Hansi Fort is a weathered brick-and-earth citadel sitting on a tall mound in the middle of Hansi town, Haryana, about 26 km east of Hisar city. Also called Asigarh and, locally, Prithviraj Chauhan’s Fort, it is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and carries layers of history from the Chauhans and the Tughlaqs down to the Irish adventurer George Thomas and the Anglo-Indian cavalry officer Colonel James Skinner. This guide covers what survives, how to reach it, and what to see nearby.
Hansi Fort, also called Asigarh, is an ASI-protected medieval fort built on a raised mound in Hansi town, Haryana. Associated with the Chauhans, the Tughlaqs and later with Colonel James Skinner, it survives today mainly as excavated ramparts, gateways and a Baradari pavilion rather than intact palaces.
Key takeaways
- Hansi Fort (Asigarh) stands in Hansi town, Haryana — historically part of Hisar district, and since 22 December 2025 the headquarters of the newly created Hansi district (Haryana’s 23rd), carved out of Hisar.
- It is a centrally protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India; the name Asigarh means “fort of swords” from an old sword-making tradition at the site.
- Best visited October to March, when Haryana’s plains are cool; summers routinely cross 40 C.
- Reach it by road: about 26 km east of Hisar on NH-9, roughly 134 km from Delhi; nearest stations are Hansi and Hisar Junction, nearest full airports Delhi and Chandigarh (as of October 2026).
- Entry is reported to be free with daylight access, but the ASI has not published official timings for this site — treat hours and fees as indicative and reconfirm locally.
- Pair the fort with the nearby Char Qutub dargah and Barsi Gate in Hansi, and with Agroha, Rakhigarhi and Hisar in the wider region.
About Hansi Fort and the name Asigarh
Hansi Fort is a medieval fortified mound in Hansi town, Haryana, roughly 26 km east of Hisar city on National Highway 9. For most of its documented history Hansi was a tehsil of Hisar district; on 22 December 2025 the Haryana government carved out a separate Hansi district, so the fort now sits in Hansi district rather than Hisar. The town lies on the Delhi–Hisar axis, which is why armies used it for centuries.
The fort’s older name, Asigarh, means “fort of swords” — from asi (sword) and garh (fort). By tradition the mound was a sword-making centre in the early Tomar Rajput period, and swords from here were said to be traded far to the west. Treat the sword-trade story as local tradition rather than documented fact. The site is also called Prithviraj Chauhan’s Fort for its best-known medieval patron.
| Full name | Hansi Fort, also Asigarh / Prithviraj Chauhan’s Fort |
|---|---|
| Location | Hansi town, Hansi district (formerly Hisar district), Haryana |
| Type | Medieval brick-and-earth fort on a raised mound |
| Protection | Centrally protected monument, Archaeological Survey of India |
| What survives | Ramparts, gateways, a Baradari pavilion; much reduced to a mound |
| From Hisar | About 26 km by road (NH-9); about 23 km by rail |
| From Delhi | About 134 km |
| Best season | October to March |
The history layers: Chauhans, Tughlaqs, Thomas and Skinner
Hansi Fort passed through Rajput, Sultanate, Maratha and colonial hands, and each layer left something on the mound. The town is traditionally linked to the Tomar Rajputs, and excavated coins point to settlement on the mound well before the present fort, according to published accounts of finds at the site.
Under the Chauhans, Hansi (recorded as Ashika or Asika) was an important frontier stronghold. The historical record credits Prithviraj Chauhan with additions to the fort in the twelfth century, which is why locals still call it Prithviraj Chauhan’s Fort. After his defeat in 1192, the site passed to the Ghurids and then into the Delhi Sultanate. In the Tughlaq period, Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq built the large mosque in the Char Qutub complex at Hansi, per Haryana Tourism.
The colonial-era story is unusually vivid. Historical records describe the Irish-born adventurer George Thomas making Asigarh his capital around 1798–1801 and rebuilding the fort. A few years later Hansi became the headquarters of Colonel James Skinner, the Anglo-Indian officer who raised the irregular cavalry known as Skinner’s Horse; the twin tombs of Begum Skinner survive in the Char Qutub complex. The fort later held a British cantonment and was damaged around the 1857 uprising.
What to see at Hansi Fort and around it
At Hansi Fort you mainly see the mound itself: eroded ramparts, surviving gateways, and a long pillared pavilion called the Baradari on top. According to the Hansi district administration, the fort “has completely been converted into a mound” except for a few pre-Mughal structures, with the flat-roofed Baradari the main standing feature. Fifty-seven bronze images of Jain Tirthankaras were recovered from the site, per the same source — a reminder that the mound predates the fort you see.
The real reward is combining the fort with two other protected pieces of old Hansi, both an easy walk or short ride away.
- Barsi Gate (in the town bazaar) — described by Haryana Tourism as the main entrance to the ancient fort and part of its outer defence wall. A foundation inscription dates it to 1303 under the Khalji sultan Ala-ud-din Muhammad (Alauddin Khalji), and a Persian inscription above the doorway corresponds to 1304–1305.
