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Sanchi
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Sightseeing |
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Great Stupa No1 :- |
 The oldest stone structure in India ,36.5 m in diameter and
16.4 m in high , and with a massive hemispherical dome ,the stupa stands
in eternal majesty ,the paved procession path around it worth smooth by
centuries of pilgrims .
This
was constructed in 35 BC are the best from of Buddhist expression one can find any where in the world.
Torans (Gateways) as they are called are covered with explicit carving which depict scenes from the life Buddha and the the
Jatakas, the stories relating to Buddha and his earlier births. At this stage Buddha was not represented directly but symbols were used to portray
him. The lotus represents his birth, the tree his enlightenment, the wheel, derived from the title of his first sermon, the footprints and throw symbolizing his presence. |
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The Four Gateway :- |
| Early Buddhist art has no finer expression than these
toranas the surround the Great Stupa. The Buddha ,According to the tenets of
early Buddhist art ,is portrayed in symbols: The lotus representing his birth
,the tree his enlightenment in the wheel ,derived from the title of hid first
sermon, the footprints and throne symbolising his presence. These have been carved with such
inspired intensity and imagery that , taken together with the surrounding
figures they are considered the finest of all Buddhist toranas, and
counter-balance the massive solidity of the stupa they encircle. |
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The Northern Gateways :- |
 Crowned
by a wheel of law , this depict the miracles associated with the Buddha as
told in the jatakas. |
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The Southern Gateways:- |
 The
birth of Gautama is revealed in series of dramatically rich carving. |
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Stupa No2 :- |
 This Stupa stands at the very edge of the hill and its most
striking feature is the stone balustrade that rings it.
This is a very good example of the Buddhist architecture. The stupa stands on the very edge of the hill. Though there are no entrance to this stupa, it attracts visitors for the stone balustrade which encircles it. The wall of stupa is decorated with medallions. But the seems to be an imagination of a child as they depict animals, flowers people and scenes from the mythology. |
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Stupa No3:- |
 It is situated close to the Great
Stupa. the hemispherical dome
is crowned ,as a mark of its special religious significance am umbrella of
polished stone .The relics of Sariputta and Mahamogalena ,two of the Buddha's
earliest disciplines, were found in its inmost chamber. These two were the earliest disciples of Buddha. The relics were carried to England in 1853 and were returned to Sanchi in 1953. |
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The Buddhist Vihara
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 The scared relics of the Satdhara Stupa ,a few km away from Sanchi ,have
been enshrined in a glass casket on a platform in the
inner sanctum of this monastery. |
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The Gupta Temple :- |
 I ruins now , this 5th century A.D. temple is the earliest
Known examples of temple architecture in India. |
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The Museum :- |
| The Archaeological Survey of India maintains a site
museum at Sanchi. Noteworthy antiquities on display include the lion capital of
the Ashoka pillars and metal objects used by the monks, discovered during
excavations at Sanchi. |
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The Ashoka Pillar :- |
| It lies close to the southern gateway of the Great
Stupa and is one of the finest examples of the Ashokan pillar and is known for
its aesthetic proportions and exquisite structural balance. |
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The Great Bowl :- |
| Carved out of one block of stone ,the mammoth bowl
contain the food that distributed among the monks of Sanchi. |
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Great
Stupa No.1 , Gateways, Stupa No. 2, Stupa no. 3, Ashoka Pillar, Buddhist
Vihara, Monasteries.
Timing for the above monuments : 0900 - 1700 Hrs. |
