Jhansi

Jhansi झाँसी جھانسی
Mega City
View from Jhansi Fort towards the city
Nickname(s): City of Rani Lakshmi Bai Gateway to Bundelkhand
Jhansi
Coordinates: 25°26′55″N 78°34′11″E / 25.44862°N 78.56962°E / 25.44862; 78.56962Coordinates: 25°26′55″N 78°34′11″E / 25.44862°N 78.56962°E / 25.44862; 78.56962
Country	India
State	Uttar Pradesh
Region	Bundelkhand
District	Jhansi
Founded by	Raja of Orchha
Government
• MP	Mr. Pradeep Jain Adtiya (Indian National Congress)
• M.L.A.	Mr. Ravi Sharma(Bharatiya Janta Party)
• Mayor	Mrs. Kiran Verma (Bharatiya Janta Party)
• Municipal Commissioner	Mr. Arun Prakash (P.C.S.)
• D.M.	Mr. Tanvir Zafar Ali (I.A.S.)
Elevation	285 m (935 ft)
Population (2011 census)
• Mega City	1,998,603[1]
• Rank	57
• Metro	507,293[2]
Languages
• Other	Bundeli
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	284001-2-3-4
Telephone code	0510
Vehicle registration	UP-93
Sex ratio	♂ 0.892 : ♀ 1.000
Literacy	83.81%[3]
Avg. summer temperature	47 °C (117 °F)
Avg. winter temperature	4.0 °C (39.2 °F)
Website	jhansi.nic.in

Jhansi ( pronunciation (help·info)) Hindi ("झाँसी") is a historic city of northern India, located in the region of Bundelkhand on the banks of the Pahuj or Pushpavati River, in the extreme south of the state of Uttar Pradesh. Jhansi is the administrative headquarters of Jhansi District and Jhansi Division. This district is on the banks of the Betwa River. The original walled city grew up around its stone fort, which crowns a neighbouring rock. From 1817 to 1854 Jhansi was the capital of the princely state of Jhansi which was ruled by Maratha rajas.^[4]

The city is situated between the rivers Pahuj and Betwa between North longitudes 24°11´ and 25°57´and East latitudes 78°10´and 79°25´. It has an average elevation of 284 metres (935 feet). It is about 415 kilometres (258 mi) from New Delhi and 292 kilometres (181 mi) from Lucknow, and is called the Gateway to Bundelkhand.

Jhansi is well connected to all other major towns in Uttar Pradesh by road and railway networks. The National Highway Development Project has supported development of Jhansi. The north-south corridor connecting Kashmir to Kanyakumari passes through Jhansi as does the East-West corridor; consequently there has been a sudden rush to infrastructure and real estate development in the city. A greenfield airport development has been planned.^[5]

Etymology

According to a legend the Raja of Orchha was sitting on the roof of his palace with his friend, the Raja of Jaitpur, and asked the latter whether he could discern this new fort that he had built on Bangara hill, and he replied that he could see it 'jhainsi' (meaning rather indistinct). This name 'Jhainsi' in course of time became corrupted to 'Jhansi'. It was one of the most strategically situated forts of central India being built on an elevated rock rising out of the plain and commanding the city and the surrounding country.

History

Early history

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 1ST (r. 1605–1627) of Orchha (Jhansi) again rose to prominence. Raja Bir Singh Deo had good relations with the Mughal emperor Jehangir. In five year construction period (1613–1618) Raja Bir Singh Deo got constructed the Jhansi fort and around it got established a BALWANT NAGAR which lateron named jhansi. A silver rupee coin minted in the name of Balwantnagar in the reign of Shahalam 2nd for the regional year 11 is with Shri HM Dubey at Jhansi. Raja Bir Singh Ji Deo expired in 1627. After his death his son JuJhar Singh succeeded him. SHRI BIRSINGH JI DEOwas a brave king. There were 81 Pargana and 12,500 villages under his reign with a revenue of Rs 2 crores per year.

