Last Updated on: 16th November 2025, 09:21 am
If there were any single archaeological site synonymous with the mighty emperor Ashoka, it would have to be Sanchi. The Great Sanchi Stupa was commissioned by the Maurya Emperor in the 3rd century BC, while the site would remain a stronghold of Buddhism for the next millennium.
For various historical and cultural reasons, Buddhism started to die out in India by the 13th century AD, and Sanchi would largely remain forgotten for the next 600 years until its rediscovery in 1818.
For those traveling through Madhya Pradesh, Sanchi is within easy reach of the state capital of Bhopal. In the following guide, we’ll be covering the site’s history, everything you can expect to see at Sanchi, and even two additional ancient sites in the nearby city of Vidisha.
For more information on transport and accommodation, be sure to check the end of the article.
Who Was Ashoka?
It’s difficult to overstate the importance of Ashoka to not only historical India, but to Asia as a whole.
Various aspects of Ashoka’s life are up for debate as it can be hard to discern historical fact from mythology. In any case, we do know that Ashoka was both one of India’s mightiest-ever emperors and the ancient world’s biggest proselytizer of Buddhism.
Furthermore, Ashoka would long be seen as the archetypal ‘righteous king’ in Indian society for centuries after his death.
Born in the 3rd century BC, Ashoka was the grandson of the founder of the Maurya Empire, Chandragupta. Though the empire was already massive at the time of his ascension, Ashoka expanded it even further.
With its capital at Pataliputra (present Patna, Bihar), the Maurya Empire under Ashoka encompassed most of the Indian subcontinent along with large parts of present-day Afghanistan. It bordered the Seleucid Empire to the west which had been founded in 312 BC by Alexander the Great’s general, Seleucus I Nicator.
According to Buddhist legends, Ashoka’s territorial expansion – not to mention his ascension to the throne – was accomplished through cruel and violent means. Eventually, however, he would convert to Buddhism and change his ways, ruling as a kind and righteous king.
Ashoka’s cruelty was likely exaggerated by later Buddhist texts to emphasize the change that accepting Buddhism brought to his life. Nevertheless, there’s no doubt that Buddhism changed him.
As with modern India, ancient India was home to numerous coexisting yet competing religions and philosophies. But the area around Pataliputra, the Maurya capital, had already been a stronghold of Buddhism due to being the location of the Buddha’s enlightenment. And Ashoka’s encounters with various monks ultimately led to his conversion.
The world’s mightiest empire at the time now had a Buddhist king, and Ashoka would go on to propagate Buddhism throughout his lands, commissioning roughly 84,000 stupas and viharas in the process.
But today, out of all of Ashoka’s monuments, the best-known and best-preserved of them is the Great Sanchi Stupa.
Sanchi, however, has no connection with the Buddha himself. So why was this location chosen? Notably, Sanchi was the hometown of Ashoka’s wife, whom he met and married during a journey to Ujjain.
Sanchi would continue to be developed for centuries, and it’s likely survived better than Ashoka’s other constructions due to its remote, rural location. And for the modern visitor, Sanchi is easily one of the finest archaeological sites in all of India.
Visiting Sanchi
At the time of writing, Sanchi costs Rs 600 for foreigners and just Rs 40 for Indian nationals. The site is open from 8:00-19:00 daily except Mondays.
It’s located roughly 50 km from Bhopal and the journey takes a little over an hour by car (more below).
Before reaching the main Sanchi monuments, you’ll pass by the Sanchi Archaeological Museum located behind the ticket gate. The museum costs just Rs 5 and is open from 9:00-17:00 daily except Fridays.
You can learn more about the museum below. For most visitors, it would be wise to start with the site itself in order to beat the crowds before stopping at the museum on your way out.
The main site is a bit of a journey to reach, as it’s located atop a hill accessed via a long, winding staircase.
Interestingly, you’ll pass by an active Sri Lankan Buddhist temple on the way. Though active Buddhist temples are relatively rare in modern India, they often seemed to be located near prominent Buddhist archaeological ruins.
