The Great Stupa at Sanchi was originally commissioned by Emperor Ashoka. Sanchi is a major Buddhist site in Madhya Pradesh, India, and its monuments are among the best-preserved examples of early Buddhist architecture.
Ashoka, who ruled much of the Indian subcontinent in the third century BCE, is traditionally described as a major patron of Buddhism. The earliest form of the Great Stupa was probably a relatively simple brick structure built to house or commemorate Buddhist relics. Later rulers and donors enlarged and embellished it.
The famous stone gateways, or toranas, were added centuries after Ashoka, around the first century BCE and early first century CE. Their carvings show scenes from Buddhist stories and symbols associated with the Buddha. Because the Buddha is generally represented symbolically in the earliest Sanchi art, viewers may see the Bodhi tree, an empty throne, or footprints rather than a human image of him.