Sanchi is famous for its stupas. This historic site is located to the west of Betwa River in Raisen district, Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh). It is about 90 m above its surroundings, and is the site of many famous Buddhist monuments. But how did the stupas come in to existence?
Sanchi is the site of three stupas. Stupa No. 1, also called the Great Stupa, is one of the most magnificent monuments of its time. Its construction was probably started by the Emperor Ashoka in the mid-third century B.C. and later it was enlarged. It is enclosed by a massive stone railing pierced by four gateways. These gateways have elaborate carvings depicting the life of Buddha. Each gateway is made up of two square posts, topped by statues of animals and dwarfs. It consists of a base, bearing a hemispherical dome (anda) representing the dome of heaven enclosing the earth. It is surmounted by a square-rail unit (harmika) from which rises a mast (yatsi). It symbolizes the cosmic axis. The mast bears umbrellas (chhatras) that represent the various heavens (devaloka).
Stupa No. 2, with railing decorations, has carvings relating to late Sunga period (1st century B.C.). Stupa No. 3, with its single gateway (torana), was constructed in the late first century A.D. These stupas have become an important site for tourist attraction. Thousands of people visit them every year.
Certain other specimens of celebrated Indian sculpture are to be found at Sanchi. These include a commemorative pillar erected by Emperor Ashoka (265-238 B.C.) and the famous Gupta Temple built in the early 5th century.