Introduction

ASI MUSEUM VISIT
Timing	10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Closed	Every Friday
Entry Type	Paid (free upto 12 years age)

Sanchi museum is located near main Sanchi stupas site. While coming down from magnificent Sanchi stupas, we will find a single floored white building with a compound of lush green lawns and shady trees. It is Sanchi Museum which is formally known as "Archaeological Survey of India's site museum". Museum was actually established by Sir John Marshall in 1919, when he was Director General of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). When planned excavation work was started under supervision of Sir John Marshall, need for museum arises to properly store and showcase the actual findings thus museum was made in small building. With the passage of time, many new historical artefacts were find in areas near Sanchi. In order to keep them at proper place, Sanchi museum was found as best place but that building had space limitation due to which need for larger space arised. Thus in year 1966, nearby educations institution building was acquired and necessary modification were done to provide adequate space to display priceless treasures from India's glorious past. Articles displayed in Sanchi museum is not only from Sanchi but also from near by places like Vidisha, Gyraspur, Murelkhurd etc. Of these, Gyraspur is best known for the magnificent Maladevi temple which is partly carved out of the very hillock on which it stands. Gyraspur has yielded many archaeological treasures over the years. Murelkhurd meanwhile as once virtually a city of stupas-72 of these structures were built on 4 levels across an area of 8 sq.kms. At present, it is converted into ruins.

Sanchi Museum

Sanchi museum have 4 galleries and one large central hall. Here variety of sculptural artefacts have been showcased for public view. These articles are from Sanchi and its nearby Buddhist and Hindu sites like Vidisha, Gyraspur, Murelkhurd etc. Among them most well known exhibit in the Sanchi museum is the Ashokan capital displayed in main hall. This piece of sculpture shows four-lions seated back-to-back and once topped Pillar No.-10 in Sanchi. It reminds us of lion capital of Sarnath. This image of four-lion is taken as national emblem of India. Apart from this, other Sanchi museum attractions are massive Nagaraja from Sunga dynasty from 2nd century, a yakshi from 1st century BC, meditating Buddha from 7th century AD and much more. While visiting Sanchi stupas, visit to ASI museum is highly recommended to visitors. It will help us to better understand the glorious past of this region.

How to reach

By Air:
Nearest airport for visiting Sanchi museum and stupas is at Bhopal city, known as Raja Bhoj airport (IATA Code:BHO). Sanchi lies in 55 kms north-east of Bhopal airport. It is well connected with other airports like Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Raipur and Delhi. For further journey from Bhopal airport to Sanchi, we offer Bhopal Airport Taxi service by which you can travel to Sanchi stupas and many other places.

DISTANCE CHART
From	Distance (in Kms)
Bhopal	55
Udaigiri Gyraspur	15
Bhimbetka	90
Indore	250
Khajuraho	420
Mandu	340

By Train:
For reaching Sanchi museum by train, nearest railway station is Bhopal. All important cities and tourist destinations are linked with direct trains to Bhopal like: Jaipur, Agra, Delhi, Varanasi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Udaipur, Ahmedabad, Indore, Jhansi, Gwalior etc. Bhopal city have two railway stations i.e. Bhopal Junction and Habibganj. Both are important railway stations and are equipped with all modern facilities. From Bhopal railway station to Sanchi, we offer tourist taxi service, as per requirement.

By Road:
Sanchi museum is well connected by road. It lies on Bhopal - Sagar state highway. It is well connected by road from Bhopal, Raisen, Sagar, Vidisha etc. Route to Sanchi museum site remain accessible throughout the year in all seasons. Sanchi museum lies on 55kms north-east of Bhopal city.
 

Best time to visit

Sanchi museum is open from visitors in six days a week and through out the year. Museum is closed on Every Friday. Tourists can visit this museum in any season of the year. Still the best time to visit Sanchi museum is November to April due to good climatic conditions and this is also the good time to visit nearby tourist attractions like Khajuraho, Satpura national park, Ujjain, Chanderi etc.

Where to stay

While visiting Sanchi museum, you can stay at hotel "Gateway Retreat" which is best available option. It is managed and owned by Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation.

Surrounding to Sanchi

After visiting Sanchi museum, one can visit to archaeological site where all important stupas, temples, monasteries are located. In addition to this, you can also visit to nearby cafeteria, Sri Lankan Mahabodhi temple, shopping arcade etc. After completing visit to Sanchi, you may proceed to nearby Udaygiri, Gyraspur, Bhimbetka, Bhojpur temple sites. In addition to this, you may extend the tour by inclusion of Chanderi, Khajuraho, Orchha, Pachmarhi, Satpura national park, Ujjain, Maheshwar, Mandu etc.