India /Madhya Pradesh /Raisen / Sanchi

A quaint little village at the footsteps of a hill Sanchi in the Indian State of Madhya Pradesh carries the genesis of Buddhism in India. A tiny hamlet with a rich culture, Sanchi is embellished by a series of monasteries, stupas, holy shrines and pillars dating from 3rd century BC to 12th century AD. The glory of Sanchi, as a devout centre, can still be experienced in its composite formations where the rich carvings reflects various legendary beliefs and Buddhist myths. Sanchi also unfurls a true love story that is nothing short of a fairy tale. Its about a beautiful girl by name Devi, a pious Buddhist. King Ashoka fell in love with this girl and it is believed that it was this girl who motivated the king to construct such marvelous monuments in Sanchi. Sanchi’s fame set in to oblivion by the end of the 13th century and only in 1818 this renowned center of hinayana Buddhism was rediscovered. Despite the neglect for centuries, the architectural splendors of Sanchi still adorns the prime position and it offers the most redolent and eye-catching Buddhist site in India. Stupas and gateways of this world heritage site are the superb expressions of classiness in architecture. In fact these marvels of ancient Buddhist ethnicity herald a new arena in the field of temple architecture in India. Apart from the religious and historical aspect, Sanchi tenders a delightful view of the adjoining landscapes. If religion is not your passion, you could move onto other options since Sanchi is a fine place to just chill out and rest, or travel around.

Quick Facts-Edit

Category : Historical

Time Zone: UTC + 5:30 Hours

Pincode: 464661

STD Code: 7482

Info Website: mptourism.com/web/explore/destinations/sanchi.aspx

Best Time to Visit:  October – March

HistoryEdit

Sanchi, the historical and pilgrim town in Madhya Pradesh is famous for its connection to Buddhism. Going back to the Sunga Period (2nd century BCE) the city was under the rule of Pusyamitra Sunga, who is believed to have destroyed the main stupa which was later rebuilt by his son Agnimitra. King Asoka, belonging to the Mauryan dynasty, built the giant stupa in the 3rd century. The Satavahana Period lasted around 70 BCE and it was during this time that the gateways and the banister were built. The abundant amounts of stone carvings depicting the life of Buddha were also built during this age. Not much of the history is known from then onwards. It was in the 12th century that the city saw the establishment of most of its temple. After the decline of Buddhism in India, most of the historical monuments of Sanchi dilapidated. The present town of Sanchi was brought back to glory by the British general Taylor, who discovered the site in 1818. Restoration of the site was commenced under the guidance of John Marshall in 1912 and was completed in 1919. The site gained the momentum of being UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 1989.

Places to VisitAdd

Sanchi Sightseeing

How to ReachEdit

By Air : ‘Raja Bhoj’ Airport in Bhopal is the nearest airport. It is nearly 67 km away from Sanchi. Taxi fare is about Rs 1,000 from Bhopal airport to Sanchi. Bhopal airport is connected to many cities in India by air, including Delhi, Indore, Mumbai, Gwalior and Jabalpur. Air India offers flights to Sharjah and Dubai from Bhopal.

By Train : Bhopal is the nearest railhead to Sanchi, which is nearly 50 km away from Sanchi. Tourist taxi services are available from Bhopal to Sanchi with a fare of about Rs 1,000. Bhopal is a major railway junction, which is placed in the Mumabi – Delhi broad gauge line. It is connected to all cities in India.

By BUS : Many buses are available from different parts of Madhya Pradesh to Sanchi. Governmemt owned public buses and Private luxury buses are providing services from Sanchi to many cities, including places like Bhopal (46 km), Indore (287 km) and Vidisha (10 km).

By Taxi : Auto rickshaws and Taxies are easily available for moving about in the city.

By Other : N.A.

Top HotelsAdd

Economy – Up to Rs. 801 to Rs. 1200

• Hotel Sambodhi ; Bhopal – Vidisha Main Road,, Sanchi, Distt.- Raisen., Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh 464661 ; Ph – 086 02 003213; Facilities – Travel Desk, 24-hour front desk, 24-hour room service, Air conditioning, Conference facilities, Laundry, Parking.

Top RestaurantsAdd

• MP Tourism Cafeteria ;  Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh 464661. ; M –  N.A. ; Food Serve :  N.A.

Must Eat FoodAdd 

Must Do ActivitiesAdd

Must ShopAdd

Nightlife (Pub / Disc / BAR)Add

SpaAdd 

FestivalAdd

• Chethiyagiri Vihara ; Venue:  N.A. ; Period :  November ; Details:  Chethiyagiri Vihara is a famous festival held during the end of November. This festival celebrates the virtue of ancient associations of Buddha’s two initial disciples whose remains were discovered in Stupa 3 in 1853.The two disciples, whose relics are the center of this festival, were Sari Puttha and Maha Moggallana. During this festival Sanchi is thronged by thousands of Buddhists monks and pilgrims from different parts of the world.

Safety / WarningEdit

• Beware of pickpockets as Sanchi is a major tourist city in India.
• Avoid false saller, they may sale you fake items.

HelplineEdit

• Ambulance : 102
• Fire Brigade : 101
• Police : 100

ItineraryEdit

N.A.

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