Stupa 3
Arriving at the main site, the first stupa you’ll pass by is simply known as Stupa 3. It was the last of the main stupas built at Sanchi, constructed sometime during the Shunga period (187 to 75 BCE).
In Buddhist tradition, stupas typically enshrine relics related to prominent monks or even the Buddha himself. In this case, Stupa 3 is said to house relics of Sariputra and Mahamoggallana, the Buddha’s two chief disciples.
What’s known as a torana gateway stands in front – just one here in contrast to the Great Stupa’s four. It was likely added by the Satavhanas in the 1st century BC.
Notably, in terms of its size and the stone umbrella at its top, this stupa probably appears more like how the Great Sanchi Stupa originally looked during Ashoka’s era.
The Great Sanchi Stupa
Said to house relics of the Buddha, the Great Sanchi Stupa was originally built of brick by Ashoka himself. Originally, it would’ve featured a simple stone umbrella at its top.
It was then later enlarged during subsequent eras, while it’s now adorned with a more elaborate umbrella, or chatra, which symbolizes holiness.
The original stupa was about half the size of what we see today, with the current version being about 16 m high and 36 m in diameter.
Some scholars suspect that the original may have possibly been partially destroyed during the Shunga period (c. 187 to 75 BE). The Shunga Empire had overthrown the Mauryas and were largely antagonistic toward Buddhism, instead favoring Hinduism.
In any case, the Great Sanchi Stupa was rebuilt and expanded during the same era. It probably wasn’t commissioned by any later Shunga rulers, but instead by private patrons.
Surrounding the stupa are four torana gates which contain what are arguably some of India’s finest carvings.
An inscription dates them to King Satakarni II, who ruled from 50-25 BC. But some speculate that the inscription may actually refer to a different king named Satakarni which could push the date back as far at the 2nd century BC.
Largely carved by the ivory carvers of nearby Vidisha, the intricate carvings detail various scenes from the Buddha’s life along with the Jataka tales, or myths detailing events from the Buddha’s past lives. A few of them even portray events from Ashoka’s life.
Rather than a master plan for the carvings, the scenes were likely chosen by wealthy patrons who helped fund the gates. Conveniently, the on-site signage provides info about the subject matter of each.
The platform surrounding the stupa was meant for ritual circumambulation and visitors are free to access it. The stone balustrade also contains some smaller carvings which likely date from the 2nd century BC.
The balustrade offers excellent views of the opposite sides of the torana gates. Looking closely, you’ll notice countless figures – except for one, that is.
The Buddha himself does not make an appearance here, as that was still considered taboo in Buddhism’s early days. He’s instead represented by symbols like an empty throne.
Eventually, likely due to Greek influence, creating images of the Buddha became the norm. And a series of Buddha images can be seen in front of the stupa today. They were added in the 5th century AD, having been imported from the Buddhist stronghold of Mathura.
As mentioned, the beautiful torana gates were not there during Ashoka’s time. He did, however, erect a pillar at the Great Sanchi Stupa. Though no longer standing, it can still be seen beneath a shelter beside the monument.
Its inscription in the Brahmi script threatens to punish those who cause division in the Buddhist sangha (Buddhist monastic order), suggesting that a schism was taking place even in Buddhism’s very early days.
The pillar was originally topped with a magnificent sculpture of four lions that visitors can see at the on-site museum (more below).
Ashoka, in fact, left various pillars throughout India, while his carved Rock Edicts can be found as far west as Kandahar, Afghanistan.
But, while beyond the scope of this guide, Christopher I. Beckwith, author of the highly thought-provoking book Greek Buddha, suggests that the carved edicts credited to Ashoka were maybe left by more than one king and perhaps over multiple eras.
Surrounding Temples & Monasteries
Besides the main stupas, there’s still lots more to see around the complex. After all, Sanchi was an important religious complex for nearly 1500 years.
To the southwest of the Great Sanchi Stupa is a small stupa that oddly doesn’t seem to have a name. It lacks a balustrade but has a single stone umbrella at its top.
