Archaeological Museum

Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh

This fine museum has a small collection of sculptures from the site. The centrepiece is the 3rd-century-BC lions-on-lotus capital from the Ashoka-era Pillar 10. Other highlights include a yakshi (mythical fairylike being) hanging from a mango tree, and beautifully serene Buddha figures in red sandstone. There are also some interesting photos showing the site pre-restoration. Admission is included with a ticket for the monuments compound.

Next door is the preserved Gothic-style ‘bungalow’ of Sir John Marshall, the director of the Archaeological Survey of India who led the excavation and restoration of Sanchi from 1912 to 1919.

Contact

Address

Monuments Rd

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Nearby Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh attractions

1. Sir John Marshall Memorial

0.06 MILES

The preserved Gothic-style 'bungalow' of Sir John Marshall, director of the Archaeological Survey of India, who led the excavation and restoration of…

2. Gate

0.09 MILES

Entrance gate on the road to the Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi.

3. Chetiyagiri Vihara

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The vihara (literally 'resting place'), just outside the monuments compound, was built to house relics of the Buddha's disciples Sariputta and Moggallana,…

4. Buddhist Monuments

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Emperor Ashoka's 3rd-century BC Great Stupa, and many other stupas, temples, pillars, gateways and monasteries built in succeeding centuries, stand at the…

5. Stupa 4

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The 2nd-century BC Stupa 4 stands behind Stupa 3, but only its base is left.

6. Stupa 3

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Stupa 3 is northeast of the Great Stupa and similar in design, though smaller, with a single, rather fine gateway. It dates from the 2nd century BC and…

7. Temple 31

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The rectangular Temple 31 was built in the 6th or 7th century, but reconstructed during the 10th or 11th century. It contains a well-executed image of…

8. Stupa 2

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Stupa 2 is halfway down the hill to the west (turn right at Stupa 1). Instead of gateways, ‘medallions’ of flowers, plants, real and fanciful animals,…

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