Sanchi Stupa

The original brick structure at Sanchi was commissioned by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE. It was built to house the relics of the Buddha and was later expanded and encased in stone during the later Shunga dynasty.

The monument is located on a hilltop in Sanchi Town, in the Raisen District of Madhya Pradesh, India. It sits overlooking the Betwa River and is one of the oldest surviving Buddhist structures in the country.

The four intricately carved stone gateways that surround the main dome are known as Toranas. They were added around the 1st century BCE and are heavily decorated with detailed carvings depicting scenes from the life of the Buddha and various Jataka tales.

Interestingly, the ancient carvings on the gateways do not feature any direct human representations of the Buddha himself. Because early Buddhism adhered to strict aniconism, the artists instead symbolized him using objects like footprints, the Bodhi tree, an empty throne, or the Dharma wheel.