Sunet Mound: Ludhiana’s ancient coin-mould site

The Sunet Mound, in Sunet village on the western edge of Ludhiana city, in Ludhiana district, Punjab, is one of the state’s large ancient settlement mounds. It is best known in archaeology for the remarkable haul of terracotta coin moulds and clay seals recovered here. Today it is a quiet, protected patch of raised ground ringed by a growing city, so most visitors come for the story rather than for grand ruins to walk through.

Sunet Mound is a protected ancient archaeological site in Ludhiana, Punjab, best known for the terracotta coin moulds and seals excavated from it. The Archaeological Survey of India protects the roughly 8.5-acre site, but little is visible above ground today, and nearly all the finds now sit in museum and state collections rather than on-site.

About Sunet Mound

Sunet Mound is an ancient habitation mound at Sunet, now an urban locality of Ludhiana in Ludhiana district, Punjab. Once a village on the plain between the city and the Sutlej belt, Sunet has been swallowed by Ludhiana’s westward growth, so the old mound now sits among roads, colonies and shops rather than open fields.

Do not confuse Sunet (Ludhiana) with Sunam, a separate town in Sangrur district, Punjab. This guide covers only the archaeological mound at Sunet, Ludhiana.

The mound represents a long-lived settlement whose deposits broadly fall in the early centuries of the Common Era, a span that overlaps the later Kushana and the Gupta periods. Precise phasing belongs in the excavation reports; the public record is clearest about the objects found here rather than a tidy date range, so treat any single “era” label with caution.

Why Sunet matters: coin moulds and seals

Sunet’s importance is numismatic: it yielded an exceptional quantity of terracotta coin moulds, the clay matrices used to cast metal coins. The material is most often linked to the Yaudheyas, a post-Mauryan tribal people of the Punjab–Haryana plains, which places much of it roughly in the 3rd–4th centuries CE.

The earliest scholarly notice is old. The botanist Birbal Sahni described “Yaudheya coin moulds from Sunet, near Ludhiana, in the Sutlej valley” in Current Science in 1941, a paper still catalogued today (IAS repository record). Later catalogue records from the Department of Archaeology, Government of Punjab, date a group of moulds to the 3rd–4th century CE and tie them to a trench labelled DX-2.

The moulds carry small devices and figures. Catalogue descriptions mention a deity identified as Kartikeya holding a spear, seated and standing human figures, and figures in the tribhanga (a three-bend standing pose). One open question is whether such moulds reflect an official or local mint, or a forger’s workshop casting imitation coins; scholars have raised both possibilities, so the honest answer is that it is debated.

A single clay coin mould with its findspot recorded as Sunet is held by the British Museum, catalogued as a “forger’s mould for casting coins” — a useful reminder that the material is dispersed well beyond Punjab.

What you can see at Sunet Mound today

Honestly, very little. There is no standing monument, no excavated structure open to walk through, and no museum or interpretation centre on the mound itself. What survives is a protected rise of ground inside a boundary wall, with a caretaker’s quarters managed by the ASI.

Press reporting has been blunt about the condition. The Tribune (updated 1 March 2025) described the roughly 8.5-acre ASI site as partly used for dumping rubbish despite its boundary wall, with only a small section near the caretaker’s residence kept tidy; it also noted that encroachments were cleared after an NGO stepped in and a wall was built (The Tribune). Set your expectations accordingly: this is a place to understand, not a photogenic ruin.

If you are after monuments and walkable heritage in the state, pair this with a wider Punjab travel guide rather than making Sunet a standalone destination.

Where the finds are now

The finds are not at Sunet; they are in institutional collections. Coins and relics from the 1984 dig were taken to Chandigarh, according to The Tribune, and the Yaudheya coin moulds credited to the Department of Archaeology, Government of Punjab sit in state archaeological collections. One coin mould is in the British Museum in London.

Because no single on-site display exists, a numismatics-minded visitor is better served by museums in the region. The state’s main museum collections are in Chandigarh; plan that leg using our Chandigarh travel guide, and check opening days and whether the relevant galleries are on display before you go, since archaeology holdings are not always fully exhibited.

Best time to visit

October to March is the comfortable window, when Ludhiana’s plains weather is mild and dry. Summers (April–June) are very hot, and the monsoon (roughly July–September) brings humidity and occasional heavy rain, which is also when the unpaved, open site is least pleasant to walk. The table below gives the typical seasonal pattern for the Ludhiana plains; treat it as a general guide, not a forecast.

How to reach

Sunet is within Ludhiana, so getting to the city is the real question; the locality is a short local hop once you arrive. Ludhiana is one of Punjab’s largest cities and sits on the main Delhi–Amritsar corridor, so rail and road links are strong.

• By rail: Ludhiana Junction is a major station on the Delhi–Jalandhar–Amritsar line, with frequent connections. Confirm current trains and timings on IRCTC/NTES before travel.
• By air: The nearest full-service hubs are at Chandigarh and Amritsar; Ludhiana’s own Sahnewal airport has had limited scheduled service, so check live schedules before booking.
• By road: Ludhiana is well connected by national highways and state buses (PRTC/PUNBUS). Within the city, use a taxi, auto-rickshaw or a ride-hailing app to reach Sunet.

The road distances below are approximate planning estimates — reconfirm with a live map before you set out.

A suggested half-day plan

Sunet rewards a short, focused visit rather than a full day. A sensible plan pairs the site with the city.

• Morning: Reach Sunet early, walk the protected perimeter, and read up on the coin-mould story before or during the stop. Keep the visit brief — there is no built monument to explore.
• Midday: Head into central Ludhiana for lunch and a city museum or market stop.
• Afternoon: If numismatics is your interest, use the day to plan a follow-on trip to museum collections in Chandigarh, where regional archaeological material is held.

