Few places in India show as clearly as Sanchi how early Buddhism was captured in stone. On a quiet hill in Madhya Pradesh, stupas, monasteries and Buddhist temples still stand today, together telling more than fifteen centuries of religious history. At the heart of it all is the Great Stupa, an impressive monument regarded as the oldest Buddhist stone structure in India.
Emperor Ashoka the Great commissioned its construction in the 3rd century BCE. In this article, you'll discover how this Buddhist stupa came to be, which dynasties shaped the complex, and which monuments you can still admire on the hill of Sanchi today.
Sanchi: A Unique Buddhist Sanctuary
Sanchi is located in the Raisen district of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, about 9 kilometres from the ancient city of Vidisha. The site is best known for the many ruins of stupas, temples and monasteries that have been preserved here.
Remarkably, the Buddha never visited Sanchi during his lifetime. Even so, the site is considered as significant as some of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage destinations. Sanchi is also one of the oldest Buddhist sanctuaries in the country.
Fifteen Centuries of Buddhist History
The monuments of Sanchi span almost the entire history of Buddhism in India, from the 3rd century BCE to the 12th century CE. This makes the site a valuable resource for the study of ancient Buddhist art and literature.
For anyone exploring Stupa Buddhism, the tradition in which the stupa holds a central place as a sacred monument, Sanchi is an open-air museum of exceptional value. Its carved reliefs illustrate the teachings of the Buddha in a way that still captures the imagination centuries later.
What Is a Stupa?
A stupa is a dome-shaped shrine traditionally built over sacred relics. The core of the Great Stupa is a simple, hemispherical brick structure that, according to tradition, was built over relics of the Buddha. The stupa was also seen as a symbol of the Dharma, the Buddha's teaching, which is often represented as the Wheel of the Law.
The History of the Great Stupa: From Ashoka to the Guptas
The Maurya Period: The Beginning
The Great Stupa, also known as Stupa 1, was built around the 3rd century BCE on the orders of the Mauryan emperor Ashoka the Great. According to tradition, his wife, Queen Devi, oversaw its construction. The Ashoka Pillar, made of finely polished sandstone, dates from the same period.
The Shunga Period: Destruction and Rebuilding
The stupa is believed to have been destroyed during the reign of Emperor Pushyamitra Shunga. His son, Agnimitra Shunga, is then said to have been tasked with rebuilding the monument. In this reconstruction, the stupa was made twice the size of the original. Later in the Shunga period, the second and third stupas were also built on the hill.
The Satavahana Period: Gateways Full of Stories
Under the Satavahana dynasty, Sanchi gained its famous, richly decorated gateways (toranas) and ornate railings. The four gateways surrounding the Great Stupa date from the 1st century BCE.
The sculptures on these gateways tell elaborate stories from the life of the Buddha. One of the most important scenes depicts the moment of his Enlightenment beneath the Bodhi tree.
The Gupta Period and Beyond: New Temples
During the Gupta period, several temples and additional stupas were built on the hill. Temple 17 dates from this era and is considered one of the earliest Buddhist temples in India.
Building activity continued for centuries afterwards. Temple 45, from the mid-9th century, is regarded as the last Buddhist temple ever built at Sanchi.
The Most Important Stupas and Monuments of Sanchi
On the hills of Sanchi, you can still find three stupas, several temples and around fifty monuments. Because of this remarkable concentration of Buddhist heritage, the monuments of Sanchi were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1989.
The Great Stupa (Stupa 1)
The Great Stupa is the absolute highlight of Sanchi. The present stupa is twice the size of the original structure from the 3rd century BCE. It is no coincidence that Sanchi is consistently cited as a benchmark in international literature on Stupa Buddhist architecture.
The Great Stupa at a glance:
· Built: 3rd century BCE, commissioned by Emperor Ashoka
· Height: approximately 16 metres
· Diameter of the base: approximately 36 metres
· Core: a hemispherical brick dome built over relics of the Buddha
· Gateways: four richly decorated toranas from the 1st century BCE
Stupa 2 and Stupa 3
Stupa 2 is located on the hillside, about 320 metres west of the Great Stupa. Stupa 3 stands around 60 metres to its north. Both stupas were built in the 2nd and 1st centuries BCE.
The most fascinating feature of Stupa 2 is its collection of reliefs and medallions carved into the stone railing. Stupa 3 has a single ornate gateway on its southern side.
Temples and Monasteries
Alongside its stupas, Sanchi is known for its temples and monasteries:
· Temple 17: a classic stone temple from the Gupta period and one of the earliest Buddhist temples in India.
· Temple 18: a considerably larger structure than Temple 17, much of which has unfortunately been lost.
· Monasteries (viharas): the hill contains the remains of several monastic complexes, including Monastery 51 on the western side of the Great Stupa.
Conclusion: Sanchi and Its Timeless Buddhist Stupa
Sanchi is far more than a collection of ruins. It is a place where you can literally trace the development of Buddhism in India: from Ashoka's first brick dome to the last temples of the 9th century. The Great Stupa, the smaller stupas, the storytelling gateways and the temples together form a unique ensemble that is rightly protected as a World Heritage Site.
At 1stBuddha, we are continually inspired by places like Sanchi, which show how deeply the Buddhist tradition is rooted in history. Whether you're planning a trip, studying Buddhist art or are simply curious about the meaning of the stupa, Sanchi deserves a place near the top of your list.
Want to Learn More About Buddhist Heritage?
Do you have questions about Sanchi, the symbolism of the stupa or other Buddhist sanctuaries? Contact us – the 1stBuddha team will be happy to help.