Maharaja Chattrasal Bundela of Panna was beset by incursions into the Bundela country by the Muslim governors of the Mughal empire; in 1729 Mohammed Khan Bangash attacked Chattrasal. In 1732 Chhatrasal, the Bundela king, a good administrator and a brave warrior, called in the aid of the Hindu Marathas. Peshwa Baji Rao (I) helped Maharaja Chattrasal and defeated the Mughal army, and Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao (I) was rewarded by the bequest of one-third of the Maharaja's dominions upon his death two years later (Jhansi was included in this part). The Maratha general developed the city of Jhansi, and peopled it with inhabitants from Orchha state. 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; his successor was Madhav Govind Kakirde who was himself succeeded by Babulal Kanahai. Next in the line of subedars was Vishwas Rao Laxman (1766-1769) who was followed by Raghunath Rao (II) Newalkar. He was a very able administrator and succeeded in increasing the revenue of the state. The MahaLakshmi Temple and the Raghunath Temple were built by him. In 1804 British protection was promised to the Maratha subedar resulting in his de facto independence of the Peshwa in Pune and a treaty of 1817 between the Peshwa and the British East India Company meant that he no longer claimed rights in Bundelkhand.

1817–1856

In 1817 the Maratha Peshwa in Pune had ceded all his rights over Bundelkhand to the Company. After the death of Shiv Rao in 1815, his grandson Ramchandra Rao was made successor and a 2nd treaty was made by him with the British on November 18, 1817 for hereditary rulers of the territory. He was not a good administrator. Ramchandra Rao died in 1835. After his death Raghunath Rao (III) was made his successor and the same year he was favoured with the title "Maharajahdhiraj Fidvi Badshah Jamjah Inglistan" (Great King Faithful to Great Britain). On the death of that raja his widow adopted a son of her sister which however was followed by him being passed over (which was in accordance with Hindu tradition) so that another prince became raja. The new raja Raghunath Rao (III) was so incapable and dissolute that the administration came under British control while he himself remained raja. On his death in 1838 the British rulers then accepted Gangadhar Rao (a 'natural son' of the raja) as the Raja of Jhansi in 1843. Due to the inefficient administration during the period of Raghunath Rao (III) the financial position of Jhansi was very critical. However the raja was a cultured man who was able to enrich the architecture of the city and acquire a fine library of Sanskrit manuscripts, though he was without issue.^[6] Raja Gangadhar Rao adopted a child called Anand Rao, the son of his cousin, who was renamed Damodar Rao, on the day before he died. The adoption was in the presence of the British political officer who was given a letter from the raja requesting that the child should be treated with kindness and that the government of Jhansi should be given to his widow for her lifetime. After the death of the raja in November 1853 because Damodar Rao was adopted, the British East India Company, under Governor-General Lord Dalhousie, applied the Doctrine of Lapse, rejecting Damodar Rao's claim to the throne and annexing the state to its territories. The Jhansi state and the Jalaun and Chanderi districts were then formed into a superintendency. In March 1854, Lakshmibai was given a pension of Rs. 60,000 and ordered to leave the palace and the fort.^[7] Rani Lakshmibai, widow of the Raja, petitioned the Governor General and then the British government that Damodar Rao's claim to the throne should be recognised. She was also displeased because the slaughter of cattle was now permitted in the Jhansi territory.

1857–1858

The Indian Rebellion of 1857 accordingly found Jhansi ripe for rebellion. In June a few men of the 12th Bengal Native Infantry seized the fort containing the treasure and magazine, and massacred the European officers of the garrison along with their wives and children on 8 June 1857. The massacre is commemorated in the poem 'In the Round Tower at Jhansi, 8 June 1857' by Christina Rossetti, in which a British army officer takes his wife's life and his own so that they do not have to face a horrific and dishonourable death at the hands of the rebelling sepoys.^[8] Four days after the massacre the sepoys left Jhansi having obtained a large sum of money from the Rani, and having threatened to blow up the palace where she lived. Following this as the only source of authority in the city the Rani felt obliged to assume the administration and wrote to Major Erskine, commissioner of the Saugor division explaining the events which had led her to do so.^[9] On July 2 Erskine wrote in reply that he requested her to "manage the District for the British Government" until the arrival of a British Superintendent.^[10] The Rani's forces defeated an attempt by the mutineers to assert the claim to the throne of a rival prince who was captured and imprisoned. There was then an invasion of Jhansi by the forces of Orchha and Datia (allies of the British); their intention however was to divide Jhansi between them. The Rani appealed to the British for aid but it was now believed that she was responsible for the massacre and no reply was received. She assembled forces including some from former feudatories of Jhansi and elements of the mutineers which were able to defeat the invaders in August 1857. Her intention at this time was still to hold Jhansi on behalf of the British.^[11]

