Sanchi - Felt like Meditating

Living in the backyard and not seeing a place of world importance is like ignoring the place where you live in. In case of Sanchi its like that for me. I lived in Bhopal for 37 years and never visited Sanchi which is one of the World Heritage sites and which was around 45 km from the place i lived in Bhopal.It all took me to think of this journey once i shifted from Bhopal to Bangalore in the year 2007. 

It was in the winter of 2009 i decided to go back to my place of birth Bhopal and then visit the famous places Khajuraho and Sanchi. On my way back from Khajuraho and Orcha,we planned to visit Sanchi. In the early morning of December end 2009 we started the trip from Bhopal to Sanchi by hiring a taxi from one of my friends. The journey was of around 45 minutes and we were at the entrance of the Sanchi stupa by 10.30 am.

A very sunny morning and the light was ample with a little bit of fog around the place. As we were reaching the place, from the road itself we can see on the hillock the majestic stupa. This heritage site is one of the well maintained ASI sites in India.The heritage site is situated on a small hillock which overlooks the surrounding area and it gives a scenic view to the surrounding hillocks too.

The Main Stupa - Stupa No.1

As we enter the place we will see the iconic Main Stupa. The main stupa was built in the 3rd century BC more than 300 years after the birth of Buddha This Stupa is 22m approx in height and was built during the rule of Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BC. Originally when this place was established the name of this place was called as Vedisagiri which was later called as Sanchi. Later in the 2nd century the work done by Emperor Ashoka was carried forward by the Sunga and the Satavahana dynasty respectively. The four main ornated gateways at the four entrance of the Stupa were one of the primary constructions done during this period. These four ornate toranas (gateways) are in four cardinal directions. The sculptures shown on the gateways is mainly of Jataka tales and stories on Buddha.

Main Stupa - Northern Gateway

Other than the main stupa, there are two other Stupas which was built during the period of Sunga and Satavahanas. Stupa 2 is almost at the edge of the hill and the most interesting thing that i noticed here was the boundary wall which was circled like a ring. The second most noticeable thing which caught hold of my lens was the interlock boundary wall around the stupa with stones. This interlocking was there in Stupa 1 also. Stupa 2 has got no gateway as in Stupa 1. It has a ground balustrade with four cardinal entrances and a double stairway leading to the top of the dome. Its said that General Alexander Cunningham found inside the dome the corporeal relics of ten Buddhist teachers of at least three generations at a height of 2.13 mtrs above the terrace.

Stupa 2

Stupa 3, it is believed contained the relics of two of the disciples of Buddha,Sariputta and Moggallana. Here again the boundary walls are made of sandstone and interlocking design. How the artisans of those time would have did this, is unbelievable. 

Stupa 3

One of the most interesting structures which fascinated me was a Parthenon (Structure we can see in Greek architecture) kind of structure which consists of a square sanctum with some pillars. For a photo enthusiast like me, the structure gave me the opportunity to have some great click of the symmetrical architecture of this Parthenon kind of structure. It is believed that this structure was built around 5th century AD. This place was used as a place of congregation and study by the disciples of Buddha. Looking at this ancient structure and the ambience it is built, it feels like this was a congregation place of the Buddhist disciples to come together and sit in peace and meditate and study in this huge congregation of like minds. It's as if i 'felt like meditating' in this place. 

Parthenon kind of Structure

The other interesting structure to see was called as Temple 18. This is an apsidal shrine with an apse, a Central nave and side - aisles standing on the foundations of an earlier apsidal hall of Mauryan or Sunga period. The carved motifs on its tampering pillars are found in the caves of Maharashtra also. Its said that this temple was restored during the tenth or eleventh century A.D when the richly carved doors - jambs were added.

Temple 18

By the time i was completing the rounds around these structures, i saw a very familiar face which i used to see in television. Suddenly the face resembled to the famous music director Anandji (Of the famous music duo Kalyanji & Anandji). I went nearby and introduced myself and yes i was right. He was Anandji only. I requested him for a snap and he just agreed. This was a ice in the caking for us. 

With The famous music Director Anandji

As we completed the tour around, we found on our way back a museum called Chetiyagiri Vihar which is owned by the Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka. This museum has the relics of Sariputta and Moggallana. There are many other artifacts of Buddhist interest also available inside this museum.

Chetiyagiri Vihar

We completed this vacation and returned home. The memoirs of this place and its surrounding is still there roving in my mind. The memoirs are as if i felt like meditating at a lonely place with a bunch of Buddhist monks around with the hymns running in the background. As it was a one day trip, i have not explored much on the local side of this place, even though i have been to this place to meet some of my friends during my college days. 

Travel Tips
This place is some 40 km from Bhopal and we can reach this place in around 45 min drive. We can get through a bus also to this place. We can complete the trip in a day for this place.

For exclusive photos of this place please visit my Flickr album

https://www.flickr.com/photos/sujith768/albums/72157626406410836

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