Nearly 90 years after the first excavation at Vaishya Tekri near Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh is preparing to reopen one of its biggest unanswered archaeology stories: what, exactly, sits inside a mound long tied to a Mauryan-period Buddhist stupa and traditions connected with Emperor Ashoka.
Records from the 1938-39 excavation put the main mound at roughly 350 feet in diameter and at least 100 feet high. That is far larger than the Great Stupa at Sanchi, which stands at about 120 feet in diameter and 54 feet high. Archaeologists stress that these numbers describe the mound measured decades ago, not a fully verified monument. A fresh excavation is required to confirm the structure’s actual plan, size, and construction phases.
For mason contractors, the most interesting details sit in the old construction notes. Archaeologists reported a core formed largely from tightly rammed local earth, with large bricks used on the exterior. They also documented unusual masonry at the base that was meant to resist the outward pressure created by such a huge mass. The earlier work also identified evidence of a principal stupa and two smaller stupas.
The 1938-39 dig ended without a complete architectural picture after a gas-related incident left laborers unconscious, and the site then stayed largely untouched for decades. That history is a reminder for today’s crews working around deep excavations and historic fabric: plan for air quality monitoring, ventilation, and clear stop-work triggers, especially when reopening old trenches or entering low, enclosed areas.
Officials have also flagged practical hurdles before large-scale work starts, including excavation methodology, conservation planning, site protection, and land issues because some of the area is privately owned. If the renewed effort verifies the earlier measurements and construction details, Vaishya Tekri would add a major chapter to central India’s story of brick, earthwork, and early monumental masonry engineering.
Read the full, original article from Dainik Jagran MP CG here.