Bhatnir

Bhatnir, later called Hanumangarh, stands on the Ghaggar in northern Rajasthan. Its fort guarded a route between Delhi and the lands of the Indus, making it a prize for the rulers of the surrounding desert and plains. The Bhati Rajputs gave the place its older name, and its high walls rose above an ancient settlement mound.

In 1398 Timur attacked Bhatnir during his invasion of northern India. His forces took the fort before continuing towards Delhi, leaving an account of the resistance in the campaign’s history. Control later passed among regional powers. In 1805 Surat Singh of Bikaner captured the stronghold and renamed it Hanumangarh. Its long succession of rulers reflected the strategic value of a fortified place on the road across the northern desert.