Buddhist Monuments, Sanchi

Sanchi is a hilltop complex of stupas, monasteries, temples and a monolithic Ashokan pillar that together form the oldest Buddhist sanctuary still in existence, remaining an active centre of Buddhist worship until the 12th century AD. Its origin as a sacred site is attributed to the Mauryan emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BC; the site was subsequently enlarged under the Sungas, who gave the Great Stupa its stone facing, and under the Andhra-Satavahanas, who added its intricately carved gateways (toranas) in the 1st century BC. Later dynasties, including the Kushanas, Kshatrapas and Guptas, added further temples and sculpture.

The carvings on the Great Stupa's gateways depict episodes from the life of the Buddha and Jataka tales, and the site is recognised for demonstrating the harmonious coexistence of Buddhist and Hindu building traditions across centuries. Sanchi was abandoned after the 14th century and lay forgotten until its rediscovery by General Taylor in 1818. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1989 and remains one of the most complete and best-preserved groups of Buddhist monuments in India.