Sanchi Travel Information

The adjacent Gupta temple No. 17 was hailed by Sir John Marshall as one of the most rationally organized structures in Indian architecture. Though small, it was a herald of all the principles which went into the engineering of an Indian temple in the early medieval period. The Buddhas in the perambulatory surrounding Stupa 1 are not contemporary with the Stupa but belong to the Gupta period in the mid-5th century A.D The monastery and the temple with the tall pillars adjacent to Stupa 1 and the temple near the monastery on the crowning shelf illustrate the evolution of the architectural form after the 5th century Gupta temple.


Below the hill, the Archaeological Survey of India Museum houses, some of the earliest known stone sculptures in Indian art from the 3rd to the 1st century BC while the adjacent town of Vidisha has a state museum with medieval sculptures. The nearby monuments, like the 2nd century B. C. Heliodoros Pillar, the 5th century a.D. Udayagiri Caves and the Lohangi Hill monuments in vidisha are situated within as radius of 10 km from sanchi, and are well worth a visit.


How to Reach Sanchi

By Air : Nearest airport is at Bhopal (46 km via Diwanganj and 78 km via Raisen) which is connected with Delhi, Mumbai, Gwalior and Indore.

By Rail : Sanchi lies on the Jhansi-Itarsi section of the Central Railways> However, the most convenient railhead is Vidisha (10 km).

By Road : Good, motorable roads connect Sanchi with Bhopal, Indore, Sagar, Gwalior, Vidisha and raisen, besides other places.