AD). It later passed on to the Malwa Sultans, the
Mughals, and the Scindias.
The ruins of a Brahmanical shrine at Videsha dedicated to Vishnu reveal that the foundation bricks were cemented together with lime mortar, the first known example of the use of cement in India. The ruins are what remain of possibly the oldest known Brahmanical stone structure, dated not later than 2nd century BC.
Vidisha Museum has a superb collection of Besnagar's earliest antiques, dating from the Sunga period. 9th century sculptures and terracotta objects, representing the art that flourished under the Parmara patronage, are also well represented here. Highlights of the collection from Besnagar are the Surya Chamundi figures, the Yakshi and Ramagupta inscriptions.
The Lohangi Rock, Gumbaz-ka-Maqbara and Bijamandal Mosque, are also worth a visit. |
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