One of the most important tourist attractions of Sanchi is the Ashoka Pillar. It is located near the southern gateway of the famous Sanchi Stupa. This ancient structure still appears new despite being centuries old and is also counted as one of the best heritage sites to witness in Madhya Pradesh. Its intricate structure and aesthetic proportions make it a popular place to see in Madhya Pradesh. Unfortunately, the complete structure of Ashoka Pillar Sanchi Madhya Pradesh is not present now. However, you can see the shaft at the getaway, and this structure consists of four lions, which is a National Emblem of the nation. The pillar was built in the 3rd century and reflected the influence of the Greco-Buddhist style.
History of Ashoka Pillar
The Ashoka Pillar was erected in the 3rd century B.C. It is unfortunate, but the total Ashoka Pillar does not stand here now. The pillar’s shaft can only be seen at the gateway, and the crown has been kept in the museum. The crown of the Ashoka Pillar consists of four lions that stand back to back. The figure of these lions was later adopted as the National Emblem of India.
Description of Ashoka Pillar Sanchi
The Ashoka Pillar in Sanchi reflects the Greco-Buddhist style of Architecture. The most remarkable quality of the Ashoka Pillar is it’s very well-proportioned. One cannot but admire the structural balance of the Ashoka Pillar. It bears a lot of resemblance to the pillar at Sarnath. It is intricately carved, but the lions of this Ashoka Pillar in Sanchi do not support the wheel of law or ‘Dharmachakra’. The polish of the Ashoka Pillar is brilliant and shines to this day.
Places to Visit Near Ashoka Pillar Sanchi
There are plenty of tourist places near the Ashoka Pillar Sanchi, which allows you to immerse yourself in the beauty of Indian history, and the peace and spirituality that emanate from it. After admiring this intricate structure, you can cover some beautiful tourist attractions within just a few kilometers of radius. Here is a list of tourist attractions near Ashoka Pillar Sanchi.
- The Gupta Temple
- Sanchi Stupa
- Great Bowl and Buddhist monasteries
- Stupas Near Sanchi
How to reach Ashoka Pillar
The Ashoka Pillar lies in Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh. Sanchi is at a distance of 46 km from Bhopal. Bhopal is very well connected with all the major towns of Madhya Pradesh and the important cities of India by rail, road, and air. After reaching Bhopal, you can easily reach Sanchi using the motorable road by availing of any of these three options. Even though Sanchi is a railway station of the Jhansi Itarsi section of the Central railways, Vidisha, located about 10 km from Sanchi, is and is well connected to the important towns and cities of India by rail.
