Four Gateways of the Great Stupa

The Four Gateways of the Great Stupa are freestanding stone toranas that rank among the most accomplished sculptural achievements of ancient India. Erected in the 1st century BC, each gateway consists of two square posts supporting three curved architraves densely carved with scenes from the Buddha's previous lives, his enlightenment, the Mauryan emperor Ashoka's pilgrimage to Bodh Gaya, and symbolic depictions of the Buddha as a wheel, throne or footprint. The southern gateway is the oldest and principal entrance; the eastern gateway is considered the most elaborate. The carving quality, compositional density and narrative sophistication of the toranas profoundly influenced the later development of Buddhist art across Asia.