From August 1857 to January 1858 Jhansi under the Rani's rule was at peace. The British had announced that troops would be sent there to maintain control but the fact that none arrived strengthened the position of a party of her advisers who wanted independence from British rule. When the British forces finally arrived in March they found it well defended and the fort had heavy guns which could fire over the town and nearby countryside. Sir Hugh Rose, commanding the British forces, demanded the surrender of the city; if this was refused it would be destroyed.^[12] After due deliberation the Rani issued a proclamation: "We fight for independence. In the words of Lord Krishna, we will if we are victorious, enjoy the fruits of victory, if defeated and killed on the field of battle, we shall surely earn eternal glory and salvation."^[13] She defended Jhansi against British troops when Sir Hugh Rose besieged Jhansi on 23 March 1858. The bombardment began on 24 March but was met by heavy return fire and the damaged defences were repaired. The defenders sent appeals for help to Tatya Tope.^[14] An army of more than 20,000, headed by Tatya Tope, was sent to relieve Jhansi but they failed to do so when they fought the British on 31 March. During the battle with Tatya Tope's forces part of the British forces continued the siege and by 2 April it was decided to launch an assault by a breach in the walls. Four columns assaulted the defences at different points and those attempting to scale the walls came under heavy fire. Two other columns had already entered the city and were approaching the palace together. Determined resistance was encountered in every street and in every room of the palace. Street fighting continued into the following day and no quarter was given, even to women and children. "No maudlin clemency was to mark the fall of the city" wrote Thomas Lowe.^[15] The Rani withdrew from the palace to the fort and after taking counsel decided that since resistance in the city was useless she must leave and join either Tatya Tope or Rao Sahib (Nana Sahib's nephew).^[16] The Rani escaped in the night with her son, surrounded by guards.^[17] The majority of the population in April 1858 (estimated at 5,000 killed) died in the massacre which followed the storming of the city.^[18]

Rani Lakshmibai died in battle at Gwalior on 17/18 June. It was not until November, 1858 that Jhansi was brought under British control.

1859–present

In 1861 the city and a dependent territory was ceded to Gwalior State and the capital of the district was moved to Jhansi Naoabad (Jhansi Refounded), a village without "cantonment" (military camp). Jhansi (the old city) became the capital of a "subah" (provínce) within the state of Gwalior, but in 1886 was returned to British rule in exchange for the Gwalior Fort and the cantonment of Morar nearby.^[19] (It had been given to the Maharaja of Gwalior, but came under British rule in 1886 as the result of a territorial swap.)

The population of Jhansi in 1901 was about 55,000 while Jhansi district's population had been about 407,000 in 1891.^[20]

Jhansi was added to the United Provinces, which became the state of Uttar Pradesh after India's independence in 1947.

Demographics

According to the 2011 census, Jhansi has a population of 8,30,293 and its Urban Agglomeration 8,30,311. Of the total population 91.5% are Hindu, 7.5% are Muslims, 0.5% are Christians and the rest 0.5% are Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists, as per 2001 census. Religious data for 2011 census as yet not revealed. Jhansi city has 85th rank among the most populated cities of India, according to the 2011 Census. The literacy rate of Jhansi is 63.81%, much lower than the national average.