- Char Qutub dargah (west of the old town, outside the fortifications) — the tomb complex of four Sufi saints titled Qutab: Jamal-ud-Din Hansawi (1187–1261), Burhan-ud-Din (1261–1300), Qutab-ud-Din Munawar (1300–1303) and Nur-ud-Din (1325–1397), per Haryana Tourism. A large mosque in the northern enclosure was built by Firoz Shah Tughlaq, and the complex also holds the twin tombs of Begum Skinner.
- The fort mound and gateways — walk the ramparts for the lie of the land; this is a place to read history rather than tour intact palaces.
| Spot | What it is | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Hansi Fort mound and Baradari | Ramparts, gateways, pillared pavilion on the mound | 45–60 min |
| Barsi Gate | Early-14th-century gateway of the old fort, in the bazaar | 15–20 min |
| Char Qutub dargah | Sufi tomb complex, Tughlaq-era mosque, Begum Skinner tombs | 30–45 min |
Best time to visit Hansi Fort
The best time to visit Hansi Fort is October to March, when daytime temperatures across the Haryana plains are comfortable for walking an open, shadeless mound. Summers from April to June are harsh, routinely crossing 40 C, and the monsoon (July to September) can make the earthworks slippery. Winter mornings can be foggy, so start mid-morning.
| Months | Weather | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| October–March | Cool, dry; occasional winter fog | Best window for the fort and dargah |
| April–June | Very hot, dry; 40 C and above | Early morning only; carry water |
| July–September | Humid, intermittent rain | Green but muddy; avoid midday heat |
How to reach Hansi Fort
Hansi Fort is reached most easily by road: it sits in Hansi town on NH-9, about 26 km east of Hisar and roughly 134 km from Delhi. The fort is in the heart of town, so any auto or e-rickshaw can drop you at the mound once you reach Hansi.
- By air: The practical airports are Delhi (Indira Gandhi International, about 150–160 km) and Chandigarh, both with wide domestic and international networks. Hisar’s Maharaja Agrasen Airport began scheduled flights in April 2025 and, as of October 2026, has operated a small network including Ayodhya, Delhi, Jaipur and Chandigarh; check current routes before relying on it.
- By rail: Hansi has its own station (HNS) on the Delhi–Hisar line, about 23 km from Hisar Junction (HSR). Hisar Junction is the larger railhead with more connections. Confirm live trains on IRCTC/NTES before booking.
- By road: Haryana Roadways and private buses run frequently along NH-9 between Delhi, Rohtak, Hansi and Hisar. By car from Delhi it is a straightforward 3–3.5 hour drive.
| From | Distance | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Hisar city / Hisar Junction | ~26 km road; ~23 km rail | Bus, taxi, train |
| Delhi | ~134 km | Car/bus (NH-9), train |
| Rohtak | ~75 km | Car/bus (NH-9) |
| Chandigarh | ~200 km | Car/bus; air via Hisar/Delhi |
Entry, timings and rules
Entry to Hansi Fort is widely reported to be free, with access during daylight hours, but the ASI has not published dedicated ticketing or timings for this site, so treat any hours you see online as indicative. As a planning estimate, assume roughly 8 am to 6 pm and reconfirm locally before you go. There is no booking required.
Because this is a protected monument, the usual ASI conduct rules apply: do not climb on or damage the ramparts, do not remove anything from the site, and carry out your litter. Still and handheld photography is normally fine at such sites; drones over protected monuments need prior permission, so do not fly without clearance. Dress modestly at the Char Qutub dargah and remove footwear where required.
Where to stay near Hansi
The sensible base is Hisar city, about 26 km away, which has the widest choice of hotels; Hansi itself has only basic lodging. Hisar covers budget guesthouses, mid-range business hotels and a few upper-mid properties, and makes a comfortable hub for day trips to Hansi, Agroha and Rakhigarhi.
- Budget: roughly ₹800–₹1,800 a night for simple guesthouses and basic hotels in Hisar or Hansi (indicative planning estimate, October 2026 — reconfirm).
- Mid-range: roughly ₹2,000–₹4,500 for business hotels in Hisar with air-conditioning and breakfast (indicative — reconfirm).
- Upper-mid: roughly ₹5,000–₹8,000 for the better-rated Hisar hotels (indicative — reconfirm).
Book ahead around Haryana’s fair and festival dates, when Hisar hotels fill quickly.
Budget for a Hansi day trip
A Hansi day trip from Hisar is inexpensive because the fort itself is free. The main costs are transport, a guide if you want one, and food. The figures below are planning estimates as of October 2026 and should be reconfirmed; they assume one traveller basing in Hisar.
| Item | Estimate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hisar–Hansi return transport | ₹150–₹1,200 | Bus at the low end; private taxi at the high end |
| Local autos within Hansi | ₹100–₹250 | Fort, Barsi Gate, dargah |
| Fort entry | ₹0 | Reported free; reconfirm |
| Food and water | ₹200–₹500 | Local dhabas and snacks |
| Rough day total | ₹450–₹1,950 | Excludes Hisar accommodation |
Practical tips
Hansi is a small town with everyday services rather than tourist infrastructure, so plan accordingly. Mobile coverage from the major networks is reliable, ATMs and UPI are widely accepted in the bazaar, and Hisar has the nearest large hospitals and the civil hospital if you need medical help.
