Jhansi Fort, also known as Jhansi ka Kila, is an imposing fort in Uttar Pradesh that sits on a large hilltop known as Bangira. From the 11th through the 17th century, it served as a significant stronghold for the Chandela Kings at Balwant Nagar. The Jhansi Fort is located in the heart of the city of Jhansi. The nearest railway station is three kilometres distant, while the nearest airport is 103 kilometres away at Gwalior. You may can reach this fort by taking the Jhansi Museum Bus Top.
The Jhansi Fort is easily accessible because the town of Jhansi has grown up around it. The Fort is set on a hilltop, close to all main landmarks and tourist attractions, making it convenient for all guests. The renowned Kadak Bijli cannon, which was controlled by Gulam Gaus Khan, greets visitors at the Jhansi Fort's entrance. According to local guides, the renowned Moti Bai woman gunner was in charge of the Bhawani Shankar cannon! Both soldiers gave their life in the service of Her Majesty.
Previously, the Jhansi Fort compound was subject to overgrowth and bats. Following the Maharaja's demise, Rani Laxmi Bai relocated outside to the Rani Mahal. This former royal home has been transformed into a museum housing a stunning collection of sculptures dating back to AD 9. The restoration of Jhansi Fort took a long period and a lot of hard work from the ASI.
In its early years, the Maharani Jhansi Fort was of vital strategic importance. It was built on the rocky summit of Bangra in Balwant Nagar town, which is now known as Jhansi, by Raja Bir Singh Ju Deo (1606-27) of Orchha. For this Fort, there are ten darwazas, or gates.
History: Jhansi Fort
Veer Singh Ju Deo Bundela, the head of the Bundela Rajputs and the ruler of the Orchha Kingdom, may have built the Jhansi Fort around 1613. For the Bundela monarchs, it was one of the most important defences. In 1728, Mohammed Khan Bangash assaulted Maharaja Chhatrasal. Peshwa Bajirao aided him in his victory over the invasion. Chhatrasal offered a portion of his state, including Jhansi, to the Peshwa as a sign of gratitude for their assistance. In 1742, Naroshanker was appointed Subedar of Jhansi. During his 15-year reign, he expanded the Jhansi Fort, which is now known as Shankargarh. In 1757, the Peshwa summoned him, and Madhav Govind Kakirde and Babulal Kanahai became the Subedars of Jhansi.
From 1766 to 1769, Vishwas Rao Laxman was in charge, followed by Raghunath Rao (II) Newalkar. While building the Raghunath and Mahalakshmi temples, he improved the region's revenue. Following Shiv Rao's death, his grandson Ramchandra Rao assumed command of Jhansi. He died in 1835, and his successor, Raghunath Rao (III), died in 1838. Gangadhar Rao was appointed as the Jhansi Raja by the British overlords. The previous rulers' inept governance had already put Jhansi's finances in jeopardy. Gangadhar Rao was a generous monarch who was well-liked by his subjects. In 1842, he married Manikarnika Tambe and gave her the name Lakshmi Bai. Damodar Rao, a son, was born to her in 1851, but he died after only four months. Anand Rao, the maharaja's son, was also adopted. Damodar Rao was his new name, and he was Gangadhar Rao's cousin's son. On the day before the maharaja's death, he was renamed.
A British political officer was present during the adoption and had a letter from the maharaja stating that the kid should be treated with dignity and that the governance of Jhansi should be handed over to his widow for the rest of her life. Because Damodar Rao was an adopted child after the ruler's death in November 1853, the British East India Company, led by Governor-General Lord Dalhousie, devised the Doctrine of Lapse. They annexed the state after rejecting Damodar Rao's claim to the empire. In 1854, Lakshmi Bai was given a Rs 60,000 annual annuity and told to leave both the Fort and the palace. In 1857, a revolution against the British erupted, and she took command of the fort, commanding the Jhansi army against the East India Company.
Throughout March and early April 1858, company forces led by general Hugh Rose besieged the Jhansi Fort, which was finally surrendered on April 4, 1858. Rani Lakshmi Bai fought valiantly and fled by leaping from the Jhansi Fort on horseback before the city was pillaged by British forces. In 1861, the British administration surrendered Jhansi city and the fort to Jiyaji Rao Scindia, the Maharaja of Gwalior, but it was later recaptured back by the British in 1868.
In addition, the Jhansi Fort is close to a number of other tourist sites. The Raja Ram Temple, Laxmi Narayan Temple, Rani Mahal, and Chaturbhuj Temple are among them, as is the Orcha village with its tranquil atmosphere. The Jhansi Fort was also the subject of a famous image made by Indore's Lala Deen Diyal in 1882. This image is titled 'Photograph of the Fort of Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh,' and it appears in the acclaimed Lee-Warner Collection's 'Scenes and Sculptures of Central India.'
The Fort of Jhansi: Facts and Figures
Unnao Gate, Khanderao Gate, Jharna Gate, Datia Darwaza, Chand Gate, Laxmi Gate, Orchha Gate, Sagar Gate, and Sainyar Gate are among the prominent gates. The Karak Bijli Top or tank, as well as the Shiv temple, Rani Jhansi garden, and the mazar for Ghulam Gaus Khan, Khuda Baksh, and Moti Bai, are all located within the major fort area. The Jhansi Fort boasts a collection of exquisite sculptures that provide insight into the fort's long history.
The Fort played an important role in the insurrection of 1857, and it was also the site of the combat led by Rani Lakshmi Bai. Lord Ganesha and Lord Shiva temples are located within the fort complex, as are the queen's Karak Bijli and Bhawani Shankar cannons. There is also a museum with a sculpture collection. It offers fascinating insights into Bundelkhand's history, as well as a magnificent diorama depicting the fight in which the Rani of Jhansi gave her life to save her compatriots from the British Raj. Here are some further facts regarding the Jhansi Fort:
The Fort demonstrates how the construction style of north Indian hill forts differs from that of south India. The majority of the latter's forts, such as Kerala's Bekal Fort, are built on seabeds.
The granite walls of the Jhansi Fort are 16-20 feet thick, and the city walls meet on the southern side. The Fort’s southern face is near-perpendicular.
There are 10 gates in all, some of which have been named above.
The Kadak Bijli Cannon was used in the 1857 revolt and is still housed in the Fort, while the memorial board speaks of Rani Lakshmi Bai and her adventures, including legends of her jumping from the building on horseback.
The Rani Mahal, which was erected in the late nineteenth century and now houses an archaeological museum, is close by.
The Fort is 15 acres in size and measures 225 metres in breadth and 312 metres in length.
On two sides, a robust wall and a surrounding moat are present, with 22 supporting structures. The British damaged the eastern side support and later repaired it, as well as adding additional level for the Panch Mahal.
Every year in January-February, the fort hosts a big Jhansi Mahotsav, which is attended by a number of artists, playwrights, performers, and prominent people of the country.