About Sanghol Archaeological Museum
Sanghol Archaeological Museum is located in Sanghol village in Fatehgarh Sahib district, Punjab, adjacent to the ancient Sanghol archaeological site. Maintained by the Punjab Department of Cultural Affairs, Archaeology and Museums, it houses artifacts excavated from Sanghol spanning Harappan to early medieval periods. Notable for its collection of Kushan-era Mathura art, Buddhist relics, coins, pottery and sculptures, the museum documents the region's long settlement history and Buddhist heritage.
Visitors guide
Visitors can expect a single-storey museum building adjacent to the excavated Sanghol site displaying artifacts in galleries. Exhibits include Kushan-period sculptures, Buddhist images, terracotta figurines, coins, pottery, beads and architectural fragments excavated from the Sanghol mounds. The museum has indoor display halls with glass cases, informational panels and photographs of excavations, set in a quiet village environment with the protected stupa mound nearby.
Key highlights
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Collection of Kushan-era sculptures in Mathura style excavated at Sanghol
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Buddhist relics and remains from the Sanghol stupa complex
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Ancient coins, pottery, terracottas and beads from Harappan to Gupta periods
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Excavated site and stupa mound located adjacent to the museum
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Photographic panels documenting excavations since 1968
History of Sanghol Archaeological Museum
Sanghol is an important archaeological settlement excavated from 1968 onwards, revealing cultural sequence from late Harappan to early medieval periods. Excavations uncovered a Kushan-period Buddhist stupa complex, monasteries and a large number of Mathura-style sculptures dating to 1st-2nd century CE, along with coins, seals and pottery. The finds established Sanghol as a major Buddhist and urban centre in ancient Punjab under Kushan and Gupta influence.
Culture & Context
The museum preserves and displays the Buddhist heritage of Punjab and the artistic tradition of the Kushan period. Its collection of Buddhist sculptures, relics and architectural elements reflects the spread of Buddhism in the region and the Mathura art style, serving as an educational resource for understanding ancient settlement, craft and religious practices in Punjab.