Sanchi Stupa

History

The Great Stupa at Sanchi, begun by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE, is the oldest surviving stone structure in India and one of the most important Buddhist monuments in the world. Its hemispherical dome is ringed by ornate carved gateways (toranas) telling Jataka stories, and its crowning element is a copy of the Ashoka Pillar whose lion capital became the national emblem of India. A UNESCO site.