Chetiyagiri Vihara

Chetiyagiri Vihara is a modern Buddhist monastery located on Sanchi Hill near the ancient Sanchi Stupa complex in Raisen District, Madhya Pradesh. Built in the mid-20th century to enshrine the relics of the Buddha's chief disciples Sariputta and Moggallana, it is an important pilgrimage centre. The white stone vihara features traditional Buddhist architecture, relic caskets and serene landscaped surroundings overlooking the UNESCO World Heritage Sanchi monuments.

Visitors can expect a peaceful hilltop monastery with white stone architecture, a central shrine hall enshrining relic caskets of Sariputta and Moggallana, landscaped gardens and courtyards, and views of the Sanchi Stupa complex nearby. The interior includes Buddha images, murals and relic displays. The atmosphere is quiet and contemplative, used for prayer and meditation, with open areas to walk and observe Buddhist monastic design.

Chetiyagiri Vihara was constructed to house the relics of Sariputta and Moggallana discovered in Stupa No. 3 at Sanchi by Alexander Cunningham in 1851. The relics were taken to England and returned to India in 1947. With support from the Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka and the Government of India, the vihara was built and the relics were re-enshrined in 1952 in a ceremony inaugurated by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, re-establishing Sanchi as a living Buddhist centre.

The vihara is a significant modern Buddhist pilgrimage site and monastic centre. It serves as a focal point for Buddhist devotees from India, Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. The annual Chetiyagiri Vihara Festival in November, when the relics are displayed, draws large numbers of pilgrims and monks for prayers and veneration, continuing Sanchi's long-standing Buddhist cultural tradition.