Sonari Stupa No. 1

Sonari Stupa No. 1 was excavated in 1851 by British archaeologists Alexander Cunningham and F. C. Maisey. The duo uncovered this early Buddhist monument located near the famous Great Stupa at Sanchi, India. Their excavation revealed significant relics and helped map the spread of Buddhism in ancient India.

During the 1851 excavation by Alexander Cunningham, the archaeologists discovered a reliquary carved out of crystal inside the stupa. This reliquary contained bone fragments, which were historically associated with early Buddhist monks or teachers. Finding these relics helped confirm the site's significance as an early center of Buddhist worship.

Sonari Stupa No. 1 is located roughly ten kilometers southwest of the Great Stupa at Sanchi, India. It sits on a hilltop alongside several other smaller stupas, forming a larger ancient religious complex. This proximity made it a focal point for 19th-century archaeologists mapping the region.

As an early Buddhist monument, Sonari Stupa No. 1 dates back to the early centuries of Buddhism in India, likely during the Mauryan or Shunga periods. The 1851 excavation by Cunningham and Maisey revealed structural elements common to early Indian stupa architecture. It represents a time when relic worship was central to the Buddhist community.