ABOUT THE
Attraction
Mention of the Chaneti stupa can be found in the ancient travel accounts of Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang, wherein he mentions that this place was adorned by many stupas and a monastery. During the reign of the Mauryan king Ashoka, the ancient city of Shrughna (said to be modern Sugh) became an important centre of Buddhism. Village Chaneti is about 3 km north-west of Sugh.The excavated mound here has a height of nearly 8 m and a diameter of about 20 m. The plain, square and large bricks of the ruins, point to the fact that this stupa was erected during the reign of king Dhanabhuti, who ruled from 240 to 210 BC. The concentric brick layers were put one above the other, leaving a little space on the underlying layer, so that the whole structure gave a hemispherical look. At the top of the stupa, a square space of about 1.5 m has been found, filled with mud. It is said this was the place for harmika, which bore the chhatravali (umbrella). The nearest prominent city is Jagadhri, 3 km away
OTHER ATTRACTIONS
Jhalawar
Rajasthan shows evidence of ancient Buddhist culture and tradition by way of caves, pillars and idols that were excavated in the town of Jhalawar.
Chitradurga
Buddhism flourished in Karnataka when the region was under the Mauryan rule. A series of archaeological excavations in various parts of present-day Karnataka have shed light on the significance of the state in the development of Buddhism.
Bairat Monastery
Bairat or ancient Viratnagar, the capital of Matsyadesa kingdom, is believed to have been founded by king Virat, in whose kingdom the Pandavas spent the 13th year of their exile.