Bhatner Fort

Bhatner Fort stands at Hanumangarh, whose old name Bhatner means 'fortress of the Bhatis', on the bank of the Ghaggar along the old Delhi–Multan road, about 230 kilometres north-east of Bikaner. Tradition says King Bhupat of the Bhati dynasty built it in 295 AD in memory of his father, and at a believed 1,700 years it is counted among India's oldest forts. Painted Grey Ware and Rang Mahal pottery have turned up in wells along its walls. The Archaeological Survey of India protects it.

The fort is built wholly of brick over 52 bighas, laid out as a parallelogram with twelve bastions to a side. Lying on the invasion route from Central Asia, it saw much fighting. In 1398 Timur met stiff resistance here from the Bhati ruler Rai Dul Chand before sacking the fort and burning the town, and he described it as one of India's strongest forts. Akbar mentions it in the Ain-i-Akbari. Bikaner took it in 1527 and, for the last time, in 1805.