Geography and climate

Jhansi is located at 25.4333 N 78.5833 E. It has an average elevation of 284 metres (935 feet).^[21] Jhansi lies on the plateau of central India, an area dominated by rocky relief and minerals underneath the soil. The city has a natural slope in the north as it is on the south western border of the vast Tarai plains of Uttar Pradesh and the elevation rises on the south. The land is suitable for species of citrus fruit and crops include wheat, pulses, peas, and oilseeds. The region relies heavily on Monsoon rains for irrigation purposes. Under an ambitious canal project (the Rajghat canal), the government is constructing a network of canals for irrigation in Jhansi and Lalitpur and some part of Madhya Pradesh. The trade in agricultural products (including grain and oilseeds) is of great economic importance.^[22] The city is also a centre of brassware manufacture.^[23]

Climate

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, the average daily high temperature hovers around 36 degrees Celsius with high humidity. The average rainfall for the city is about 900 mm per year, occurring almost entirely within the three-and-a-half months of the Southwest Monsoon. In summer Jhansi experiences temperatures as high as 45-47 degrees and in winter the temperatures fall as low as 0-1 degrees (recorded in winter 2011).

Climate data for Jhansi
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average high °C (°F)	23 (73)	27 (81)	33 (91)	39 (102)	42 (108)	40 (104)	35 (95)	33 (91)	34 (93)	34 (93)	30 (86)	25 (77)	32.9 (91.2)
Average low °C (°F)	7 (45)	11 (52)	16 (61)	21 (70)	27 (81)	29 (84)	27 (81)	26 (79)	25 (77)	19 (66)	13 (55)	8 (46)	19.1 (66.4)
Precipitation mm (inches)	17 (0.67)	8 (0.31)	8 (0.31)	2 (0.08)	5 (0.2)	94 (3.7)	287 (11.3)	309 (12.17)	177 (6.97)	37 (1.46)	5 (0.2)	6 (0.24)	955 (37.61)
Source: Jhansi Weather, Jhansi Climate

Places of interest

Jhansi Fort

The early 17th century fort was made by Raja Bir Singh on top of a hill known as Bangara 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; and Rani Mahal

In the Government Museum there are collections of weapons, statues, dresses and photographs that represent the Chandela dynasty and a picture gallery of the Gupta period. There are also terracottas, bronzes, manuscripts, paintings and coins. The museum is closed on Mondays and second Saturday of every month.

The Rani Mahal was the palace of Rani Lakshmi Bai and has now been converted into a museum. It houses a collection of archaeological remains of the period between the 9th and 12th centuries AD.

Other places of interest

Temples: Laxmi Temple; Shri Kali Temple; Karguan Jain Temple.--Christian churches: Shrine of St. Jude Church; St Antony's Cathedral.--Gangadhar Rao-Ki-Chhatri (tomb).--Laxmi Bai Park; Narayan Bagh; Jari Ka Math; Barua Sagar & Fort; Garhmau Lake.

Education

Higher education

Bundelkhand University is a public university founded in 1975 which has professional, technical and vocational study programmes along with facilities for research. The university has among others these Affiliated Colleges:

• Arya Kanya College (Sipri)
• B.J.J.R. Institute of Law (Jhansi)
• Bipin Bihari College (Jhokan Bagh)
• Bundelkhand College (Gwalior Road)
• College of Science and Engineering (Amababai)
• Dinedh Patel College^{[citation needed]}
• Sharda Devi Degree College (Jhansi)
• Swami Vivekanand College (Premnagar)
• M D College (Jhansi)
• Simit College (Jhansi)

There are also the SR Group of Institutions, Jhansi; Dr Shri Radhakrishnan Inter College Jhansi.; Lord Mahakaleshwar Inter College.

Medical colleges

Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical college Hospital Jhansi was established in 1968, is named after the “Jhansi ki Rani” Maha Rani Laxmi Bai. The aim is to provide medical care to poor people of the region, Bundelkhand. The college admits 50 students each year for medical course and nearly 54 post graduate student in various specialties. College is actively involved in various national health programs, e.g. Maternal and Child health, Integrated Child Development Scheme, Family Welfare, Pulse Polio Immunization program etc.

Campus of Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical college Hospital Jhansi –

The college building spread over a walled area of 380 acres, and this is perhaps the biggest medical college campus in the country. The building grouped into 3 blocks namely administration and teaching block, hospital block, residential block.

• Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College
• Bundelkhand Govt. Ayurvedic College & Hospital (Gwalior Road)
• Vidyavati College of Pharmacy (Jhansi-Kanpur Highwy)
• Paramedical College (Kanpur-Gwalior Bypass)

Engineering colleges

• Bundelkhand Institute of Engineering and Technology (Hindi: बुन्देलखण्ड अभियान्त्रिकी एवं प्रौद्योगिकी संस्थान ) is a government-funded autonomous engineering college in Jhansi. It is a constituent college of Gautam Buddha Technical University and is recognised by the All India Council for Technical Education. It was established in 1986 by the government of Uttar Pradesh.
• College of Science and Engineering
• Institute of Engineering and Technology, Bundelkhand University.

Polytechnics & ITI

• Govt. Polytechnic Jhansi (Gwalior Road)
• Govt. Mahila Polytechnic, Jhansi (Gwalior Road)
• Baba Saheb Ambedkar Polytechnic, Jhansi (Sivpuri Road)
• Govt. ITI, Jhansi

Science colleges

• Bipin Behari Post Graduate College (Near Govind Chauraha)
• Government Girls Post Graduate College, (near Kachehri Chauraha)
• Arya Kanya Girls Post Graduate College (Sipri Bazaar)
• Pt. Vasudev Tiwari Girls Degree College (Near Kotwali Shehar, Jhansi)
• College of Science and Engineering (Ambabai, Jhansi)

Research institute

• Indian Grassland & Fodder Research Institute (the river Pahuj flows through the site of the institute)

Schools

• Shri Raghuraj Singh Inter College (Datia Gate)
• RNS World School, Pali Pahadi
• St. Stephen's Global School, (Gram Dely, Shivpuri Road, Jhansi)
• Jacob High School, (Sipri Bazar, Jhansi.)
• Pt.Deen Dayal Upadhayaya vidhya peeth Inter College (Unnao-Balaji road.)
• The Cathedral College, Jhansi
• Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Science Inter College (Khera, Premnagar)
• Janak Inter College (Ambedkar Nagar, Khera, Nagra)
• Don Bosco College (Premnagar)
• Saint Umar Inter College (Premnagar)
• M. S. Rajput Inter College (4 Kamba, Nagra)
• Maharaja Agrasen Saraswati Vidya Mandir (Shivpuri Road, Jhansi)
• Rani Lakshmibai Public School (Jhansi Cantt.)
• St Mark's School (Sipri)
• St Mark's College, Jhansi (Jhansi Cantt.)
• Kendriya Vidyalaya (No. 1, 2 and 3.)
• Kendriya Vidyalaya No.1 (RanaPratap Marg, Jhansi Cantt, Jhansi)
• Kendriya Vidyalaya No.2 (Near St. Martin Church, Cariappa Marg, Jhansi Cantt, Jhansi)
• Kendriya Vidyalaya No.3 (Gulam Gaus Marg, Railway Colony(W), Jhansi)
• Saraswati Pathshala Industrial Inter College (SPI) (Civil Lines)
• Saraswati Inter College, (Sipri Bazar)
• Sanatan Dharma Kanya Inter College (Sipri Bazar.)
• Lokmanya Tilak Kanya Inter College (city area.)
• Government Inter College, (Gwalior road.)
• Arya Kanya Inter College, (Sipri bazaar.)
• Bipin Bihari Inter College, (Khushipura.)
• L.V.M. Inter College, (city area)
• Village Inter College, (Rajgarh, Jhansi)
• Bhani Devi Goyal Saraswati Vidya Mandir, (Unnao-Balaji road.)
• Saraswati Balika Vidya Mandir, (Datia gate.)
• Shri Guru Nanak Khalsa Inter College, (Sipri bazaar.)
• Modern Public School, (civil lines.)
• Christian Inter College, Jhokan bagh, Jhansi
• Sun International School, (Kanpur road.)
• Nirmala Convent High School (Premnagar.)
• St. Jude's Inter College (Premnagar.)
• Gyan Sthaly Public Inter College, (Shivaji Nagar.)
• Army Public School, (Jhansi Cantt.)
• Bhel Siksha Niketan, (Bhel, Jhansi.)
• St. Xavier's School, BhelL, (Jhansi.)
• St. Francis' Convent Inter College, (Jhansi cantt.)
• Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, (Jhansi)
• Pt. Vasudev Tiwari Girls Inter College, (Near Sahar Kotwali, Jhansi)
• Kidzee Zee School, (Awas vikas colony shivpuri road Jhansi)
• Mount Litera Zee School, (Tubewell road khati baba Jhansi)
• Sunny Convent Inter College, (Nandnpura Jhansi)
• St.Umar Inter College(premnagar,nagra)
• Hafiz Siddique National Inter College (elite)
• Faiz-E-Aam Convent School (Nandanpura)
• Dr. S. Radhakrishnan Inter College (Deen Dayal Nagar)
• St. Mary's Inter College (Masiha Ganj)
• Khalsa Inter College Jhansi
• Mahatma Hansraj Modern School(shivpuri road)
• Margaret Leask Memorial English School
• Shemford Futuristic School (Shivpuri Road,Village Deeli)
• Christ the King College, Jhansi.

