Sanchi, in the state of Madhya Pradesh, is globally renown for its many stupas, monasteries, temples and pillars dating from the 3rd century B.C. to the 12th century A.D. The most famous amongst these, the Sanchi Stupa 1, was built by the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka, the then governor of Ujjaini. His daughter and son, Sanghamitra and Mahindra respectively, were sent to Sri Lanka where they converted the king, queen and the local people to Buddhism.

A Chunar sandstone pillar fragment lies near the Stupa 1, and carries the famous Ashoka edict warning against any kind of fracture in the Buddhist community. The Sanchi Hill works up in shelves, with Stupa 2 on a lower shelf, while Stupa 1, Stupa 3, a 5th century Gupta temple No.17, and a 7th century No.18 lie at a middle shelf, and the apex of the hill crowned by a later monastery. The elaborate gateways of Stupa 1, built in the 1st century by the Satavahanas, are the greatest instances of ancient classical art. These are carved with tales of the Buddha's past and present lives, and with anecdotes from the subsequent history of Buddhism. These in a way, provided the inspiration for later Indian art. The Gupta temple No.17, was deemed as one of the most logically designed structures in Indian architecture, by Sir John Marshall. It embodied all the principles, that were necessary in the construction of a medieval Indian temple. Neighbouring monuments like the 2nd century B.C. Heliodoros pillar, the 5th century A.D. Udayagiri caves and the Lohangi hill monuments, in the town of Vidisha, are placed within 10 km of Sanchi, and are of great historical interest.

Sanchi is, undoubtedly, a landmark in Indian history, specifically the part which deals with the nurture and subsequent flowering of Buddhism.

Traveller's Lodge (MPT), Tourist Cafeteria (MPT), P.W.D. Resthouse and Buddhist Resthouse are some of the available means of accomodation.