JHANSI: THE LAND OF VEERANGANA LAKSHMI BAI & MY HOMECITY

 

Everyone adores their hometown because it is where they have lived their entire lives. Today I'm going to tell you about Jhansi and the places that attract tourists and local people. Jhansi was a well-known city during its historical times. It is situated in the Bundelkhand region, between the Pahuj and the Betwa rivers. It is best visited between the months of November and March, when the temperature is cool.

Jhansi is historically significant because of the famous fighter "Lakshmi Bai: The Queen of Jhansi," who bravely fought multiple battles against the British. She perished in a war when she was only twenty-two years old. Her patriotism, courage, and heroism are still remembered today. Subhadra Kumari Chauhan, an Indian poet, wrote "Jhansi Ki Rani" in honour of Lakshmi Bai, a poem that is taught in every school. On November 24, 2021, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath declared Jhansi Railway Station (JHS) with the new name Veerangana Lakshmibai (VJLB) Railway Station in honour of the renowned Queen of Jhansi.

Jhansi is a prominent tourist attraction in the state of Uttar Pradesh. It is not only famous for its forts and palaces, but it also hosts a number of festivals and exhibitions each year, as well as some sacred spots that fulfil people's wishes, etc. The places listed below are must-sees for anyone visiting Jhansi at least once.

1.  JHANSI FORT

Jhansi Fort, also known as Jhansi ka Kila, was the epicentre of India's first revolt for independence in 1857. King Bir Singh Deo of Orchha built the Jhansi Fort as an army stronghold in the 17th century. Every Indian child must have learned in school about Rani Lakshmi Bai (the Queen of Jhansi), who fought against the British East India Company during the revolt of 1857. On April 4, 1858, the company took over the fort. The British handed Jhansi over to Jiyaji Rao Scindhia, the Maharaja of Gwalior, in 1861, but took it back in 1886.

The Jhansi Fort covers an area of 15 acres with ten gates: Khanderao Gate, Datia Gate, Unnao Gate, Jharna Gate, Laxmi Gate, Sagar Gate, Orchha Gate, Sainyar Gate, Baragaon Gate, and Bhander Gate.

In the final days of the fight, Ghulam Gaus Khan, Moti Bai, and horse rider Khuda Baksh fought against the British till their last breath. Their tombs are located inside the Fort Complex. Other well-worth-visiting places within the main fort area are:

Karak Bijli Cannon	This cannon, a major attraction within the fort, was operated by Ghulam Gaus Khan.
Rani’s Amod Garden Place	The fort garden was later turned into the British Armoury.
Shiv Temple	It was inside the fort, and Rani visited it every day to worship. On Shivratri, a large crowd gathered to worship the granite shivlinga.
Ganesha Temple	It is located within the fort where Gangadhar Rao married Rani Jhansi.
Kal Kothari	A prison room was constructed by the Marathas and used by the British for the same purpose.
Panch Mahal	Rani primarily used the ground floor of the five-story Panch Mahal as a conference room. Rani stayed in the first-floor corner room.
Flag Hoisting Point	The fort's highest peak is where the flag is hoisted today.
Jumping Point	Rani jumped with her son to escape the British at the jumping spot.
Hanging Tower	It was used during the time of King Gangadhar, and was later closed by the queen.

Every evening, for one hour, a sound and light show is performed in the fort, chronicling the life and history of Rani Lakshmi Bai in both English and Hindi.

Places to visit near Jhansi Fort:

#  RANI MAHAL

It takes less than one kilometre walk to reach Rani Mahal from Jhansi Fort. Rani Mahal was a pivotal figure in India's freedom struggle history. Subedar Raghunath Rao (II) Newalkar constructed this palace, which is roughly 300 metres from the fort's city gate. After the death of Raja Gangadhar Rao, Laxmi Bai chose it as her home. It is a two-storey building with a quadrangular courtyard on each side with a tiny well and a fountain.