- Carry water, a hat and sunscreen — the mound is open and shadeless, and there are few vendors on site.
- Wear closed shoes with grip; the earthwork slopes are uneven and loose underfoot.
- Combine the fort, Barsi Gate and Char Qutub dargah in one half-day; they are close together in old Hansi.
- A local guide, if available at the site, helps make sense of the layered ruins; agree a fee first.
- Solo women travellers generally find Hisar and Hansi straightforward in daytime; as anywhere, keep to daylight for the open mound and let your hotel know your plan.
- In winter, start mid-morning after any fog clears; in summer, visit early and avoid midday.
Nearby places worth adding
Hansi works best as part of a wider loop through Haryana’s old towns and archaeological sites, most of them within an easy drive of Hisar. The Harappan site of Rakhigarhi and the Agroha mound are the standouts for anyone interested in the region’s deep past.
| Place | Distance | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Hisar city | ~26 km | Firoz Shah Palace complex, Lat ki Masjid, main hub and hotels |
| Agroha mound | ~22 km from Hisar | Ancient protected mound and the Agroha Dham temple |
| Rakhigarhi | ~50 km from Hisar (Narnaund side) | Major Indus Valley site with ongoing ASI excavations and a new museum |
| Jind | ~45 km | Neighbouring district town with old temples and tanks |
If you are building a longer Haryana itinerary, Hansi pairs naturally with the pilgrimage-and-battlefield circuit around our Kurukshetra travel guide, and makes a feasible overnight detour on the way to or from our Chandigarh travel guide in the state’s north. Travellers coming south from Chandigarh can reach Hansi in roughly half a day by road.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Hansi Fort located?
Hansi Fort is in Hansi town, Haryana, about 26 km east of Hisar city on NH-9 and roughly 134 km from Delhi. Hansi was long part of Hisar district; since 22 December 2025 it has been the headquarters of the newly created Hansi district, carved out of Hisar. The fort stands on a mound in the town centre.
Why is Hansi Fort called Asigarh?
Hansi Fort is called Asigarh, the “fort of swords,” from asi (sword) and garh (fort). By tradition the mound was a sword-making centre in the early Tomar Rajput period, and blades made here were said to be traded westward. The sword-trade story is local tradition, so treat it as heritage lore rather than documented fact.
What is the entry fee and timing for Hansi Fort?
Entry to Hansi Fort is widely reported to be free, with daylight access, but the ASI has not published official ticketing or timings for this specific site. As a planning estimate, assume roughly 8 am to 6 pm and reconfirm locally before visiting. No advance booking is needed, and there is no formal ticket counter as of October 2026.
How do I reach Hansi Fort from Delhi?
From Delhi, drive or take a bus about 134 km west along NH-9 through Rohtak to Hansi, a trip of roughly 3 to 3.5 hours. Trains on the Delhi–Hisar line stop at Hansi station; confirm current services on IRCTC/NTES. The nearest major airport is Delhi; Hisar’s airport has a limited network as of October 2026.
What else can I see near Hansi Fort?
Near Hansi Fort, visit Barsi Gate in the town bazaar — an early-14th-century gateway of the old fort — and the Char Qutub dargah, a Sufi tomb complex with a Tughlaq-era mosque, just west of the old town. Further out, Hisar city, the Agroha mound and the Indus Valley site of Rakhigarhi make a strong regional loop.
Is Hansi Fort worth visiting?
Hansi Fort is worth a half-day for travellers who enjoy layered ruins and quiet heritage rather than restored palaces. What survives is a protected mound with ramparts, gateways and a Baradari pavilion, best combined with Barsi Gate and the Char Qutub dargah. It suits history-minded visitors more than those seeking polished tourist sights.
Last updated and sources
Go if you like reading history off the land and pairing a fort with Sufi tombs and Harappan sites; October to March is the window. Treat timings, fees and transport as indicative and reconfirm before you travel.
Last updated: 17 October 2026. Fees, timings and permits change — reconfirm with official sources before you travel.
Sources: Hansi district administration, Government of Haryana (hansi.haryana.gov.in) on the fort, Barsi Gate and Char Qutub dargah; Haryana Tourism (haryanatourism.gov.in) on the Char Qutub dargah; Hisar district administration (hisar.gov.in) on the dargah and Agroha; news reports on the creation of Hansi district (December 2025) and on Hisar’s Maharaja Agrasen Airport operations (2025–2026); RailYatri/IRCTC for station distances. Historical background on the Chauhans, Tughlaqs, George Thomas and James Skinner from published historical records. Accessed September 2026.