Malls

• SG Mall (Sadar)
• Galaxy Mall (Shivaji Nagar)
• City Life Mall (opp. DM's Office, Jail Chauraha)
• Siddivinayak Mall (Vishal Mega Mart) (Bus Stand)
• V Mart (Gwalior Road,Civil Lines)
• Railway Shopping Mall (Infront Railway Station)
• Apna Bazar (Near Mandi) [Likely Open in March 2014]

Cinema

• Elite Cinema
• Khilona Cinema (Closed For Few Month)

Newspapers

Many national and local newspapers are published in Jhansi both in Hindi and English:

Newspaper	Language	Notes
Dainik Jagran	Hindi
Amar Ujala	Hindi
Jan Seva Mail	Hindi
Jan Jan Jagran	Hindi
Raftaar	Hindi
Hindustan	Hindi
Swadesh	Hindi
Dainik Lokpath	Hindi

Radio stations

• Jhansi has two radio stations: 92.7 Big FM and 103.0 Air FM.

Transport

The city is well connected to other parts of India by railways and major highways.

Railways

Jhansi Junction has its own Division of the Indian North Central Railways. It is well connected by train services to all parts of the country, including four metropolitan cities. There are direct trains to Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata (Howrah), Chennai, Bangalore (Bengaluru),Hyderabad,Nagpur,Agra Gwalior, Trivandrum, Indore, Ahmedabad, Udaipur, Pune, Jammu, Jaipur, Lucknow, Bhopal, Mahoba, Khajuraho, Gaya, Jalgaon, Bhusaval, Jabalpur, Kanpur, Allahabad, Gorakhpur, Bandra and other major towns. A list of all train services passing through Jhansi Junction can be found here.

Jhansi Junction is a major railway junction of Indian Railways: a major intercity hub and a technical stoppage for many superfast trains in India. Jhansi has its own division in the North Central Railway zone of Indian Railways. It lies on the main Delhi-Chennai and Delhi-Mumbai lines. The station code is JHS.

History

The railway station was built by the British in the late 1880s. After a long survey of three places the current site was selected for the station. The station has a massive fort-like building painted in maroon and off white.

The station had three platforms in the beginning. (Platform One is 2,525 feet (770 m) long making it the fifth longest in the world. It could easily handle two trains at a time (Same are the cases with platforms two and three).)

The first Shatabdi Express of India started between New Delhi and Jhansi.

Earlier Jhansi used to be a part of Central railways zone headquartered at Mumbai but now comes under NCR headquartered at Allahabad.

Connectivity

Jhansi Junction is linked with many industrial and important cities of India by direct trains like New Delhi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Bhopal, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Kolkata, Jammu, Agra, Bhubaneshwar, Ahmedabad, etc.

Jhansi Junction is served by 4 broad gauge routes:

1. To Gwalior -Agra- New Delhi
2. To Orai -Govindpuri Junction- Kanpur Central
3. To Lalitpur - Bina-Bhopal
4. To Mahoba -Banda- Manikpur

There is an ongoing survey for a new line between Jhansi Junction and Shivpuri in Madhya Pradesh which would be further connected to Sawai Madhopur and Jaipur.

