| Jhusi | |
| — city — | |
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| Coordinates | |
| Country | India |
| State | Uttar Pradesh |
| District(s) | Allahabad |
| Population | 13,633 (2001[update]) |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+05:30) |
| Area |
• 76 metres (249 ft) |
Jhusi (or Jhunsi) is a town and a nagar panchayat in Allahabad district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It was formerly called Andhernagri and Pratishthan Pur or Puri.
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Jhusi has an average elevation of 76 metres (249 ft). Jhusi is the biggest town area in Allahabad district. There is a Birla guest house and Harish-Chandra Research Institute near the bank of Ganges. This area also hosts the international headquarter of a famous spiritual organization, Vihangam Yoga on Chatnag road. This center is of great importance for meditation training apart many other things like ayurveda, acupressure etc. People come here from more than 40 countries to know more about spirituality and the path of God realization. GB Pant Social Science research center, Vishnu Temple, Ulta Kila (an old fort) are also here. The town has a huge religious importance, being at the bank of river Ganges and lying in the Kumbh Mela area
As of 2001[update] India census,[1] Jhusi had a population of 13,633. Males constitute 57% of the population and females 43%. Jhusi has an average literacy rate of 53%, lower than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 60%, and female literacy is 43%. In Jhusi, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Recently an archeological site near the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers called Jhusi yielded a C14 dating of 7100 BC for its Neolithic levels. Historically, Jhusi was known as Prathisthanpuram. It was burnt down by foreign invaders around 13-14th century and it came to be known as Jhulsi (Hindi word meaning burnt) the 'l' went missing as years passed on, became Jhusi.
Once belonging to the rulers of Mauryan, Shunga, Kushana and Gupta period, the ancient Pratisthana has lost its identity to the modernity of Jhunsi. The only evidence related to this historical fact is still visible in the shape of high mounds in Jhunsi. Surprisingly, these high mounds have further added to the significance of the city as the articles excavated from here belong to the sixth century BC and antiquities belonging to five cultural phases ranging from chalcolithic to early medieval period have been found here. As per the historians and the pre NBP ware deposit the site of Kumbh Mela is marked at this place as the earliest culture represented at the site. Early layer of this deposit has yielded iron objects. Some pottery items and antiquities are similar to those found at different chalcolithic sites in UP, Bihar and Northern Vindhyas. From the pre-NBP Ware period to the Gupta period there had been continuous settlement at the site. However, there appears to be a cultural gap between the end of Gupta period and the beginning of early medieval period. "There is every likelihood that the site may show up no gap at all when excavated extensively. This possibility is based on the strategic location of the site itself which, by virtue of the same reason, would have never been abandoned after having been once occupied. The excavations in the area only hint at the above fact. The ruins of ancient Pratishthana which are represented by the high mounds of Jhunsi on the eastern bank of Ganges are spread over an area of about four square miles. Pratishthana was the most important locality of Prayag and it was founded by king Ila and was the capital of Pururavas and other kings of Lunar dynasty Kalidasa too mentions about Pratishthana in his drama Vikramor-vasiyam. He has given an imaginary account of this palace of Pururavas which was magnificent. Various myths are also associated with this site. An inscription of Trilochanapala, the Pratihara king, was discovered from the site in 1830. In his book, VN Pandey mentions that the naming of Jhunsi too has a legend associated with it. It was once ruled by Har-bonga, an imbecile and foolish king in whose reign chaos prevailed everywhere. When the cup of his inequity was full there was an upheaval on the earth and the capital Pratishthana was turned upside down hence now known as 'Ulta Quila'.
There was conflagration which completed the destruction of the city and the ruins went by the name of Jhunsi, a burnt town from the Hindi root 'jhulasna'. It is also said that the town was destroyed in an earthquake in 1359 CE as a result of the invocations of saint Maqdoom Shah Taqiuddin whose tomb lies on one side of the fortress. The traditions relating to the scattering of Brahmana and Kshatriya clans abandoning their homes in Jhunsi and emigrating to distant places during the medieval period lend colour to this theory. There is also the historical and sacred Samudrakoop here which has its own story. "It is known as Samudrakoop since it belongs to the period of Samudragupta. In fact five such wells are found in Ujjain, Mathura, Prayag(Allahabad), Varanasi and Patalpur. It was dumped with garbage once but the efforts of a sage Dayaram brought its historical importance to limelight." Research on lost heritage of Allahabad under Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) suggests that the site is slowly losing its identity on account of continuous erosion of Ganges river. "The high mound, which belong to Kushana period, has few bricks exposed right now".
Jhunsi is important for its nearness to the Ganges. Tourists found it interesting seeing the old historical buildings here. The mighty Samudrakoop which was probably built by King Samudragupta, is significant for the water in this well that never dries. It is believed that this well is connected directly to the oceans. One interesting thing is that on dropping a coin in this well anyway, the coin follows a spiral path and sinks at the centre of the well. Even if you drop a stone in this well you hear sounds of coins instead of the water into which it has fallen. It is believed that bathing by the mighty water of this well on a full moon day leads to prosperity and happiness.
Another important thing to look here is the fort of king Puru. Archeological department found old coins and utensils in this area. There is a hanuman cave in this fort which is itself awesome to see. Near this fort is located a mysterious tree that Muslims believe that their priest shah Mohammed Magdoom Taqiuddin Ali Murtaza "Taki Baba" planted when he arrived in Jhunsi hundreds of years ago to preach Islam. The tree belongs to baobab family and is very rare (Adansonia Digitata).
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