The Didarganj Yakshi is one of the most famous sculptures of ancient India—but who does this sculpture represent?
Magadha dynasties
Bodh Gaya is the place where the Buddha attained enlightenment—over millennia it has been reconstructed and reimagined.
Bodh Gaya: The Site of the Buddha’s ...
Divinity in stone, an early Buddha from Mathura.
A Buddha from Mathura
The many forms of Shiva at Elephanta island.
The Cave of Shiva at Elephanta
The Gupta period saw tremendous advances in Indian art and architecture.
The Gupta Period
Folktales adapted into Buddhist tradition appear in art across India and beyond.
Jatakas: the many lives of Buddha as ...
Buddhism thrived in India for over a thousand years. Discover important sites in the life of the Buddha.
Beliefs made visible: Buddhist art in South ...
Described as a “museum of religions,” Hinduism encompasses many beliefs and accepts a pantheon of deities.
Beliefs made visible: Hindu art in South ...
A mound of dirt or the body of the Buddha? These sacred sites give practitioners insight into the Four Noble Truths.
The Great Stupa at Sanchi
An empty throne, footsteps, and a wheel—rather than represent the Buddha directly, sculptors relied on symbols.
Images of enlightenment: aniconic vs. iconic depictions ...
Siddhartha achieved enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree. Now a major pilgrimage site, it is covered in offerings.
Bodh Gaya: center of the Buddhist world
Cut into a mountainside, this monastic complex is hard to see but offers a breathtaking glimpse of ancient India.
The Caves of Ajanta
Topped with lions and lotus flowers, these ancient stone columns provide early evidence of the Buddhist faith.
Lion Capital, Ashokan Pillar at Sarnath
Topped with lions and lotus flowers, these ancient stone columns provide early evidence of the Buddhist faith.
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