The Palace is now converted into an ASI (Archaeological Survey of India)-protected museum, where we can see preserved historical artefacts as well as small antiques from Lakshmi Bai's reign. The Durbar Hall is lavishly decorated with brightly coloured paintings depicting varied flora, wildlife, and geometrical patterns. The ground floor of the palace has stone sculptures from the time period of the Guptas to the Medieval eras, which were collected from Madanpur, Barua Sagar, Dudhai, and Chandpur. The palace's spacious courtyards and arched chambers are embellished with multi-coloured art and paintings on the walls and ceilings that reflect the distinctive Bundelkhand architecture. 

#  LAKSHMI TAL

This lake was constructed in the name of the Queen of Jhansi, Lakshmi Bai. It was built during the early 18th century, and was the main source of water supply that reached inside the fort to flourish. It is surrounded by various monuments, parks, and temples built during the historical era.

This Tal lies in the middle, with Mahalakshmi temple on its banks, Maa Kali temple on the west, Narayan Bagh state gardens on the east, and Raja Gangadhar Rao Samadhi on the other side.

A. Mahalakshmi Temple

The name of the temple has nothing to do with Rani Lakshmi Bai, as it was built long before she was married to Raja Gangadhar Rao. The Mahalakshmi Temple is one of the oldest temples devoted to Goddess Lakshmi. As we can see in the above image, it is situated near to Lakshmi Tal. In 1766, Vishwas Rao Laxman was the Subedar of Jhansi; after him, Ragunath Rao Newalkar succeeded to the throne. He built the Mahalakshmi Temple in Jhansi. This temple comes under heritage sites due to its beautiful architecture that is adorned with sculptures of Hindu deities and intricate carvings.

B. Maa Kali Mata Temple

This Maa Kali Mata Temple can be found just outside Jhansi Laxmi Gate. This is the only statue in the country where Maa Kali's tongue is inside her mouth. Typically, their tongue protrudes from the idol. This temple is a holy spot where people's wishes are fulfilled only when they visit her idol. Rani Lakshmi Bai used to accompany her husband to visit Mother Kali.

C. Raja Gangadhar Rao Samadhi

The Samadhi of Maharaja Gangadhar Rao is situated near the Mahalakshmi temple, besides Laxmi Tal. In 1853, it was built after the death of Maharaja Gangadhar Rao by his wife, Maharani Lakshmi Bai. It was surrounded by lush green gardens and a square-structured pond attached to the samadhi. The samadhi of Raja Gangadhar Rao is at a distance of 2 km from the Jhansi Fort.

#  GOVERNMENT MUSEUM OF JHANSI

This museum, dedicated to Rani Lakshmi Bai, not only depicts the history of Jhansi but also the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh. It is located at Jhokan Bagh, which is 950 metres from the centre of Jhansi, and it takes nearly a minute from the Jhansi fort. Because of India's rich cultural past, notably in Jhansi, the Jhansi museum has grown into one of the state's most popular tourist destinations. The gallery dedicated to Rani Lakshmi Bai is the main attraction of this place in Jhansi. The museum displays photographs that trace its history back to the 1857 rebellion. The museum also houses coins, terracotta, manuscripts, coins, and paintings.

2. FESTIVALS/EXHIBITIONS

#  JHANSI MAHOTSAV 

If you visit Jhansi between January and March, you will get the opportunity to see Jhansi Mahotsav, the city's greatest entertainment fair, which is jointly hosted by the district administration and the UP Tourism Board, and where people come to learn about Bundelkhand's culture and traditions. 

Every year, the Jhansi Mahotsav is conducted to honour the brave Queen of Jhansi, Lakshmi Bai. It basically features a craft mela and cultural events.

Furthermore, the Jhansi Mahotsav promotes Ayurvedic products and their therapeutic properties to the general public, which are widely available throughout India.

#  VEGETABLE & FLOWER EXHIBITION, NARAYAN BAGH

The state government organises festivals and events every year to preserve their culture and market their agricultural products around the world. Every year in February, the government hosts a three-day flower and vegetable exhibition at Narayan Bagh, Jhansi, to highlight their home-grown farming products. 

Narayan Bagh is well-known for its agricultural farming and nursery, which are stretched over a large expanse of greenery and have a diverse range of vegetables, fruits, and flowers, including rare species. Every day, many people come here to relax in a pollution-free environment and to enjoy the park's natural beauty and rich green vegetation.

