Sanchi is a small town on the outskirts of Bhopal, situated around 46 km from the capital city. The town comes under the district of Vidisha. It is more of a village than a town. Sanchi is a religious place with historical and archaeological significance. Sanchi is known for its Stupas, monasteries, temples and pillars dating from the 3rd century BC to the 12th century AD The most famous of these monuments, the Sanchi Stupa 1, was originally built by the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka. The place is related to Buddhism but not directly to the life of Buddha. It is more related to Ashoka than to Buddha. Ashoka built the first Stupa and put up many pillars here. The crown of famous Ashoka pillars, with four lions standing back to back, has been adopted as the national emblem of India.
Although the city is world known for these Buddhist sites, Sanchi does not have great significance or consequence in Buddhist history, though it is now considered as a pilgrimage town due to the monasteries that are present here. Emperor Ashoka came here and married the daughter of a local merchant. Sanchi thus became his center and he carried out the construction of many buildings. The Ashoka Pillar and the Great Sanchi stupa are the most exquisite works of that time. The Stupas were the earliest forms of Buddhist architecture that were the inspiration for many other buildings.
Along with the historical buildings, don't forget to visit the archaeological museum. It showcases the renowned image of four lions that once sat atop the Ashoka Pillar. Although a visit to the town is comfortable throughout the year, the best time is between the months of October and March. Hotel accommodations are available in plenty.
Jataka Tales
Jataka tales as do Aesop's fables teach generosity and self-abnegation based on previous lives of the Buddha as Bodhisattvas. As a Bodhisattva he took births as man, animal or bird. It is believed that the Buddha accumulated virtue by good deeds he did as Bodhisattvas and had attained merit for achieving nirvana in his last birth when he was born as the prince Siddhartha.
· Six-tusked Elephant Jataka
· The Great Monkey Jataka
· The Vessantra Jataka
· The Sama Jataka