At Jagadhri’s Chaneti Stupa, neglect chisels away at Buddhist heritage

Haryana’s Buddhist heritage is a significant part of India’s cultural tapestry. One of its most remarkable treasures is the Chaneti Stupa, located near Jagadhri city in Yamunanagar district. Despite its immense historical, spiritual and archaeological value, the site today suffers neglect and a lack of basic tourist facilities.

Scholars, area residents and international Buddhist communities have consistently appealed for its preservation and promotion, but its condition remains far from satisfactory.

According to local lore, nearly 2,500 years ago, Lord Buddha visited Sugh (then called Srughna), a flourishing kingdom extending from the Ganga in the east to the Shivalik Himalayas in the north and the Drishadwati river, touching Kurukshetra in the west.

Chaneti formed part of this ancient region, making it a sacred landmark in Buddhist history.

In 7th century AD, Chinese pilgrim monk Xuanzang visited Sugh-Amadalpur and recorded that the kingdom housed 10 stupas, five Buddhist monasteries and nearly 100 Hindu temples of

different sects.

Many believe that Chaneti Stupa is one of the stupas mentioned by Xuanzang.

Though connected to early Buddhism, the current structure of the Chaneti Stupa is largely attributed to the Kushan era (1st-2nd century AD).

According to Sidhartha Gauri, Co-Convener of INTACH (Yamunanagar chapter), some of the bricks bear three-line markings, a distinctive feature associated with the reign of emperor Kanishka of the erstwhile Kushan dynasty.

“Kanishka was a great patron of Buddhism and is believed to have commissioned the stupa’s construction. The stupa also originally contained ‘rathikayas’ (niches) at its four cardinal points, where Buddha statues were once installed,” Gauri said.

The mound at Chaneti was first identified as a Buddhist stupa by renowned archaeologist Davender Handa, he added.

Excavations later revealed its historical significance and established it as one of the most important surviving monuments of the Kushan period in northern India.

The site also drew the attention of Sir Alexander Cunningham, regarded as the ‘Father of Indian Archaeology’. During his explorations in the 19th century, Cunningham visited Chaneti and Sugh, recording several finds, including ancient coins.

His observations further strengthened the stupa’s association with the Buddhist past of the region.

Despite its unique heritage value, the Chaneti Stupa has been plagued by decades of neglect.

It remained in poor condition until 2005, when the Haryana State Archaeology Department handed over the site to the Archaeological Survey of India for conservation.

Development efforts, since then, have still been minimal. Currently, visitors can spot stupa bricks getting weathered by the day, posing a great threat to the monument.

Over the last 15 years, the only notable addition has been a replica of the Sanchi Stupa gate, constructed with reinforced plastic by the Haryana Tourism Department. Visitors, however, continue to face difficulties due to the absence of basic amenities.

Gauri said pilgrims often had to request area residents for access to washrooms, as no open-to-public restroom

facility existed at the site.

“Drinking water arrangements are missing, and there is no information centre to guide tourists. Seating facilities are also absent, making it inconvenient for the elderly,” said Gauri.

Historians note that the Chaneti Stupa is among the few Buddhist stupas in northern India that has survived in near-original form for nearly 2,000 years. This makes it an invaluable cultural and archaeological treasure, deserving of careful preservation and global recognition.

“By ensuring adequate infrastructure — such as clean washrooms, drinking water, a meditation platform under the sacred Peepal tree, proper seating arrangements, and well-maintained lighting — the site can be made tourist-friendly,” Gauri said.

The stupa had the potential to emerge as a major international Buddhist pilgrimage centre,

he added.

Dr Banani Bhattacharyya, Deputy Director (Department of Archaeology and Museums, Haryana), said basic facilities, including toilets, potable drinking water and seating arrangements, would be soon made available at the stupa.