#  ARMS EXHIBITION

The UP government and the Ministry of Defence Affairs hosted a three-day arms exhibition at the Hathi Ground, Jhansi, from November 17 to 19, where the Army, Airforce, and Navy displayed various weapons and provided visitors a briefing on them. On the occasion of Rashtra Raksha Samarpan Parv, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh opened an exhibit for the country's national security and defence sector. On the occasion of Rashtra Raksha Samarpan Parv, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh introduced this exhibit for the country's national security and defence sector.

 

Arm Exhibition at Hathi Ground, Jhansi

On the occasion of Rani Lakshmi Bai's birth anniversary (19 November), the Defence Minister recalled how Rani Lakshmi Bai provided new dimensions to women's power who fought valiantly against the British in the battle. By using her as an example, he opened the three wings of the armed forces as well as the NDA platform for women in India. In addition, an advisory was published stating that at least 33% of police officers should be women.

3. SACRED & RELIGIOUS SPOTS

#  St. JUDE SHRINE

The shrine here is dedicated to St. Jude Thaddaeus, who is recognised as the patron saint of all hopeless cases throughout Asia. St. Jude's Shrine is not only famous for Catholic Christians but also brings tourists from all across the country, especially during the 9 days of Novena (October 19 to 27) and on the occasion of St. Jude's Feast, held on October 28.

This is the largest shrine in Asia where the prayers of those that have been unfulfilled for a long time will be fulfilled by praying here. 

# SHRI SHRI  1008 SHRI SAKHI KE HANUMAN JI TEMPLE

Sakhi Ke Hanuman Temple is located on the Jhansi-Kanpur Highway, approximately 13 kilometres from Jhansi Railway Station and around 99 kilometres south of Gwalior. Thousands of devotees visit this 500-year-old temple, which is the only temple in the world where Hanuman ji is seated in "Sakhi" roop with a mace in both hands. The temple is spread out over a large area, and we can see the idols of Radharani, Lord Krishna, Lord Shankar, Goddess Parvati, Ram-Sita, and other deities. 

Devotees tie one coconut to the back of the temple and offer a gong (ghanta) in the temple when Lord Hanuman answers their prayers. The priest explains that this temple has a history. Sakhi Baba, a saint, lived in Orchha about 500 years ago. In his dream, he saw a statue of Lord Hanuman. In his dream, Sakhi Baba discovered Hanumanji's idol in Sakhi's appearances at a place. He loaded the idol into his bullock cart and proceeded. 

When he arrived near Jhansi, it was almost dark, so he chose to rest by placing the statue under a peepal tree. When he was preparing to depart the next day, the wheel of his bullock cart fell out. As a result, he had to stay there for a day to get it fixed. During this time, he got a dream that he should not go too far with the idol. The following day, Sakhi Baba placed the idol there. Since then, this temple has stood here and is known as temple of the Sakhi ke Hanuman Maharaj. The Ramayana also has a description of Hanumanji Sakhi roop.

# THE PANCHKUIAN TEMPLE

The Dakshin-Mukhi (South-faced) Panchkuiyan temple in Jhansi, located in Indrapuri near Jeevan Shah Chouraha, is one of the city's oldest temples. The Goddess always showers her blessings on her worshippers who have a strong belief that by presenting her with merely a single flower and coconut, the mata will fulfil all of their wishes. The temple was given the name "Panchkuiyan" because it was surrounded by five wells. This temple is also known as the Sheetla Mata temple. During Navratri, a large number of devotees come here to worship, and a fair (mela) is held in the temple area in the months of Sharad and Chaitra, where different shops of cosmetic items, utensils, etc., jhulas for kids, and other products related to daily use are arranged by local people as well as shopkeepers from nearby cities.

Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi also came here to worship before fighting in the war against the British rulers.

The above mentioned are the most visited and famous tourist attractions in Jhansi. 

I hope that those who have yet to visit Jhansi will be encouraged by my post. I'm sure the Jhansiwala's appreciated it since it reminded them of their time here.  Please let me know if I have missed any place.
There are numerous weekend gateways near Jhansi that make for an ideal short excursion. The places to visit near Jhansi and weekend getaways near Jhansi will be the subject of my future article.

#Jhansi #VeeranganaLakshmiBai #Bundelkhand