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Carving history in stone

Sarvesh

Mona Dureja

Indian art and architecture, typically, reflects the heritage of great civilisations over time. But the forms of architecture seen in Bhopal, Sanchi, Bhojpur and Bhimbetka are unique in their own way, presenting a fascinating amalgam of scenic beauty and the associated legends, from even prehistoric times.

Bhopal, the capital city of Madhya Pradesh, is situated on the site of an 11th-century city, Bhojapal, founded by Raja Bhoja. There are many must-visit destinations in Bhopal, including Taj-ul-Masjid, Jama Masjid, Moti Masjid, Shaukat Mahaal and Sadar Ma nzil, Bharat Bhawan, Roopankar, the Government Archaeological Museum, Gandhi Bhawan, Van Vihar and the Chowk. Islamnagar is also an interesting site.

Glimpse of ancient architectural brilliance

Bhojpur was founded by the legendary Parmar king of Dhar, Raja Bhoja (1010-1053) and was thus named after him. Bhojpur is 28 km from Bhopal and is renowned for the remains of its magnificent Shiva temple and cyclopean dam. The temple, called the Bhojeshw ar temple, is also known as the Somnath of the East. The temple though incomplete is still one of the magnificent examples of 12th and 13th-century temple architecture.

To the west of Bhojpur once lay a vast lake and the remnants of the magnificent dam, built around it, can be seen even today. The site, which was chosen with great thought, has hills enclosing the whole area like a natural wall. The great work, which is ascribed to Raja Bhoja, some historians feel could well belong to an earlier period.

Insight into pre-historic lives

Surrounded by the northern fringe of the Vindhyan range, Bhimbetka lies 40 km south of Bhopal. Here, in vivid, panoramic details, one can see paintings in over 500 caves, which depict the life of the pre-historic cave-dwellers, making Bhimbetka an archae ological treasure. Executed mainly in red and white, with occasional use of green and yellow, the scenes usually depict hunting, dancing, music, honey-collection and household scenes. Animals such as bison, tiger, lion, wild boar, elephant, deer, antelop es, dogs, monkeys, lizards, crocodiles, etc. have been widely depicted.

Sanchi chalo

Sanchi, about 50 km from Bhopal, is known for its stupas, monasteries, temples and pillars dating from the third century B.C. to 12th century A.D. The most famous of these monuments, the Sanchi Stupa 1 was originally built by Emperor Ashoka.

The modern Buddhist temple, which is situated close by, contains the relics of Buddhist teachers. Interestingly, the Sanchi hill goes up in shelves Stupa 2 is situated on the lower shelf, while Stupa 1, Stupa 3, the fifth century-Gupta temple no. 17 and 7th-century temple no. 18 are on the intermediate shelf and a monastery of a later period is on the crowning shelf.

Situated in the foothills, the Archaeological Survey of India Museum houses among others, stone sculptures, some of which even date back to the third and first century B.C.

A visit to Sanchi is incomplete without a visit to the Great Stupa 1. It is the oldest stone structure in India with a massive hemispherical dome. The Four gateways at the Great Stupa, the toranas, are the finest examples of art and architecture of the e arly Buddhist era. The Buddha is portrayed here in symbols the lotus representing his birth, the tree his enlightenment, the wheel, derived from the title of his first sermon, footprints and the throne symbolising his presence. They are considered the f inest of all Buddhist toranas. Stupa 2 stands at the edge of the hill and its most striking feature is the stone balustrade that rings it. Stupa 3 is situated close to the Great Stupa. The hemispherical dome is crowned, as a mark of its special religious significance.

The Ashoka Pillar lies close to the southern gateway of the Great Stupa, and is known for its aesthetic proportions. The Gupta Temple of Sanchi, which is in ruins now, was built in the 5th century A.D. This temple is one of the earliest known examples of temple architecture in India.

Fact file

Getting there

By air: Bhopal is the nearest airport, which is well connected with Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkota, Ahmedabad, Gwalior and Indore.

By rail: Bhopal is on the Jhansi-Itarsi section of the Central Railway. All major trains stop here.

Accommodation: Several hotels, lodges and rest houses are available for accommodation.

For more information, contact:

204-205, 2nd floor,

Kanishka Shopping Plaza,

19, Ashoka Road,

New Delhi.

Ph:(011) 3321187, 3324511.