Banawali, formerly known as Vanawali, is one of most important archaeological sites of Haryana. This ancient mound is located 15 km north-west of Fatehabad, on the right bank of the Saraswati River. Spread over an area of 400 sq m, it is perched at an altitude of 10 m.
A well-constructed fort town of the Harappan period overlying an extensive proto-urban settlement of the pre-Harappan culture was discovered here in recent excavations done by the Department of Archaeology.
The excavations yielded many ancient relics, which speak highly of the level of socioeconomic existence and aesthetic taste of the people. The inhabitants of this site lived in brick houses. The houses were built roughly along cardinal directions and points to definite town planning.
Certain figurines of mother goddess (set in terracotta) were also excavated along with stone beads of gold, semi-precious stones and steatite, and bangles of clay, shell, faience and copper.
Banawali is about 120 km east of Kalibangan. By road, Banawali is linked with Fatehabad, Bhattu and Ratia. Bhattu Railway Station, on the Hissar-Sirsa line, is the nearest railhead.
