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Jhansi
Jhansi is a city of Uttar Pradesh state of northern India. Jhansi is a major road and rail junction, and is the administrative seat of Jhansi District and Jhansi Division. The original walled city grew up around its stone fort, which crowns a neighboring rock.
The National Highway Development Project, initiated by the government of Atal Behari Vajpayee, has sparked Jhansi's development. The North-South Corridor connecting Kashmir to Kanyakumari passes through Jhansi. The East-West corridor also goes through this city, so there has been a sudden rush to infrastructure and real estate development in the city. A greenfield airport is also on the anvil.
History
In the 9th century, the region of Jhansi came under the rule of the Rajput Chandela dynasty of Khajuraho. The artificial reservoirs and architectural remains probably date from this era. The Chandelas were succeeded by the Khangars, who built the nearby fort of Karar. About the fourteenth century the Bundelas poured down upon the plains from the Vindhya Range, and gradually spread themselves over the whole of the Bundelkhand region which now bears their name. The fortress of Jhansi was built by the ruler of Orchha state in 1610. Legend says that when a king of Orchha saw a shadow ('jhain' in bundelkhand) on a distant mound, he is said to have called it jhain-si (kind of shadow). Jhansi got its name from this utterance.
The Muslim governors of the Mughal empire were constantly making incursions into the Bundela country. In 1732 Chhatrasal, the Bundela king, called in the aid of the Hindu Marathas. They came to his assistance, and were rewarded by the bequest of one-third of the Maharaja's dominions upon his death two years later. The Maratha general developed the city of Jhansi, and peopled it with inhabitants from Orchha state. In 1806 British protection was promised to the Maratha chief. In 1817, however, the Peshwa in Pune ceded all his rights over Bundelkhand to the British East India Company. In 1853 the Raja of Jhansi died childless, and his territory was annexed by the Governor-General of India. The Jhansi state and the Jalaun and Chanderi districts were then formed into a superintendency. Rani Lakshmibai, widow of the Raja, protested the annexation because she was not allowed to adopt an heir (as was customary), and because the slaughter of cattle was permitted in the Jhansi territory.
The Revolt of 1857 accordingly found Jhansi ripe for rebellion. In June a few men of the 12th Native Infantry seized the fort containing the treasure and magazine, and massacred the European officers of the garrison along with their wives and children. Rani Lakshmi Bai put herself at the head of the rebels and died bravely in battle in Gwalior. It was not until November, 1858 that Jhansi was brought under British control. It had been given to the Maharaja of Gwalior, but came under British rule in 1886 as the result of a territorial swap. Jhansi was added to the United Provinces, which became the state of Uttar Pradesh after India's Independence in 1947.
The fort standing in the hilly area shows that how the North Indian style of fort construction differentiated from that of the South.In South majority of the beautiful forts were built on the sea beds like the one at Bekal in Kerala for more details refer 'History of Bekal Fort' by Nandakumar Koroth
Geography and climate
Jhansi
Jhansi is located at 25.4333 N 78.5833 E. It has an average elevation of 284 metres (935 feet). Jhansi is located in the plateau of central India which is mainly rocky area with so much minerals underneath. The city has a natural slope in the north as it lies on the south western border of the vast Tarai plains of Uttar Pradesh. The elevation rises on the south. The land is suitable for citrus species fruits. Crops include wheat, pulses, peas, oilseeds. The region relies heavily on Monsoon rains for irrigation purposes. Under an ambitious canal project(Rajghat canal), the government is constructing a network of canals for irrigation in Jhansi and Lalitpur and some area of Madhya Pradesh.
Being on a rocky plateau, Jhansi experiences extreme temperatures. Winter begins in October with the retreat of the Southwest Monsoon (Jhansi does not experience any rainfall from the Northeast Monsoon) and peaks in mid-December. The mercury generally reads about 4 degrees minimum and 21 degrees maximum. Spring arrives by the end of February and is a short-lived phase of transition. Summer begins by April and summer temperatures can peak at 47 degrees in May. The rainy season starts by the third week of June(although this is variable year to year). Monsoon rains gradually weaken in September and the season ends by the last week of September. In the rainy season, average daily high temperature hovers around 36 degrees Celsius with high humidity. The average rainfall for this city is about 900 mm per year, observed almost entirely within the three-and-a-half months of the Southwest Monsoon.
Jhansi is a hub for medical care in the Bundelkhand region. It has a Medical which is being revamped now. The District has many new facilities to serve patients. There are plenty of private , especially in the Medical area.
Tourism
Places of interest
Jhansi Fort
Rani Mahal (Queen's Palace)
U.P. Govt. Museum
Maha Lakshmi Temple
Panchkuian Temple - very old temple, Lakshmi bai used to worship there
Ganesh Mandir
Siddheshwar Temple (Near GIC inter ) - Built by Pandit Raghunath Vinayak Dhulekar
Panchtantra Park ( attracting huge crowd)
Public Park in the cantonment area in worth visiting
Sadar Bazar market and Manik Chowk market for clothes shopping
Sarafa bazar for jewelry shopping
Cathedral of St. Anthony, seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jhansi
Excursions
Sukma-Dukma Dam: An old, long and very beautiful dam over the Betwa River, approximately 45 km from Jhansi, near Babina town. Very scenic in the post-monsoon (winter) season.
MataTila Dam: Approximately 55 km South of the Jhansi city, it's a very beautiful picnic spot. The dam is built on the river Betwa. There is a botanical garden near the dam site.
Deogarh: 123 km from Jhansi, near Lalitpur town. Situated on the Betwa River, it possesses remains of a fine Gupta period Vishnu temple and several old and beautiful Jain temples.
Orchha: 18 km from Jhansi on Jhansi-Khajuraho road, a small medieval city. It's famous for Lord Ram temple.
Khajuraho: 178 km from Jhansi. Deluxe buses ply from Jhansi railway station to Khajuraho during morning hours. Taxis are also available. One can visit Panna National Park which is 32 km from Khajuraho, and there are some waterfalls nearby.
Datia: 28 km from Jhansi on Jhansi-Gwalior-Agra-Delhi road. It's famous for the Shri Peetambra Devi temple and for a seven-storied palace built by Raja Bir Singh Ju Deo.
Shivpuri: 101 km from Jhansi. It was the summer capital of the Scindia rulers of Gwalior. It's famous for its marble chhatris (cenotaphs) built by the Scindias. There is also a big and beautiful lake with crocodiles in the beautiful Madhav National Park area where one can spot a great variety of wildlife.
Unnao/Pahuj: 18 km from Jhansi from Unnao gate. It's famous for temple and Pahuj river.
103, Shriram Bhawan, Ranjeet Nagar Commercial Complex
New Delhi 110 008.
Tel: 42030300, 25702737, Fax: 91-11-25702636
E-Mail: midtown@airtelmail.in, midtown@del2.vsnl.net.in
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