Sanchi Stupa Historical Facts and Pictures

Sanchi Stupa, located in the town of Sanchi in Raisen District, Madhya Pradesh, India, is a Buddhist religious structure and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located just 46 km north-east of Bhopal, it is one of the most visited pilgrimage sites and tourist attractions of the country. The Great Stupa, the oldest stone construction in India, was first commissioned in the third century BCE by Ashoka the Great, the Indian Emperor of the Maurya Dynasty. The Stupa represents the life and teachings of Goutama Buddha, the founder of the Buddhist religion, through stone carvings and sculptures.

Sanchi Stupa

Sanchi Stupa Images

Sanchi Stupa Photos

Sanchi Stupa Pictures

Sanchi Stupa

Sanchi Stupa Interior

Inside of Sanchi Stupa

Sanchi Stupa Inside

Sanchi Stupa Interior

Sanchi Stupa Plan

Sanchi Stupa Plan

Sanchi Stupa Torana

Sanchi Stupa Torana Images

Sanchi Stupa Torana Pictures

Sanchi Stupa Torana

Sanchi Stupa Yakshi

Sanchi Stupa Yakshi Pictures

Sanchi Stupa Yakshi

Built over the relics of Buddha with a central brick construction that acts as the nucleus of the whole construction, the Stupa was crowned with a parasol-like structure (the chatra) that symbolized high rank in Indian culture. A finely polished sandstone pillar was added to adorn the stone structure. The old construction was later covered during expansions by succeeding rulers.