For a two-day heritage loop, combine Ludhiana with the Sikh heritage town of Anandpur Sahib; see our Anandpur Sahib guide for that leg.

Where to stay

Stay in Ludhiana city, not at the site. Ludhiana is a large commercial centre with a full range of accommodation, from budget lodges to business hotels. The indicative nightly bands below are planning estimates only — reconfirm live before booking.

• Budget: roughly ₹1,000–₹2,000 for simple guesthouses and budget hotels (indicative — reconfirm).
• Mid-range: roughly ₹2,500–₹5,000 for comfortable business hotels (indicative — reconfirm).
• Upper/luxury: from about ₹6,000 upward at the larger branded hotels (indicative — reconfirm).

Book ahead around major festivals, weddings season and large trade events, when Ludhiana’s hotels fill quickly.

Food to try nearby

Ludhiana is solid Punjabi-food territory, so eat in the city. Look for sarson da saag (a mustard-greens dish) with makki di roti (cornmeal flatbread) in winter, chole bhature (spiced chickpeas with fried bread), and tandoori and dhaba-style dishes. Finish with a lassi (a sweet or salted yoghurt drink) or kulfi (dense frozen milk dessert). None of this is specific to Sunet; it is simply the regional table you will find across Ludhiana.

Budget

A visit to Sunet itself costs nothing — there is no entry fee. Your spend is really the cost of being in Ludhiana for a day. The per-person estimate below assumes one full day in the city including the site stop, for a mid-range traveller, and is an indicative planning estimate as of October 2026 — reconfirm current prices.

Permits, photography and rules

No permits apply. Sunet needs no Inner Line Permit, no park or safari permit and no special entry pass — it is an open, centrally protected site in a city, not a restricted or forest area. As a general rule at ASI-protected sites, do not dig, remove or handle antiquities, and do not damage or deface protected ground; removing or trading in antiquities is an offence under Indian law. If you plan commercial or drone photography, treat permissions as the ASI’s to grant and ask the local circle office first.

Practical tips

• Set expectations: this is a protected mound, not a monument. Come for the story, carry water, and keep the visit short.
• Connectivity and cash: you are inside a major city, so mobile network, ATMs and UPI payments are all easily available in Ludhiana.
• Health: Ludhiana has large hospitals, including well-known medical institutions, so medical help is close at hand.
• Underfoot: the ground can be uneven, dusty or muddy after rain; wear closed shoes and avoid the open site at midday in summer.
• Solo and women travellers: treat it like any city visit — go in daylight, ideally with a known local taxi or app ride, and don’t linger after dark at the edge-of-city location.
• Respect the site: don’t add to the litter problem, and never pick up or pocket anything that looks like a sherd or fragment.

Nearby places

Because Sunet is a brief stop, most visitors build a wider Punjab itinerary around it. The table lists practical pairings.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Sunet Mound and why is it important?

Sunet Mound is an ancient settlement mound at Sunet in Ludhiana, Punjab, protected by the Archaeological Survey of India. It is important chiefly for the large number of terracotta coin moulds found here, generally linked to the Yaudheyas and dated to around the 3rd–4th centuries CE, along with clay seals and figurines.

Can you actually see anything at Sunet Mound today?

Very little. There is no standing monument or excavated structure to walk through, just a protected rise of ground behind a boundary wall with an ASI caretaker. The finds are in museums and state collections, so the mound is a place to understand the site’s history rather than a scenic ruin to tour.

Is there an entry fee or permit for Sunet Mound?

No. There is no entry fee, ticket counter or permit for Sunet Mound; it is an open, centrally protected site within Ludhiana. General ASI rules apply: do not dig, remove antiquities or damage the ground, and seek permission from the local ASI circle for any drone or commercial photography before you arrive.

Where are the Sunet coin moulds and finds kept now?

They are dispersed, not displayed on-site. Coins and relics from a 1984 excavation were taken to Chandigarh, per The Tribune, and the Yaudheya coin moulds are credited to the Department of Archaeology, Government of Punjab. One coin mould reputedly from Sunet is held by the British Museum in London.

How do I reach Sunet Mound in Ludhiana?

Reach Ludhiana first, then take a short local ride to Sunet on the city’s western side. Ludhiana Junction is a major station on the Delhi–Amritsar line, and the city is well linked by highway and bus; the nearest major airports are at Chandigarh and Amritsar. Confirm current trains and flights before travel.

What period does Sunet Mound belong to?

Its deposits broadly span the early centuries of the Common Era, overlapping the later Kushana and Gupta eras. The famous coin moulds are usually attributed to the Yaudheyas, roughly the 3rd–4th centuries CE. Precise phasing belongs in the excavation reports, so it is safest to describe the period as a range rather than a single label.

Last updated and sources

Sunet Mound suits heritage and numismatics enthusiasts who want to stand where an important coin-mould assemblage was found, rather than sightseers after monuments. Go in the October–March window, keep it a short stop within a Ludhiana or wider Punjab trip, and set expectations low for what remains on the ground.

Last updated: 31 October 2026. Fees, timings and permits change — reconfirm with official sources before you travel.

Sources: The Tribune, “A treasure trove of artefacts now a dumping ground” (updated March 2025), tribuneindia.com; List of Monuments of National Importance in Punjab (entry N-PB-26, Sunet), Wikipedia; B. Sahni, “Yaudheya coin moulds from Sunet, near Ludhiana in the Sutlej valley,” Current Science (1941), IAS repository; British Museum collection record for a coin mould from Sunet, britishmuseum.org. Archaeological Survey of India, asi.nic.in, for protected-monument status. Accessed September 2026.