Also just behind the main stupa are two temples. Temple 17 was built during the Gupta period and features a portico held up by four pillars.
Temple 18, meanwhile, was added in the 7th century AD. It once featured a large apsidal hall, though not much remains.
The southern part of the archaeological site is comprised of various monasteries. Little more than foundations remain, but with a bit of imagination, one can easily picture large communities of monks and nuns going about their daily routines.
And at the very edge of the site, one can enjoy views of the surrounding Madhya Pradesh countryside. As we’ll cover below, you can enjoy more views from the top of the Udaigiri Caves.
Circling back around, don’t miss the remains of Temple 40. Incredibly, it was built at the same time as the Great Sanchi Stupa, making this one of the oldest freestanding temples in all of India!
Constructed of timber, the original temple burnt down at some point. Its platform was later enlarged and then a pillared hall was added. The temple would then continue to be used until around the 8th century AD.
To the east of the main stupa is Temple 45, a medieval structure built atop the ruins of a 7th or 8th-century temple. Interestingly, despite this being a Buddhist temple. the Hindu river goddesses Ganga and Yamuna can be seen depicted on the door jambs.
Temple 45 was originally surrounded by a monastery which explains why the platform is so large. Be sure to walk over to the western edge for an excellent view of Stupa 3 and numerous other minor structures.
In this area, in addition to a small temple and various tiny stupas, you’ll find two standing pillars. The round one dates from the Gupta era and was originally topped with a lion capital that’s now in the museum (pictured further below).
You can also find part of an octagonal pillar dating to the 2nd century BC.
Stupa 2
We already covered Stupa 3 above, but what about Stupa 2? You can find it at the far western edge of the archaeological site, accessible via a trail that starts opposite the Great Sanchi Stupa’s western torana gate.
A lot of tourists seem to miss Stupa 2, so it would be wise to save it for later when Sanchi starts getting crowded.
On the way there, you’ll pass through yet another monastery that appears even larger than many of the others above.
Like Stupa 3, this stupa was also likely commissioned during the Shunga era. As you walk around the balustrade, you’ll encounter various carvings dating from the 2nd-1st centuries AD.
Not only are the decorations here considered the oldest surviving carvings at the site, but they’re possibly even the oldest stupa decorations in the world!
Interestingly, evidence of the Gandhari script can be found here, implying that Gandharan (current Pakistan and Afghanistan) artists were responsible for the artwork.
For whatever reason, unlike the stupas mentioned above, no torana gate was ever placed here.
The On-Site Museum
As mentioned above, the on-site museum is situated at the base of the hill back near the ticket booth. It costs just Rs 5 for both Indians and foreigners. It’s open every day except Fridays.
The museum is surrounded by a spacious garden, and in it you’ll find carved pillars from the 13th century that stand in situ. The images largely relate to the societal duties of a husband and wife.
Stepping inside, you’ll find ancient artifacts from Sanchi spread across multiple rooms. Featured items include original pieces of the torana gates carved in the 1st century BC, along with 5th-century carvings from the Gupta era.
While the pieces themselves aren’t the most impressive you’ll come across in India, they do demonstrate how Sanchi was inhabited and developed for centuries.
It’s only in the first room that you’ll find objects dating to Ashoka’s era. One of the artifacts is an inscribed pillar, though it’s not entirely clear if it’s original or a replica.
In any case, the Brahmi inscription threatens those who break the rules of the sangha with being thrown out!
All in all, the museum’s most remarkable piece would have to be an original stone lion capital that once adorned the tops of Ashoka’s pillars.
And as displayed elsewhere in the museum, similar lion capitals would continue to be used for centuries, with one impressive example dating to around 600 AD during the Gupta period.
Another fascinating object here relates to Stupa 3. As mentioned above, it’s said to house the relics of Sariputra and Mahamoggallana, the Buddha’s two chief disciples.
