Travel Stories Episode 4: Sanchi, India
When we dream of India, our mind wanders to the winding streets of overcrowded, harried cities like Bombay and Calcutta, to illustrious palaces erected in the deserts of Rajasthan, down the river Ganges as we pass by the holy Hindu city of Varanasi as bodies are cremated on the ghats or to that architectural wonder, the Taj Mahal. But a small town that is home to 2000 year old Buddhist stupas called Sanchi?
I stumbled upon the sleepy town of Sanchi (population between five to ten thousand) when I was traveling through India a number of years back with my backpacking buddy, Josh Lake. Josh joins me as we reminisce about this hidden jewel that we planned on staying for only a day or two and ended up leaving two weeks later.
We formed friendships with the owners of the place we were staying at (the Government House) and truly bonded with Yudibir, our kindred spirit, guide and friend who showed us a Sanchi that forever remains the home of my daydreams when the name India is uttered…
Our Friend and Guide, Yudibir
The Stupas at Sanchi
The Stupa
Stupa Gate
Detail of a Gate
Gate Detail
Gate
Stutron, Yudibir and Josh
Need I say more?
Our host family at the Government House
Josh gets a shave.