The
great heroine of the First war of India Freedom. She lived for only
twenty-two years. She became a widow in her eighteenth year. Jhansi, of
which she was the queen, was in the grip of the cunning, cruel British.
She was the embodiment of patriotism, self-respect and heroism. She was
the queen of a small state, but the empress of a limitless empire of
glory.
The Story Of Jhansi
Jhansi
is now the headquarters of a district in Uttar Pradesh. There were two
conditions in the treaty between the British and the Raja of Jhansi –
the first, that, whenever the British needed help Jhansi should help
them, and, the second, that the consent of the British was necessary to
decide who should be the ruler of Jhansi. So the seed of total ruin was
sown.
In 1838 the British appointed Gangadhar Rao as the Raja.
The
former Raja Raghunath Rao had left the treasury empty. The
administration had collapsed and the people had no place. Gangadhar Rao
quickly set right everything.
The place acquired more
cattle, elephant and horses. The armoury was well stocked with arms and
ammunition. The army had five thousand infantry and five hundred
cavalry; and these were supported by artillery.
But the British army was also stationed in the State. On this account alone the treasury was spending rupees 2,27,000Jhansi city, situated between the rivers Pahunj and Betwa is a symbol of bravery, courage and self respect. It is said that in ancient times Jhansi was a part of the regions Chedi Rashtra, Jejak Bhukit, Jajhoti and Bundelkhand.
Jhansi was a stronghold of the Chandela kings. Balwant Nagar was the name of this place. But in 11th. century Jhansi lost its importance. In 17th. century under Raja Bir Singh Deo of Orchha Jhansi again rose to prominence. Raja Bir Singh Deo had good relations with the mughal emperor Jehangir. In 1613 Raja Bir Singh Deo constructed the Jhansi fort. He died in 1627. After his death his son Juhar Singh succeeded him.
Maharaja Chattrasal Bundela of Panna was a good administrator and a brave warrior. In 1729 Mohammed Khan Bangash attacked Chattrasal. Peshwa Baji Rao(I ) helped Maharaja Chattrasal and defeated mughal army. As a mark of gratitude Maharaja Chattrasal offered a part of his state to Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao(I). Jhansi was also included in this part.
In 1742 Naroshanker was made the subedar of Jhansi. During his tenure of 15 years he not only extended the Jhansi fort which was of strategic importance but also constructed some other buildings. The extended part of the fort is called Shankergarh. In 1757 Naroshanker was called back by the Peshwa. After him Madhav Govind Kakirde and then Babulal Kanahai were made the subedars of Jhansi.
In 1766 Vishwas Rao Laxman was made the subedar of Jhansi. His period was from 1766 to 1769. After him Raghunath Rao (II) Newalkar was appointed the subedar of Jhansi. He was a very able administrator. He increased the revenue of the state. The MahaLakshmi Temple and the Raghunath Temple were built by him. For his own residence he constructed a beautiful building Rani Mahal in the city. In 1796 Raghunath Rao passed the subedari in favour of his brother ShivRao Hari.
In 1803 a treaty was signed between East India company and Maratha.
After the death of Shiv Rao his grand son Ramchandra Rao was made subedar of Jhansi. He was not a good administrator. Ramchandra Rao died in 1835. After his death Raghunath Rao (III) was made his successor. In 1838 Raghunath Rao (III) also died. The British rulers then accepted Gangadhar Rao as the Raja of Jhansi. Due to the inefficient administration during the period of Raghunath Rao (III) the financial position of Jhansi was very critical.
Raja Gangadhar Rao was a very good administrator. He was very generous and full of sympathy. He gave very good administration to Jhansi. During his period the local population of Jhansi was very satisfied.
In 1842 Raja Gangadhar Rao married Mannikarnika. After this marriage Mannikarnika was given the new name Lakshmi Bai, who led forces against British in 1857. She sacrificed her life to the cause of Indian Independence in 1858.
In 1861 the British Government gave the Jhansi fort and Jhansi city to JiyajiRao Scindia. Jhansi was then became a part of Gwalior state. In 1886 Britishers took back Jhansi from Gwalior state.
In independent India Jhansi was included in Uttar Pradesh. At present Jhansi is a Divisional Commissioner's Headquarter including district Jhansi, Lalitpur and Jalaun.
