Culture and history info

Indus Valley Civilization

Indus Valley Civilization sites in the district number over 100 villages along Ghaggar-Hakra River (Palaeochannel of Sarasvati River),  such as Karanpura. Remains found at Kalibangan and Pilibanga in 1951 reveal that this area was a part of nearly 5000 years old civilization. The remains of human skeleton, unknown scripts, stamps, coins, utensils, jewelry, toys, statues, wells, bathrooms, fort, streets, markets, etc. were found. The remains found at these places have been kept at Museum at Kalibangan and National Museum, New Delhi.

Medieval

It has yielded a number of terracotta decorative tiles in the late Kushan Empire style along with a number of coins. Two terracotta capitals at the depth of 15' from the top of the mound with stepped pyramids along their edges have been discovered.

Colonial era

Hanumangarh was the kingdom of Bhati rajputs and hence its earlier name was Bhatner. Maharaja Surat Singh Rathore (b.1787 - d.1828) of Bikaner State won this fort on Tuesday. Since Tuesday is the auspicious day of the Hindu deity Hanuman, Surat Singh renamed Bhatner to "Hanumangarh" - the Fort of Hanuman the Hindu-deity. A 1700-year-old Bhatner fort is situated in the middle of Hanumangarh Town, the description of which can be found in Ain-i-Akbari. A famous Bhadrakali temple is situated near the town on the banks of Ancient Sarasvati river (Ghaggar river).