Hanumangarh

This article is about the municipality in Rajasthan, India. For its namesake district, see Hanumangarh district.
Hanumangarh
City

Hanumangarh fort

Bhatner fort is located in Hanumangarh city.
Hanumangarh
Coordinates: 29°35′N 74°19′E / 29.58°N 74.32°E / 29.58; 74.32Coordinates: 29°35′N 74°19′E / 29.58°N 74.32°E / 29.58; 74.32
Country India
State Rajasthan
District Hanumangarh
Government
  Body Municipal Council
Elevation 177 m (581 ft)
Population (2011)
  Total 151,104
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN

335512(Hanumangarh Junction)

335513(Hanumangarh Town)
Telephone code 911552
Vehicle registration RJ-31
Website www.hanumangarh.rajasthan.gov.in

Hanumangarh is a city in northern Rajasthan state in western India, situated on the banks of the river Ghaggar also identified as Ancient Sarasvati river, located about 400 km from Delhi. It is the administrative seat of Hanumangarh District. The city was once called Bhatner (alternatively spelled Bhatnair) because it was founded by king Bhupat in 255 AD. It remained in the control of the Rajputs of Bhati clan and later occupied by Maharaja Soorat Singh of Bikaner.[1]

History

Hanumangarh was the kingdom of bahti dynasty and hence its earlier name was Bhatner. Since it was won on Tuesday by Maharaja Soorat Singh of Bikaner, which is the auspicious day of the Hindu God Hanuman, it was rechristened as 'Hanumangarh' - the Fort of Hanuman the Hindu-god. 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.[2] A famous Bhadrakali temple is situated near the town on the banks of Ancient Sarasvati river(Ghaggar river).[3]

The area around Hanumangarh appears to be quite old. 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.[3]

The Hanumangarh district also has a significant place in the ancient history. The remains found at Kalibangan[Pilibanga] in 1951 reveal that this area was a part of nearly 5000 years old Indus Valley Civilization. The remains of human skeleton, unknown scripts, stamps, coins, utensils, jewelry, toys, statues, wells, bathrooms, fort, streets, markets etc., found in excavation tell the story of well developed life style of our ancestors. Besides Kalibangan, more than 100 other places are also there in the district where evidences of this old civilization have been found. The remains found at these places have been kept at Museum at Kalibangan and National Museum, New Delhi.

Demographics

Religion in Hanumangarh[4]
Religion Percent
Hinduism
 
82.17%
Sikhism
 
9.75%
Islam
 
7.33%
Other
 
0.74%
A view of Bhagat Singh Chowk at Hanumangarh Junction.

As of 2011 India census,[5] Hanumangarh had a population of 151104. Males constitute 79817 of the population and females 71287. Hanumangarh has an average literacy rate of 78.32%, higher than the national average of 73.0%: male literacy is 85.42%, and female literacy is 70.42%. In Hanumangarh, 11.88% of the population is under 6 years of age.Total children (0-6) are 17947 as per figures of Census India report 2011.There are 9709 boys and 8238 girls.Sex Ratio of the city is 893 per 1000 males.Sex Ratio of childs is 848 per 1000 boys.The major languages spoken are Bagri, Punjabi and Hindi. Voters are from caste Jat, Brahmin, Dalit, Muslim, Gurjar, S.C., Baniya, Rajput, Saini.[6][7]

Railway Junction

A view of railway station at Hanumangarh Junction.

'Hanumangarh Junction' is a major railway station on Jodhpur-Bathinda line; Sadulpur, Rewari, Jaipur, Sriganganagar, Anupgarh, (Canaloop). Both Meter gauge and Broad gauge lines pass through this station. There is a Diamond-Railway-Crossing. The broad gauge started in the year of 1982 from Bhatinda to Suratgarh via Hanumangarh, and first train was flagged by Mr. Milkha Singh, erstwhile Guard 'A'.

Meter gauge train has become history for Hanumangarh because on 1 October 2012 Hanumangarh- Sadulpur metergauge track closed and this is being converted into broad gauge.Hanumangarh to Sri ganganagar railway track has been converted into broadgauge and presently 3 trains are running on this track from Hanumangarh to Sriganganagar. There will be smooth rail traffic for two cantonments Jaisalmer(Rajasthan) and Udhampur(J&k) via Hanumangarh, Sriganganagar and Firozpur.[8]

District System

There are 7 tehsil in district Hanumangarh these are Hanumangarh, Sangaria, Pilibanga, Nohar, Bhadra, Rawatsar and Tibbi.

Language

Bagri is the major language in Hanumangarh. It is also known as Khichdi language because of having Punjabi words and Haryanvi accent. Punjabi language is also used as a second language in most areas of the district, and as the predominant language in northern areas along the border of Punjab. Hindi is the state language and English is also used.[9]

Government Nehru Memorial PG College in Hanumangarh town.

Visitor Attractions

References

  1. Sir William Wilson Hunter, The imperial gazetteer of India, Volume 2, Trübner & Co., 1885, ... The Bhatnair fort ... on the direct route of invasion from Central Asia to India ... taken by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1001 ... attacked by Timur ... probable that Timur left a Tatar Chagitai noble in charge, who was expelled by Bhatis from Marot and Phulra ... Bhatnair, now called Hanumangarh ...
  2. "Bhatner Fort".
  3. 1 2 http://www.hanumangarh.nic.in
  4. http://www.census2011.co.in/census/city/65-hanumangarh.html
  5. "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
  6. http://www.census2011.co.in/census/city/65-hanumangarh.html
  7. http://helpcontact.in/1456
  8. http://m.indiarailinfo.com/search/hanumangarh-hmh-to-shri-ganganagar-sgnr/112/0/2104
  9. Lakhan Gusain 2000. Bagri Grammar. Munich: Lincom Europa (Languages of the World/Materials, 384)
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