During my recent leisure trip to Indore, wanted to visit Sanchi. One of the other reasons being that tehre was no direct train / flight service from Chennai to Indore. So while going from Chennai happen to go by train via Bhopal. As we had to stay in for the night at Bhopal and catch the next train to Indore next evening, so the best part was visit Sanchi which is some 60 Kms away from Bhopal. The biggest surprise was that every one around stated that there is nothing to watch there. But being a ardent lover of history and old buildings, i wanted to go down to check the place for self.
Started by around 8.45 am from Bhopal . On a February morning it was quite windy and chill throughout our drive. We went through some amazing mustard fields, which were captivating and the scenic view which you may not see down south here..
On our way, happened to pick up some desi food, Aloo bondas, samaosas (Loved it, had an eastern state flavour) and Bhopal morning staple; Poha & Jelabi (Did not like the combo so much!!).
Reached there by around 9.45 am and after purchasing the tickets as we stepped in, it was a wonderful feeling... the mist had created an amazing picture around the stupas... We first started to understand the history on our own but then managed to get a good guide, who went on explaining the various Stupas and the latest excavations happening there. There is so much of history to the place. Each gate tells the story of a "bodhisatva" life and that of Lord Budha. I was equally surprised to see so many srilankan citizens who throng that place as a religious trip. It was a great feeling. No one tells us what is inside these huge stupas, but it is actually the "Ashes" of various saints and lord Budha which has been preserved by King Ashoka after he took over his spiritual journey.
There was a learning relic too, which reminded me of the "Arcoplois of Athens" (Not in the same grandeur but in a smaller version). The excavated areas actually states the knowledge bases that had been then.. There are so many of them..
In the month of November there is a three day fest where both the Indian & Srilankan Government come together at Sanchi to celebrate the "Sambodhi festival".
Even the museum was a delight. It is not the artifacts kept there but the photographs that state how Sanchi was discovered and the various stages of building it up. The only thing that surprised me was that, most of the Lord Budha's status are beheaded, very rarely would you find any of the status are intact.
Overall it was an amazing journey... A must see while trying to "Discover India"....
