The Sanchi Stupa Gate

You’re not dreaming, this is an Indian gate right in the heart of Berlin! What you see standing before you is an exact replica of the Sanchi Stupa Gate, one of the best-preserved Buddhist stupas in India. The original, built in the 1st century, is one of the four gateways to one of India’s most important Buddhist sanctuaries and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. The gate in front of you was digitally scanned in 3D and replicated using advanced robotic technology. After that, Indian and German sculptors finished the job by completing the fine details.
You’re maybe thinking, “what is a stupa?”. Originally, it was a mausoleum made of brick or stone designed to keep the Buddha’s relics. It is always topped with a hemispherical dome representing the sky or the universe. According to tradition, after the Buddha’s cremation, his relics were divided into eight parts and distributed among the eight kings who had come to pay tribute to him. Nowadays, stupas do not always contain relics :. While some preserve objects that once belonged to the Buddha, others simply display Buddhist doctrines. However, they all remain places of meditation, prayer, and significant pilgrimage destinations.
If you have traveled in Asia, you may have seen some of the world’s most famous stupas, such as Borobudur in Indonesia, Boudhanath Stupa in Kathmandu, Shwedagon Pagoda in Myanmar, or Pha That Luang in Laos. But today, you don’t need to fly to distant lands to admire the exquisite carvings of the Great Sanchi Stupa Gate! Look closely at the moldings, and you’ll notice events from the Buddha’s life, along with mythical scenes, and figures of genies, elephants, and peacocks. However, you won’t find the Buddha himself depicted on here,; At the time he was only represented symbolically. . . Instead, his presence is suggested through sacred symbols like an empty throne, footprints, or other motifs.
Take a moment to admire this gem of ancient architecture and soak in the wisdom it embodies.