Ashok Pillar

Sanchi is a small town in Madhya Pradesh, India, located on the banks of the river Betwa. It is located in the Satna district, about 146 kilometres (91 mi) north of the state capital Bhopal. The town is best known for its Buddhist stupas, which were built by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka. The most famous of these is the Sanchi Stupa, which was originally built in the 3rd century BCE and has been enlarged and rebuilt a number of times since then. The Ashoka Pillar, at the entrance to the Stupa, is a 12 metre (39 ft) high column of polished sandstone, with a capital of four lions. The Stupa is also ringed by a cloister of carved stone pillars. The town is also home to a number of other Buddhist monuments, including the ruins of a large monastery and several smaller stupas. Sanchi is a small town and is not very well developed. There are a few basic hotels in the town, but most people prefer to stay in the nearby city of Satna.