Blogs from Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh, India, Asia

Sanchi, is a small town near Bhopal. It is a World Heritage site that consists of several Buddhist monuments dating from the 3rd century BC to the 12th century AD. The 'Great Stupa' there was commissioned by the emperor Ashoka the Great in the 3rd century BC. It is a pretty impressive Stupa and it was interesting for me to see evidence of the strength of Buddhism as a religion of India during those times. As an emperor and a convert to Buddhism, Ashoka is reported to have built between 1,000 and 84,000 Stupas, just incase anyone was doubting his commitment to the cause. The Great Stupa in Sanchi is said by many to be the finest example of the Stupas that have survived the test of time - which isn't many, as they were mostly ... read more

Die Anreise dauerte laenger als ich dachte und das Zugfahren war anstrengender als ich dachte, da es ja tagsueber sehr heis ist und man sich auf den Plastiksitzen den Hintern nassschwitzt. 19 Stunden Zug und dann mit einer Ooooto-Rikscha (Autorikscha) zum Busbahnhof und dann nochmals 2 Stunden mit dem Klapperbus ueber Rumpelstrassen. Die Busfahrt hat Schpass gemacht. Ich sass ganz vorne beim Fahrer, es gab laute Indiemusik mit schlechtem Sound und wir fuhren einem orangenen Mondaufgang entgegen. Um 18:00 - 18:15 wird es hier stockdunkel. Der Busfahrer fuhr nicht in den Busbahnhof rein, sondern schmiss mich auf der Hauptstrasse einfach raus....Sanchi, Sanchi, Sanchi.... Da stand ich, ein wenig verbluefft, auf der Strasse. Ich hatte eh wenig Bedenken im Dunklen anzukommen und mit meinem ganzen Gelumpe durch ein Dorf zu schlappen, dass ich noch gar nicht einschaetzen ... read more

Next stop on the temple trail was Sanchi, home to the oldest and most impressive stupa in the world, as well as India's cheapest Thali. 30p for a full meal is just what we needed after the 4 pound pizzas of Mumbai and what with chai costing 4p our money was well spent. The village itself while nothing to write home about is situated directly beneath the ancient stupa built by the Indian despot Ashoka after he killed loads of people then felt a bit guilty and converted to Buddism. In case anyone doesn't know Stupa (noun) - big semi-spherical mound made from bricks or stone and sacred to Buddists (despite the Buddha request that people not worship or build monuments to him). Imagine a small hillock or hobbit-hole. This stupa, however, is also famous for ... read more

Since Delhi we have continuously headed east, the logical destination after Orchha would have been Khajuraho. But Sanchi was a place we absolutely did not want to miss, we had already passed it by moving north, so we made a detour from Orchha. From the distance (ca. 200 km) we knew that it would not work out in one day, so we left our luggage in a nice hotel in Jhansi close to the train station - from there we would go on to Khajuraho when back - and took a train. Trains in India, at least theoretically, are provided with different classes. You have two AC classes, two-tier with two beds in a compartment and three-tier with three beds, then there is sleeper class and regular class with wooden seats without berths. India has many ... read more