Tag: Sanchi

Explore the Rich Heritage of The Buddhist Era At Sanchi

Madhya Pradesh can be said to be the microcosm of India, for the land reflects the glory of India in many ways. These can relate to the architectural grandeur of its palaces, temples and mosques, the natural beauty surrounding the Vindhyas and other regions, the prehistoric art at places like Bhimbetka, the pilgrimage centres of … Continue reading “Explore the Rich Heritage of The Buddhist Era At Sanchi”

Madhya Pradesh can be said to be the microcosm of India, for the land reflects the glory of India in many ways. These can relate to the architectural grandeur of its palaces, temples and mosques, the natural beauty surrounding the Vindhyas and other regions, the prehistoric art at places like Bhimbetka, the pilgrimage centres of Amarkantak, Chitrakoot and others, and the adventure trail of the tiger sanctuaries to name a few. For those with a spiritual bent of mind and in the quest for peace and tranquillity, the land of Sanchi can be an added attraction in the Madhya Pradesh tourism circuit.

How to reach?

The religion of Buddhism started by Lord Buddha had led a trail in India with many centres reflecting the glory of the Lord and his teachings. The town of Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh is one such centre that is well connected by road, railroad and air. If one takes the road then Sanchi can be reached easily from important cities like Bhopal, Indore or Ujjain by buses or cars. The nearest railway station and airport happen to be in the capital city of Bhopal, about 50 kilometres from Sanchi. Located in the Raisen district of the state, the quaint town with an old world charm is known for its beautiful stupas, monuments, and monasteries.

A bit of history

The main attraction of the town is the Buddhist Stupa or a hemispherical dome housing the relics of Lord Buddha. The Stupa was built by Emperor Ashoka, the monarch who reigned during the period from 268 BC to 232 BC. One of the greatest monarchs the world has ever known, Emperor Ashoka had embraced Buddhism and decided to propagate the teachings of the lord after witnessing the wanton destruction wrought by the Kalinga war. As a part of that exercise he had set up many Buddhist monasteries, stupas and pilgrimage centres all across the country, and through his emissaries, even beyond the boundaries of India as well.

The beauty of the Great Stupa at Sanchi

Declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the construction of the Stupa began in the third century BC. The 51 ft high Stupa (mound) or the hemispherical dome consists of a central chamber that contains the relics of Lord Buddha. The archaeological wonder is said to be the oldest stone structure in India built during the Mauryan era. The Stupa is surrounded by four ornately carved gateways or Toranas facing the four directions with each of them representing the eternal and subliminal qualities of love, trust, courage and peace.

The present Stupa is double the size of the original one built by Emperor Ashoka. The expansion of the Stupa was carried out during the Shunga dynasty lorded over by the General of the Mauryan Empire. It was during this period, a chatra or an umbrella measuring 37 meters in diameter and 16 meters tall was erected over the dome.

Other attractions

Interestingly, near the Sanchi Stupa is another important tourist attraction, the Udayagiri Caves.

The magnificence of Udayagiri Caves

These caves consist of an assemblage of twenty rock-cut caves near the ancient town of Vidisha, from the early years of the 5th century CE. These contain some of the oldest surviving Hindu temples and iconography in India. As one of India’s most important archaeological sites, the Udayagiri hills and its caves are protected monuments managed by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Udayagiri caves are notable for the ancient monumental relief sculpture of Vishnu in his incarnation as the man-boar Varaha, rescuing the earth symbolically represented by Bhudevi clinging to the boar’s tusk as described in Hindu mythology ( Cave No 5 ).

Besides the great Stupa and the magnificence of Udayagiri caves, Sanchi has other places of interest as well such as the famous Ashoka Pillar, a number of Viharas (places where Buddhist monks used to stay,) Gupta Temple and others.

If you want to see these architectural wonders of ancient India and other popular destinations in the Madhya Pradesh tourism circuit, engage the services of i4utravels.com.

