Bhatner fort is located in Hanumangarh, in Rajasthan (a state in India). This fort is one of the ancient forts of Rajasthan built in the year 295. It is said that the fort was built by the King Bhupat when he was searching for a shelter in the town. He had lost a battle with the Sultan of Ghazni and wanted to find a safe shelter; instead, he built a shelter with bricks and named the fort as Bhatner Fort. King Bhpat was the son of King Bhati who was the ruler of Jaisalmer; therefore he named his fort after his father – King Bhati. The fort is built in the middle of a forest, near the Ghaggar River.
The fort was later reconstructed by Sher Shah Suri, who was also known as Sher Khan, in the 14th century. He reconstructed the Fort of Bhatinda and Bhatner in the same year and strengthens the fort’s pillar and turned it into a fort with strong defense system. Even in the book of “Tuzuk-e-Timuri”, which is an Autobiography of Timur, it is mentioned that the Fort of Bhatner was considered as the strongest fort during the 14th century even if the fort was originally built in the year 295 Rajasthan Monuments.
The Bhatner fort was occupied by various rulers over the years and the last Emperor who captured the fort was Emperor Soorat Singh, the ruler of Bikaner. Since he captured the fort on Tuesday and the day is considered as the Day of Lord Hanuman, the town was named as Hanumangarh.
History of Bhatner Fort Hanuamgarh Rajasthan
In 1805, Raja Surat Singh of Bikaner defeated the Bhati rulers of Jaisalmer and took it under his control. It is said that in this Bhatner fort, great importance has been given to Hanuman Ji. The day Surat Singh defeated the Bhatis was Tuesday. For this reason, this city was also named Hanumangarh.
All the external attacks on India passed through the route of Bhatner, which is why Timur, Prithviraj Chauhan, Akbar, Qutubuddin Aibak and Rathore, etc. ruled it. Timur in his biography ‘Tujuk-e-Taimuri’ described Bhatner as India’s strongest fort. Sher Shah Suri is buried in this fort.
Bhatner’s fort located in Hanumangarh, on the banks of the Ghaggar river, has been placed in the category of Dhawan fort due to being surrounded by desert. Being located on the Delhi-Multan route, it also had strategic importance. According to Jan Shruti, this fort was built by Bhati King Bhupat in the last phase of the third century.
This fort is spread over 52 bighas of land. There are 52 huge bastions in it, the fort is built of ripe bricks and lime. Because Maharaja Surat Singh of Bikaner taking possession of this fort on Tuesday, in 1805 AD, Bhatner was renamed Hanumangarh and a temple of Hanumanji was also built in the fort.
Mahmud Ghaznavi captured Bhatner in 1001 AD. Sherkhan was the ruler of this place during the reign of Balban. Which retaliated against the Mongol invaders from here. Sher Khan’s graves still exist inside the fort. In 1398 AD, Timur attacked Bhatner and looted it Rajasthan Budget Tours.
For the first time in 1527, Rao Jaitasi established the Rathore suzerainty over the fort. At the time of Humayun’s brother Kamaraj’s attack, Rao Khetasi showed immense valor for the fort’s defense and Virgati was received. In 1549, Rathore Thakursi took over Bhatner.
Thakursi was the ruler of Bhatner for nearly 20 years. Once during the reign of Mughal emperor Akbar, the royal treasury was being moved from Kashmir and Lahore to Delhi, then plundered in the Machli village of the Bhatner pargana.
HOW TO REACH ?
By Air :Hanumangarh does not have an airport. Nearest airport is Ludhiana Airport.
By Road :There are regular buses from other major cities of the country to Hanumangarh.
By Rail :Hanumangarh have own railway station which is Hanumangarh Junction (HMH).