Jhansi
Lying at a distance of 292 Kms from Lucknow and about 415 Kms from Delhi. Jhansi is the gateway to Bundelkhand. The city is more popularly linked with the heroics of Rani Laxmi Bai, the fiery queen who fought against the Britishers in the 1857 revolt. Located on a rocky hill, the Jhansi fort was built originally in 1613 by Raja Bir Singh Ja Deo and has a marvelous collection of sculptures reflecting a excellent insight into the grand history of Bundelkhand. A fine collection of sculptures belonging to the period between 9th and 12th centuries A.D. has been housed in the Rani Mahal.
Jhansi also has a museum of regional antiques, viz., terra-cotta, bronzes, sculptures, arms, manuscripts, paintings and coins of gold, silver and copper. For Travelmasti, go for some rewarding excursions in the area, like Orcha, shivpuri, Deogarh and of course Khajuraho.
The Rani of Jhansi
Rani Lakshmi Bai, better known as the Rani, or queen, of Jhansi was one of the great nationalist heroines of pre-independence India. Born the daughter of a Benares Brahmin, she was married off to Raja Gangadhar of Jhansi, but never bore him children – a fact exploited by the British to force her and her adopted baby son into retirement in 1853. The Rani retaliated in 1857, the year of "Mutiny", by leading her personal bodyguard of five hundred Afghan-Pathan warriors to seize Jhansi fort. The British dispatched troops to see off the insurgents, but took seventeen days to blow a beach in the walls of the citadel. Three days of fierce hand-to-hand fighting ensued, in which five thousand soldiers were killed. With her son strapped tightly to her back, the Rani somehow managed to slip through the British net and rejoin the main rebel army at Gwalior, where she rode to her death, dressed as a man… using her sword with both hands and holding the reins of her horse in her mouth".
Statues of Rani Jhansi in this heroic pose stand all over northern India. For many in the Independence movement, she was India’s Joan of Arc; a martyr and icon whose example set in motion the freedom struggle that eventually rid the subcontinent to its colonial rulers.
Area : 14 Sq. km.
Population : 379000 (1991 census)
Altitude : 211 meters above sea level.
Season : October-March.
Clothing (Summer) : Cottons ; (Winters) : Woolens
Language : Hindi, Bundeli & English.
Local Transport : Taxis, Tempo-rickshaw, Tourist Cabs.
STD Code : 0517
Jhansi Fort
The 17th century fort was made by Raja Bir Singh on top of a hill as an army stronghold. The Karak Bijli tank is within the fort. There is also a museum which has a collection of sculpture and provides an insight into the history of Bundelkhand.
Government Museum, Jhansi
Weapons, statues, dresses and photographs that represents the Chandela dynasty and a picture gallery of the Gupta period are the highlights. There are also terracottas, bronzes, manuscripts, paintings and coins. Closed on Mondays and second Saturday of every month.
Rani Mahal
The palace of Rani Laxmi Bai has now been converted into a museum. It houses a collection of archaeological remains of the period between 9th and 12th centuries AD.
Other Places of Interest
Laxmi Tal, Gangadhar Rao-Ki-Chhatri, Shri Kali Temple, Laxmi Bai Park.
Air
Nearest airport is Gwalior Airport – 98 km.
Rail
Jhansi is well connected by an excellent railway network. Shatabadi Express (2001/2002) is one of the fastest luxury trains in India, provides the easiest access to the Jhansi from important stations between Delhi and Bhopal. Other important rail services to Jhansi are:
2137/2138 Punjab Mail (Firozpur/Delhi-Mumbai)
1057/1058 Dadar-Amritsar Express (Mumbai).
4677/4678 Jhelum Express (Jammu Tawi-Pune)
2627/2628 Karnataka Express (Delhi-Bangalore)
4067/4068 Malwa Express (New Delhi-Indore)
1449/1450 Mahakaushal Express (New Delhi-Jabalpur)
2615/2616 G.T. Express (New Delhi-Chennai)
2621/2622 Tamil Nadu Express (New Delhi-Chennai)
2723/2724 A.P. Express (New Delhi-Secundrabad)
6687/6688 Navyug Express (Jammu Tawi/Delhi-Mangalore)
4309/4310 Dehradun-Ujjain Express
7021/7022 Delhi-Hyderabad Dakshin Express
1107/1108 Bundelkhand Express (Varanasi-Gwalior)
1015/1016 Kushinagar Express (Mumbai-Gorakhpur).
Road
Jhansi, on National Highway No. 25 and 26, is linked by a good network of roads. Some major road distances are:
Agra – 221 km.; Khajuraho – 176 km.; Datia – 28 km.; Shivpuri – 100 km.; Kalpi – 142 km; Gorakhpur – 563 km.; Lucknow – 297 km.; Kanpur – 220 km.; Lalitpur – 93 km.; Delhi – 414 km
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