Sanchi – An Ancient Buddhist Monastery in Central India

One of the biggest and oldest Buddhist monastic complexes is located on a small hill in Central India.

The first structures were built during the reign of emperor Ashoka the Great, who wanted to spread the teachings of Buddha throughout his empire. His son Mahendra, a Buddhist monk, came here on his way to Sri Lanka around 300 BCE. Since then until about 800 CE Sanchi was a flourishing place of worship and meditation. When Buddhism disappeared, in India the site was forgotten.

About 2300 years later I came by train to visit the great stupa and the surrounding monastic buildings. The site has been rediscovered and restored by the British in the 19th and 20th century.