Heliodorus Pillar
खंभ बाबा
A stone pillar erected in the 2nd century BCE by a Greek envoy in honor of Vishnu. Its inscription is an early record of a Greek who embraced Hinduism.
The Heliodorus Pillar, also called “Khamba Baba,” was erected around 113 BCE by Heliodorus, an envoy sent from the Indo-Greek kingdom to the Shunga court. The Brahmi inscription on the pillar calls him a “devotee of Bhagavata,” making it one of the earliest records of a foreigner worshipping Vishnu. The pillar stands in Besnagar on the northern outskirts of Vidisha. It is modest in size but of special historical significance, and it can be visited on the way to the Udayagiri Caves.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Bijamandal, Vidisha
- Udayagiri Caves
- Sanchi Archaeological Museum
- Chetiyagiri Vihara
- Sanchi Stupa
- Sanchi Stupa No. 2
- Satdhara Stupas
- Maladevi Temple, Gyaraspur