Sanchi is known for its Stupas, monasteries, temples and pillars dating from the 3rd century to the 12th century. The most famous of these monuments, is the Sanchi Stupa 1, which was originally built by the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka, the governor of Ujjayini, whose wife Devi was the daughter of a merchant from adjacent Vidisha. Their son Mahindra and daughter Sanghamitra were born in Ujjayini and sent to Srilanka, where they converted the King, the Queen and their people to Buddhism.

Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh is located 46 kilometers away from Bhopal it is also known as the World Heritage Site. Sanchi has a strong Buddhist heritage also. Tourism in Madhya Pradesh receives a momentum with a tour to Sanchi that also reveals testimony of Gupta architecture besides the Buddhists ruins.

Sanchi is located in a small isolated hill in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Sanchi has made a very important place for itself not only in Buddhist history but also in the tourism map of the country. There are several Tourist Attractions in Sanchi that are visited by a large number of tourists each year. Sanchi presents to you a very big slice of India's glorious history.

Sanchi has a special place in the life of Buddhists. There are several Chaityas, Viharas and Stupas in Sanchi that have been constructed way back in the 3rd century B.C. and 12th century A.D. and these throw a great deal of light on the life and teachings of Lord Buddha. Sanchi is the proud owner of the oldest stone structure in India which is the Great Stupa. One of the oldest instances of temple architecture in India dating to the 5th century is also found in Sanchi. You will certainly be missing out on these historical monuments that display a lot of architectural splendor and have stood the test of times if you do not visit Sanchi. The greatest moment of glory came in the history of Sanchi when the Stupas were declared a world heritage site by UNESCO. The Stupas are reflective of remarkable architectural skills and are historically important as well. The best time to visit the Tourist attractions in Sanchi is from October to March when the weather remains very pleasant. Some of the major Tourist Attractions in Sanchi are • Sanchi Stupa that built by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century B.C with relics of Buddha in the central chamber. • The sculptures on the brilliantly carved gateways to the Stupas or Toranas show instances from Buddha's life including his earlier incarnations. Interestingly, Buddha has been symbolized by tree, throne, Stupa, horse, lion and elephant. • The first site museum in the country, Museum at Sanchi preserves a variety of Buddhist artifacts • You should also visit the Ashoka pillar with the four lions, which is considered to be the state emblem of India. • There are images of Buddha's life in the Buddhist temples known as Chaityas • There are monasteries having remnants of the Stupas.

Sanchi is well known to all of us as a place associated with Buddhism. It may sound rather surprising but apart from the Buddhist Viharas, Chaityas and Stupas, there is Gupta Temple in Sanchi that heralds the beginning of Temple architecture in India. Sanchi thus reflects the religious and architectural heritage of India. There are three layers in the Sanchi hill also referred to as shelves. They are the crowning shelf, intermediate shelf and lower shelf. The Gupta Temple adorns the intermediate layer. Make sure to visit this Gupta temple No.17 which has stood the test of time.

The Gupta Temple in Sanchi dates back to the 5th century. The Gupta Age has earned for itself the prestigious epithet of Golden Age. The remarkable progress that India made during the reign of the Gupta is manifest in every field. The architectural field is no exceptional. They are credited with ushering in a new era in the field of Temple Architecture in India. The Gupta Temple No.17 is emblematic of the resurgence of structural activity in Sanchi. It has made a prominent place for itself in history because it marks the genesis of Temple Architecture in India.

Sir John Marshall was highly impressed by the Gupta Temple, Sanchi and deemed it as one of the most logically designed structures in Indian Architecture. It incarnated all the precepts that were considered important in the construction of an Indian temple. This elegant temple has a simple flat roofed chamber and a pillared porch at the entrance. Its simplicity is striking and there is a lot of restraint in its embellishment.

Sanchi is well connected to several main centers of Madhya Pradesh through roadways. Buses are a common means of transportation. The nearest airport is at Bhopal from here you can take a bus or hire a car to reach Sanchi. Railways also connect these two places. For those who are interested in traveling by railways, the railway station at Vidisha is a better option than the railway station at Sanchi because many important trains halt here. Vidisha and Sanchi are separated by a distance of 10 kms. So you can easily take a bus or an auto to reach Sanchi once you have arrived at Vidisha from any part of the country.