Wonder India: Jhansi

Jhansi

Jhansi Fort , Jhansi , Uttar Pradesh

Jhansi is a historic city in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. In the 18th century, the town of Jhansi served as the capital of a Maratha province and later the Princely State of Jhansi from 1804 till 1853, when the territory became a part of British India.

How to reach:

There are no regular flights from other major cities of the country to Jhansi. Gwalior Airport is the nearest airport. The city is well connected to the other major cities of the country via regular trains as well as buses.

Gwalior Air Port , Madhya Pradesh

Old picture of Jhansi

History:

The original city grew around its stone fort which crowns a neighbouring rock. The ancient name of the city was Balwantnagar. From 1817 to 1854, Jhansi was the capital of the princely state of Jhansi which was ruled by Gurjar rajas.

The state was annexed by the British Governor General in 1854; Damodar Rao's claim to the throne was rejected but Rani Lakshmibai ruled it from June 1857 to June 1858. On 10 May 1857 the Indian Rebellion started in Meerut. Jhansi was one the major cities which supported the revolt and Lakshmibai rose to fame due to her heroic deeds during the crisis.

Damodar Rao

On 17 June in Kotah-ki-Serai near the Phool Bagh of Gwalior, a squadron of the 8th (King's Royal Irish) Hussars, under Captain Heneage, fought the large Indian force commanded by Rani Lakshmibai, who was trying to leave the area. The 8th Hussars charged into the Indian force, slaughtering 5,000 Indian soldiers, including any Indian "over the age of 16". In this engagement, Rani Lakshmibai was killed by the British soldiers.

Kotah-ki-Serai

Places of Interest:

• Rani Mahal: Rani Mahal in Jhansi, translating to the queen's palace, is the former residence and royal palace of Rani Lakshmi Bai.

Rani Mahal

• Jhansi Fort: The Jhansi Fort is located at the top of Bagira, a hill situated in Uttar Pradesh in the northern part of India. It is a 17th-century architectural monument that has undergone royal construction followed by massive destruction in the first War of Independence against the British East India Company.

Jhansi Fort

• Jhansi Museum: Jhansi Museum is one of the iconic museums of India constructed around the late 19th century that helps us to track down the roots of Indian history of colonial India.

Jhansi Museum

• The Cenotaph of Raja Gangadhar Rao: The Cenotaph of Raja Gangadhar Rao, the Raja of Jhansi, was built after his death by his queen, Rani Lakshmibai in 1853.

The Cenotaph of Raja Gangadhar Rao

• Orchha Fort Complex: The small town of Orchha situated 16 km from Jhansi in Madhya Pradesh emanates an architecturally historicized complex called the Orchha Fort Complex. It was built in 1501 AD by Raja Rudra Pratap Singh of the Bundela dynasty.

Orchha Fort Complex

Interesting facts:

• Also called the Gateway to Bundelkhand, Jhansi is situated between the rivers Pahuj and Betwa.

• In the British report of the battle of 17th June, Hugh Rose commented that Rani Lakshmibai is "personable, clever and beautiful" and she is "the most dangerous of all Indian leaders"

• Movies which are filmed in or associated with Jhansi include: Jhansi Ki Rani (1953 film), Raavan (2010 film) and Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi (2019 film).