Yamunanagar, Haryana
Department of Archaeology and Museums, Haryana
During the reign of the Mauryan king Ashoka, the ancient city of Shrughna (modern-day Sugh) emerged as an important centre of Buddhism. The Chaneti Stupa, located about 3 km north-west of Sugh, is believed to be one of the many topes mentioned by the Chinese pilgrim Yuan Chwang.
This baked-brick stupa was constructed using concentric layers placed one over the other, each slightly recessed to ensure that the overall structure assumed a hemispherical form. Architecturally, it corresponds to the Shahpur and Dharmarajika stupas at Taxila.
No traces of a stone railing have been found around the structure, suggesting that it may originally have been enclosed by a wooden railing. At the top of the stupa, a square space of about 1.5 metres was discovered filled with earth; this marks the location of the harmika, which would have supported the chhatravali (umbrella).