Many prestigious Indian Railways trains pass through Jhansi, including the Tamil Nadu Express, Kerala Express, Andhra Pradesh Express, Bhopal Express, Dakshin Express and Pushpak Express.

Jhansi is an important destination for tourists intending to go to Khajuraho (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and to Orchha.

Facilities

Jhansi Junction has 7 platforms, 4 broad over-bridges. Due to heavy usage, two new platforms are planned, increasing the total to 11. Five pairs of the Rajdhani Express as well as the Bhopal - New Delhi Shatabdi Express pass through Jhansi.Three pairs of Duronto Express also have their technical stoppages at Jhansi. All state Sampark Krantis passing through Jhansi have official stops at Jhansi. In all more than 150 trains stop at Jhansi Junction everyday.

The station also features a restaurant, air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned waiting rooms, a cyber cafe, and tourist information offices of both the Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh governments. Outside the station also there is a passenger complex and canteen.

Road transport

Jhansi is located at the junction of these National Highways: NH-12A; NH-25; NH-26; NH-75; and NH-76. Thus, Jhansi commands a strategic position in the roadways network as highways in 5 different directions diverge from it.

And go near towns and major cites in all over India these are Datia, Gwalior, Lalitpur, Agra, New Delhi, Bhopal, Allahabad, Kanpur, Orchha, Shivpuri, Tikamgarh, Unao Balaji, Sagar

The proposed north-south and east-west corridors of the Golden-Quadrilateral Highway project pass and cross each other only in Jhansi and the city is also well connected to Kanpur, Lucknow and Madhya Pradesh by road. The four lane national highway is at the last stage of its completion, giving a boom in infrastructure and other sectors in Jhansi and nearby areas; the greenery near this highway is attractive.

Air transport

[[File:Amy Johnson jason india.jpg|thumb|Amy Johnson at Jhansi in 1932]] Jhansi Airport is a military aviation base built in the British era used by the Indian army and political visitors. Though there are provisions for private aircraft to land, there are no civil aviation operations. There had been a demand to make it operational for commercial purposes in the 1990s and again in the 2000s. The Uttar Pradesh government announced the construction of an all new civil aviation base to support tourism in Bundelkhand in April 2011.^[24] The Indian army maintains an objection to extension of the military aviation. So, the government has examined three different places other than army aviation base for the airport in Jhansi. Gwalior Airport is the nearest airport from Jhansi.

Armed forces

Jhansi district has the headquarters of the 31st Indian Armoured Division of the Indian Army, stationed at Jhansi-Babina. It is an armoured division which has equipment like the T-72 and T-90 tanks, and the BMP-2 armoured personnel carrier.

The Jhansi Cantonment was the site of the accommodation for British civil and military personnel in the period of British rule in India. Within the cantonment is Sacred Heart Church, a Roman Catholic church built early in the 20th century.^[25]

Sport

Sports stadiums in Jhansi are Major Dhyanchand Stadium; Railway Stadium; and LVM Sports Place

Notable people associated with Jhansi

• Abdul Karim (the Munshi), was an Indian Muslim attendant of Queen Victoria. He served her during the final fifteen years of her reign, gaining her maternal affection over that time.
• Rani Lakshmibai, queen consort of Maharaja Gangadhar Rao; regent and afterwards queen who led her people in defence of the city against British forces in 1858
• Maithili Sharan Gupt
• Major Dhyan Chand, Indian Army officer and hockey player for the national team of India
• B. B. Lal, renowned Indian archaeologist

Jhansi in literature

Two novels by John Masters are set in the fictional town of Bhowani. According to the author, writing in the Glossary to the earlier novel, Nightrunners of Bengal, Bhowani is an "imaginary town. To get a geographical bearing on the story it should be imagined to be about where Jhansi really is - 25.27 N., 78.33 E."^[26] Nightrunners of Bengal is set during the Indian Rebellion of 1857 at "Bhowani" (the title alludes to the mysterious distribution of "chapatis" to village headmen which preceded the revolt). Bhowani Junction is set in 1946/47 the eve of independence and in both novels the main character is Colonel Rodney Savage, a British army officer and part of a succession of such men from the same family.