And the boxes containing the relics, which date to the 1st century BC, were discovered during excavations in the 19th century. While the museum only displays parts of the boxes themselves, they once contained things like bone fragments and stones such as lapis lazuli.
Exiting the museum, also be sure to stop and admire the Sir John Hubert Marshall House which belonged to the director of the Archaeological Survey of India from 1902-1928.
When finished with the main Sanchi archaeology site, you can find a bus back to Bhopal by simply waiting along the main road (more below). Or, you can extend your excursion by visiting more historical sites near the neighboring city of Vidisha, such as the Udaigiri Caves and the Heliodorus Pillar.
With no Uber available in Sanchi, you’ll have to negotiate with a tuk tuk driver, and you’ll find plenty of them outside the site entrance. And if you visit the sites in Vidisha, you’ll also need the same driver to wait for you and bring you to the bus station, as you won’t find tuk tuks elsewhere.
In my case, I agreed with a driver to take me to the two sites, wait for me at each, and then drop me off at the bus stand for Rs 600. Perhaps you can haggle for even cheaper, but I found it to be a fair price.
The Udaigiri Caves
The Udaigiri Caves are open daily from 9:00-18:00 and cost Rs 250 for foreigners at the time of writing.
The site is home to both Hindu and Jain caves dating from the 3rd-5th centuries AD, revealing how the two religions coexisted with Buddhism during the Gupta period.
And the site is hugely significant for being the only known site commissioned by a Gupta emperor.
But while the site is a must-visit for history lovers, it can’t compare visually with many of the cave sites in Maharashtra. Furthermore, most of the 20 caves here are typically locked and inaccessible.
One of Udaigiri’s top highlights is the large rock-cut reclining Vishnu resting on the coils of the primeval serpent at the beginning of time. It’s considered both one of the oldest and largest such depictions of Vishnu in India.
As mentioned, some of the caves are locked and inaccessible. But I was lucky to encounter a friendly staff member who opened up some of them for me.
One of the highlights was the ‘Tawa Cave’ with its ornate carved ceiling. It also contains an inscription mentioning a visit of Gupta Emperor Chandragupta II to this location.
Outside of Cave 6, you’ll find one of the earliest known carvings of Ganesha, while another striking carving depicts Vishnu as his wild boar avatar, Varaha.
Vishnu’s most well-known and revered avatars, of course, are Rama and Krishna. But according to Hindu mythology, he’s also come to save the world multiple times in animal form.
Another remarkable carving is of a Shiva linga carved in the likeness of Shiva himself (they are often void of decoration).
According to the staff member who unlocked the gate, Shiva was carved here in the likeness of an ancient Egyptian, but I didn’t quite see the resemblance.
While exploring the Udaigiri Caves, multiple trails lead to the top of the rock from which you can enjoy excellent views of the Madhya Pradesh countryside.
Around the area, you can even spot local houses that look very similar to those on display at Bhopal’s Madhya Pradesh Tribal Museum.
As mentioned above, Udaigiri features both Hindu and Jain caves, but for whatever reason, no Jain caves were accessible at the time of my visit.
The Heliodorus Pillar
The Heliodorus Pillar (known locally as Khambaba) is indeed just a pillar. Yet it’s hugely historically important for a few different reasons.
The pillar’s inscriptions, which date to the 1st century BC, reveal one of the earliest documented instances of communication between ancient Greeks and Indians, while it’s also the spot of the oldest known Vishnu temple.
In the 4th century BC, Alexander the Great departed Macedonia and conquered his way east, making it as far as the Hydaspes River in modern-day Pakistan.
And though his conquests only lasted about 16 years, Macedonians and Greeks would remain in Asia for centuries. Various kingdoms even formed which fused Indian and Greek cultures, such as the aptly-named Indo-Greek Kingdom.
And the Indo-Greek King Antialkidas, who ruled from Taxila (near current-day Islamabad) sent his ambassador Heliodorus to Vidisha to meet with the Shunga Emperor Bhagabhadra.
