Sanchi, Buddhist monument complex in Madhya Pradesh, India
Sanchi is a Buddhist monument complex in Madhya Pradesh, India, where several stupas and monastery ruins stand on a hilltop. The main stupa rises as a hemispherical dome with four carved stone gateways and a surrounding railing.
Emperor Ashoka ordered construction of the first brick stupa during the 3rd century BCE. Centuries later, successive rulers added stone gateways and carved railings that remain standing today.
Pilgrims and visitors walk clockwise around the stupas, following a Buddhist practice maintained for centuries. Religious ceremonies occasionally take place today, drawing monks from different countries who gather here.
Regular buses connect the site with Bhopal, roughly 46 kilometers away, and guided tours in several languages are available. The walk up the hill follows paved paths that can become slippery when it rains.
The stone carvings at Stupa 2 represent the oldest surviving extensive decorative work on any Buddhist stupa across India. Additionally, the four gateways at the main stupa contain no human representation of Buddha, only symbols.
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