Visit The Brilliance Of The Past Through A Tour Of Sanchi

Craving a slice of history? Or is a long planned pilgrimage on your mind? Sanchi, one of the most famous places that coloured the history of ancient India, should prove to be the place for you. Steeped in history, knowledge and a surreal vibe that echoes the past, Sanchi is still revered. Tourists from all … Continue reading “Visit The Brilliance Of The Past Through A Tour Of Sanchi”

Craving a slice of history? Or is a long planned pilgrimage on your mind? Sanchi, one of the most famous places that coloured the history of ancient India, should prove to be the place for you. Steeped in history, knowledge and a surreal vibe that echoes the past, Sanchi is still revered.
Tourists from all over the world make their way to Madhya Pradesh not just to enjoy thrilling rides cruising through the dense forests and national parks getting glimpses of the majestic Royal Bengal Tigers and the exotic fauna it offers but Sanchi is also among one of the main attractions. Sanchi was also the seat where Buddhism flourished and consequently met with a setback in the early centuries as a result of various conquests. Declared by UNESCO in the year 1989, Sanchi garnered a place in the list of World Heritage Sites and continues to be the pull for travel enthusiasts, archaeologists and pilgrims alike.
Planning a trip to Madhya Pradesh needs your precious time as there is no dearth of places to visit in this wondrous state. Do you have Sanchi on your travel itinerary? Let us present some of the most exciting places that you can visit in Sanchi while you are touring the neighbourhood.

Sanchi Stupas
Sanchi is synonymous with the word Stupas. These architectural mammoths created during the 3rd century B.C under the reign of Ashoka, are a sight to behold. The Great Stupa, one of the oldest among them is carved with magnificent etchings that never fail to instil within the viewer a sense of awe. Standing tall at 71 feet, the Great Stupa surely towers over all the other touristy sites and overshadows everything in its vicinity. Explore every nook and corner of this great architectural masterpiece or simply stand afar and admire. Disappointment would be the last thing to cross your mind.

Sanchi Museum
Not close behind is the Sanchi Museum, that houses a plethora of exotic objects from the long forgotten past. A popular site for the history buffs, going through the artefacts and relics are sure to take you centuries back. The royal dynasties that were the supreme power of the land, their conquests and the lavish manner in which they spent their days seem to transcend through the numerous relics, leaving visitors with an open mouthed wonder.
There surely is something uncanny about seals and paintings that are products of a rich history. Visit the museum reverberating with history and come back armed with numerous tales of the bygone times.

Gupta Temple
Built in the 5th Century AD by the royal dynasties of the Guptas, this architectural wonder continues to inspire builders all over the globe. The Gupta Temple has been designed to form one of the most mathematically approved structures. The temple indeed makes one feel in awe of the brilliant engineering methods followed by the builders of the past who successfully attempted to make such an imposing monument without having in possession any of the modern equipments that we now take for granted. Sanchi is predominantly a Buddhist pilgrimage centre yet the Gupta Temple catered to people belonging to different religions.
The temple is almost in ruins now but the superior craftsmanship cannot be mistaken.

Ashoka Pillar
A stalwart in the history of architectural creations, the Ashoka Pillar situated south of the Great Stupa is one of the many pillars built by the Emperor during his reign. Ashoka was known to strive for an end to the violence that was a result of warring countries and erected these pillars that were etched with his edicts. The pillar at Sanchi stands at a might height of 50 feet, reflecting the majestic rule during the bygone era and stands as a true representation of one of the most revered Emperors.

Udaygiri Caves
A series of twenty caves, these caves attract thousands from afar due to the sheer beauty that the carvings inside generate. Depicting sculptures and deities belonging to Jainism and Hinduism from the Gupta period(4th century AD), the caves offer a pinpointed glimpse into the past. The caves can be found on the top as well as on the foothills and never fail to inspire with their brilliantly intricate carvings that successfully convey stories of a violent and glorious past.

Do you feel inspired enough to pack and travel to Central India already? We at i4u Travel Services have it all designed for you. From arranging flight and train schedules, hotel bookings, guided tours, safari rides through Pench, Bandhavgarh and Kanha National Parks and much much more, the team at i4u is indeed your perfect touring partner, making your journey as hassle free as is possible.

Travel back centuries, tread the lands where history was created and leave your footprints on the very same by visiting the Heart of Incredible India. A grand time is awaiting you!