The inscriptions reference Heliodorus paying homage to Vishnu (as mentioned above, the Shungas favored Hinduism over Buddhism), while archaeological excavation in the 19th century revealed that a Vishnu temple stood at this spot as far back as the 4th century BC!
Though Hinduism is often touted as one of the world’s oldest religions, not many distinctly Hindu sculptures or temples older than 2000 years have ever been discovered, making this spot extremely rare.
Furthermore, the 1st century BC inscription contains one of the earliest references to Krishna, as it mentions Vasudeva, one of his nicknames. And Heliodorus’s inscription even contains a quote from the Mahabharata epic in the Brahmi script, predating the first known Sanskrit manuscripts.
Additional Info
Sanchi is located about 50 km from the city of Bhopal. To get there from Bhopal, the two best options are public bus or Uber. You should be able to find buses from the Nadra Bus Stand.
For those not on an extreme budget, the easiest option would be to take an Uber directly to Sanchi and then a bus back to Bhopal from either Sanchi or Vidisha. At the time of my visit, an Uber from central Bhopal cost around Rs 1200-1300.
Note that Uber does not function in Sanchi, so if you want a private car ride back, you’ll need to negotiate with your driver to see if he’ll wait for you and take you to Bhopal.
If you don’t feel like visiting the Udaigiri caves, simply wait by the main road near the Sanchi ticket gate and a bus should eventually pass.
As mentioned above, for those who are visiting the Udaigiri caves, which is only possible via tuk tuk or taxi, be sure to have your driver drop you off at the bus terminal in Vidisha (‘New Bus Stand Vidisha’ on Google Maps). Buses to Bhopal seem to leave frequently and you shouldn’t have to wait long.
It may be possible to get to and from Sanchi by train, but there seem to be just a few trains a day. You could also buy an unreserved ticket for a train from Vidisha to Bhopal, but most visitors will probably have an easier time just taking the bus.
Though located right in the heart of the country, Bhopal can be a bit challenging to reach from other major cities in India. I took a train from Aurangabad and the journey lasted about 14 hours. You can also take a direct train from Delhi, with the fastest train taking about 7 hours.
Coming from within Madhya Pradesh, you can reach Bhopal from Indore in about 4-5 hours.
Despite the hassle, Bhopal is indeed worth visiting to see the Bhimbetka Rock Shelters and Sanchi Stupa. And of course, you can also check out the Madhya Pradesh Tribal Museum and other attractions in the city center.
If you’re doing a long trip through India, it’s best to create an account on the official Indian Railways (IRCTC) website. But that’s much easier said than done!
If you’re just doing a shorter trip, it’s best to book train tickets through 12GoAsia. You’ll pay a significantly higher fee, but it’s a much smoother experience.
The above link is an affiliate link, but I did use 12GoAsia a few times before I got my IRCTC account set up and I had no issues.
Note that when traveling even a little bit off the tourist trail in India, you can’t just stay at any hotel you like. Only certain hotels will accept foreigners, and sites like Booking will not specify this!
Despite Bhopal being a state capital with nearly 3 million inhabitants, it hardly gets any foreign visitors, and you’ll have to double-check with your hotel that you’ll be allowed. (Or check is to see if people with foreign names and flags have left reviews.)
Furthermore, non-touristy cities tend to be more expensive than touristy ones. With all that considered, I ended up staying at the Super Collection O MP Nagar, which does indeed accept foreigners.
For the equivalent of about $18 per night, I had a private room with my own bathroom and decent Wifi. The staff were quite friendly, even if only one of them spoke English. Unfortunately, the hotel often reeked of cigarette smoke and cleanliness could’ve been better.
Super Collection O MP Nagar is in a rather strange area surrounded by lots of auto parts shops. With that said, there were several other hotels nearby and a plethora of restaurants to choose from.
Just across the street is the restaurant Naveen’s Bapu Ki Kutia, which serves one of the most delicious thalis I’ve ever had in India!
If budget is not such a concern, it would probably be most convenient to stay somewhere near Upper Lake. Lago Villa seems like a good option that accepts foreigners.