A complete guide to visiting Sanchi Stupa in Madhya Pradesh

Sanchi Stupa is one of the oldest Buddhist monuments in India. Also famous as the Great Stupa or Stupa Number 1, this stone structure is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The government of India has done a great job in preserving this ancient piece of history. For those interested in visiting Sanchi Stupa in Madhya Pradesh, this guide will help you plan your trip.

It was Ashoka, the great Indian emperor, who built this stupa after he converted into Buddhism in the 3rd century. He was the third emperor of the Mauryan Dynasty, who is often regarded as being extremely cruel. He is also infamous for killing all his brothers to claim the throne. But Ashoka had a change of heart after the Kalinga war which is one of the bloodiest battles in Indian history. Though Ashoka won the battle, he was horrified with all the bloodshed and later devoted himself to Buddhism. He built 84000 stupas to spread the message of Buddha.

The stupa is one of the most visited attractions in Madhya Pradesh. It is located in the Raisen district and is nearly an hour away from Bhopal.

When inside the complex, you’ll get the option of choosing a guide. It will take nearly an hour to explore the whole complex. Sanchi Stupa is situated right in the middle of the complex and looks massive! This dome-shaped monument is 120 ft wide and 54 ft high.

To enter the stupa, one needs to buy tickets. You can either book your ticket online or purchase it at the ticket counter outside the complex. The cost is INR 40 per person for Indians and INR 600 for oversea travellers. Entry is free for Kids under 15 years of age.

Reaching here is an easy task. The nearest airport serving the region is in Bhopal. A number of prepaid taxis are available from outside the airport which cost about INR 2000 for a round-trip. For those travelling by train, Bhopal and Vidisha railway stations are the closest. From Visdisha, Sanchi is only 15 minutes away.