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Torana
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The south gateway and large dome of the Great Stupa at Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh, India, with a few visitors walking near the entrance and red flowers in the foreground. Architraves of the north gateway (toran) to the Great Stupa (stupa No. 1) at Sānchi, Madhya Pradesh, India Silhouetted crowd faces a brightly illuminated torana gateway decorated with colorful lights and Buddhist imagery during Wesak festival in Colombo, Sri Lanka at night.
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The south gateway and large dome of the Great Stupa at Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh, India, with a few visitors walking near the entrance and red flowers in the foreground.
Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh, India: Great Stupa The south gateway (torana) and the Great Stupa (stupa no. 1) in Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh, India.

Torana

Indian temple gateway
Also known as: toran
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Torana, Indian gateway, usually of stone, marking the entrance to a Buddhist shrine or stupa or to a Hindu temple. Toranas typically consist of two pillars carrying two or three transverse beams that extend beyond the pillars on either side. Strongly reminiscent of wooden construction, toranas are often covered from top to bottom with exquisite sculpture. The four toranas of the Great Stupa at Sanchi (see also Sanchi sculpture) are superb examples. Compare torii.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Kathleen Kuiper.