Bhumra

• Description
• Photos
• Facilities
• Tickets
• Notification
• Location
• Approach

Description

The stupa of Bharhut is situated near Satna in the erstwhile Nagod state of Madhya Pradesh. It was probably built around 150 BCE in Sunga period. This site represents the people’s movement in sculptural art and architecture science of ancient India. It was here that sir Alexander Cunningham, the first director general of the Archaeological survey of India, discovered the remains of stupa in 1873 and added an important chapter in the annals of sculptural art of India. One hundred forty-three pieces of the sculptures were sifted in a museum in 1875-76 and the proposal to send them to London but the mission was failed. About fifty finds were acquired by Pt. Brij Mohan Vyas for the Allahabad Museum. Thus the glory of Bharhut stupa is now mainly shared by Indian museum and partly Allahabad Museum in 1926 and some stray pieces adorn other museums and art galleries including the Indian Museum Kolkata. The great stupa, for centuries, served as a quarry to extract bricks and stones for building activity in the adjoining region. The architecture of the stupa is similar to Sanchi stupa. In the center of the stupa, bodily remains of the great man were deposited in a casket (Dhatu manjusha) which was covered by the coating of mud and this was further encased by the different layer of bricks. Sometimes, a stone was also used for encasement but in case of Bharhut, only bricks were preferred. The brickwork was finished with a thick layer of plaster on the exterior. The superimposition of layer after layer shaped the stupa as a huge hemispherical dome (Anda) with a cylindrical base or drum the top of which was truncated to form a platform. It was surmounted by a squire railing enclosing a pedestal (Harmika) which supported the shaft with an umbrella (Chatrayashti) of stone. Not much was left on the site of Bharhut but a conjecture can be drawn from the sculptural representations of the monument. This brick stupa in its original form measured 20.65 m in diameter at the base of the drum (medhi). The shape of the brick was square measuring 30.5*30.5*9 cms. The railing of the stupa is mainly made for the protection of brick stupa and the thje gap between the stupa and railing is 3.15 meters. The railing became the most conspicuous feature of the stupa architecture and served as a mirror to get familiar with art, architecture, religious beliefs and the contemporary social life. The masonry structure of the Bharhut stupa had four quadrants and four gateways facing each direction. The access to the stupa was not direct from the gates, instead, a return ‘L’ shaped railing was provided near the entrance to avoid the access of the wild animals to the inner circumambulation path.

Gallery

Tickets

• arrow_forward No Entry Fees

Approach

•  By Air : Satna
•  By Bus : Bharut
•  By Train : Satna

Facilities

• PNB, Other signages

Notification

Preliminary	Pre PDF	Final	Final PDF
F.3-66/52-A2, 4/11/1952; pub 6/12/1952		F-3-66/52-A2, dt. 30/4/1953

Location

Locality	Tehsil	District	State
Bhumra	Nagod	Satna	M.P.