On the alignment of Sanchi monuments

Astronomical alignments in the Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi reveal that stupas are oriented towards the sunset direction on the summer solstice, coinciding with the day of the zenithal sun due to the site's proximity to the Tropic of Cancer. This alignment, observed through satellite imagery and Google Earth analysis, suggests a deliberate architectural planning akin to that found in the Sigiriya complex in Sri Lanka. The study highlights the significance of solar orientations in ancient Buddhist monument design, offering insights into the sophisticated understanding of celestial events by early architects.

Sparavigna, A. C. (2015). On the alignment of Sanchi monuments. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.3405427