| Places around Sanchi Stupa |
| Archaeological Museum |
| Sir John Marshall established Archaeological Museum of Sanchi in the year 1919 and has become a great tourist attraction. In 1966, the museum was relocated to the base of Sanchi stupa. The articles belonging to six periods Satvahana, Maurya, Sunga, Gupta, post Gupta and Kushana are housed in the museum and most of the items were found in Sanchi itself. The huge images of Dhyani Buddha, Yakshi, and Nagarjuna are the major attractions in the museum. The Ashoka Lion Capital is also one among the great attractions. The image shows four lions sitting with their back towards each other and facing different direction. The lifestyle and culture of our ancestors is clearly understood by the articles displayed in the museum. Except on Fridays the museum is from 10 AM to 5 PM. |
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| Bhimbetka Caves |
| Bhimbetka Caves are located just 46 km of journey from Bhopal. The caves are hidden amid forests of teak and sal in the craggy cliffs. Bhimbetka Caves paintings are one of the oldest prehistoric paintings of the world. The paintings on these rock are similar to the aboriginal rock paintings in the outback of Australia, the cave paintings of the Bushmen in Kalahari Desert and the Paleolithic Lascaux cave paintings in France. All the above mentioned caves belong to the Neolithic Age. These 1,000 rock shelters are recognized by UNESCO as one of the World Heritage Sites. The life and times of the different people who lived in these caves resembles the most of the paintings are depict here. The colors have been remarkably well preserved as the painters used the natural red and white pigments. Everyday life and the animals found in the forests nearby like wild buffalo, rhinoceros, bears and tigers to hunting scenes, childbirth and community dancing and drinking, religious rites and burials are present on the walls of the caves. The oldest paintings are believed to be 12,000 years old and some of the geometric figures date as recently as the medieval period. |
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| Buddhist Vihara |
| The Buddhist Vihara houses the sacred relics of the Satdhara Stupa and considered a sacred place for Buddhists. On a platform in the inner sanctum Satdhara Stupa is placed in a glass chest. This Vihara is located a few kilometers from Sanchi and is a famous religious site of the Buddhists. It serves as a house of residence for the monks, who pursue religious studies here. |
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| Gupta Temple |
| Built in the 4th Century AD Gupta Temple is in the ruin condition. It is one of the earliest known examples of temple architecture in India as per some historians. It is characterized by a simple flat roofed chamber & a pillared porch constructed at front. |
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| Temple 18 |
| Temple 18 is a chaitya hall in front of the Southern Gateway of the Great Stupa. Built around 7th Century A.D. the temple 18 is comparatively recent. The rock-cut chaitya hall at Karla Caves in Maharashtra is closely resembled in the style of architecture of this hall. |
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| The Monastery and Temple 45 |
| The Monastery and Temple 45 are built during the period of 7th and 11th centuries. More developed styles of architecture are marked from it. The doorways of this construction are ornamented, with the image of Buddha in an oval Halo. |
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