Centuries of Faith: The Great Stupa at Sanchi

The Great Stupa at Sanchi, in modern-day Madhya Pradesh, was commissioned by the great Mauryan emperor Ashoka in the third century BC, and is the oldest stone structure in India. The hemispherical brick structure in the center is built over the relics of the Buddha. There are also palaces, monolithic pillars and sanctuaries. Construction of the Stupa and abutments to it continued under the reign of the Sunga empire and later under the Satavahana kingdom of Andhra, which had extended its hold northward to the Malwa plateau. Further, Sanchi came under the control of the Kushanas, Khatrapas and the Guptas, during which period Sanchi became a site where Hinduism and Buddhism coexisted in harmony. Addition of temples and other stupas continued until the 14th century, after which the site fell into disrepair and neglect. Sanchi remained forgotten to the world until 1818, when a British officer General Mark Taylor discovered it. Archaeologists further excavated the ruinous remains and restored some of the structures. Today, the Great Stupa at Sanchi and the accompanying monuments comprise a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is also protected by the Archaeological Survey of India. 

1.     Great Stupa. Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh, India