Sanchi, near Bhopal is a quite hill today. But for more than one thousand years starting from the time of Emperor Ashoka it was a cradle of Buddhist civilisation.

Sanchi group of monuments is a world heritage site. There are three main stupas including the maha stupa that dominate the Sanchi hill. The maha stupa is visible from a distance. There are also monasteries, temples, smaller stupas, images of the Buddha and, inscriptions and railing caskets.

Sanchi is known for its unique toranas or gateways and narrative art panels sculpted on them in low relief. Themes revolve around the Jataka tales, worshipping the Buddha in symbolic form, daily life in Ancient India, etc. One unique aspect of the Sanchi monuments is - these were built through individual donations by ordinary men and women.