Jhansi gallery

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  St. Jude's Shrine

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  Barua Sagar Dam

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  Jhansi

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  श्री गणेश मंदिर,झाँसी

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  Bhanderi Gate of Jhansi Fort

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  Jhansi Fort in 1900

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  Mutiny Memorial Jhansi in 1900

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  Shiv Temple

See also

• Jhansi Fort
• Grassland
• Barua Sagar

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jhansi.

• Jhansi District Official web site
• Jhansi Municipal Corporation Official web site
• Jhansi Development Authority Official web site
• Jhansi Cantonment Board Official web site
• Jhansi Jan Suvidha Kendra (Public Grievance Redressal System)
• Jhansi Online News & Community
• Jhansi Latest News @ Dainik Jagran
• Day by day account of Jhansi's role during the First Indian Rebellion

v t e Cities and towns in Jhansi district Jhansi Babina Baragaon Barua Sagar Chirgaon Erich Garautha Gursarai Jhansi Jhansi Railway Settlement Kathera Khailar Mauranipur Moth Parichha Ranipur Samthar Tondi Fatehpur Other districts Agra Aligarh Allahabad Ambedkar Nagar Amethi Amroha Auraiya Azamgarh Badaun Bagpat Bahraich Ballia Balrampur Banda Barabanki Bareilly Basti Bhimnagar Bijnor Bulandshahr Chandauli Chitrakoot Deoria Etah Etawah Faizabad Farrukhabad Fatehpur Firozabad Gautam Buddha Nagar Ghaziabad Ghazipur Gonda Gorakhpur Hamirpur Hardoi Hathras Jalaun Jaunpur Kannauj Kanpur Nagar Kanshi Ram Nagar Kaushambi Kushinagar Lakhimpur Kheri Lalitpur Lucknow Maharajganj Mahoba Mainpuri Mathura Mau Meerut Mirzapur Moradabad Muzaffarnagar Panchsheel Nagar Pilibhit Prabuddhanagar Pratapgarh Raebareli Ramabai Nagar Rampur Saharanpur Sant Kabir Nagar Sant Ravidas Nagar Shahjahanpur Shravasti Siddharthnagar Sitapur Sonbhadra Sultanpur Unnao Varanasi

v t e  State of Uttar Pradesh Capital: Lucknow Topics History Geography Economy Culture Achitecture Tourism Demographics Education Divisions Agra Aligarh Allahabad Azamgarh Bareilly Basti Chitrakoot Devipatan Faizabad Gorakhpur Jhansi Kanpur Lucknow Mirzapur Moradabad Saharanpur Varanasi Districts Agra Aligarh Allahabad Ambedkar Nagar Amethi Amroha Auraiya Azamgarh Badaun Bagpat Bahraich Ballia Balrampur Banda Barabanki Bareilly Basti Bijnor Bulandshahr Chandauli Chitrakoot Devaria Etah Etawah Faizabad Farrukhabad Fatehpur Firozabad Gautam Buddha Nagar Ghaziabad Ghazipur Gonda Gorakhpur Hamirpur Hardoi Hathras Jalaun Jaunpur Jhansi Kannauj Kanpur Dehat (Akbarpur) Kanpur Nagar Kanshiram Nagar Kaushambi Kushinagar (Padrauna) Lakhimpur Kheri Lalitpur Lucknow Maharajganj Mahoba Mainpuri Mathura Mau Meerut Mirzapur Moradabad Muzaffarnagar Pilibhit Pratapgarh Raebareli Rampur Saharanpur Sant Kabir Nagar Sant Ravidas Nagar (Bhadohi) Shahjahanpur Shamli Shravasti Siddharthnagar Sitapur Sonbhadra Sultanpur Unnao Varanasi Major cities Agra Aligarh Allahabad Bareilly Ghaziabad Jhansi Kanpur Lucknow Moradabad Meerut Noida Saharanpur Varanasi Portal: Uttar Pradesh

v t e Jhansi division topics General Bundelkhand Jhansi Fort Mahavir Swami Sanctuary History Rani Lakshmibai Central India Campaign (1858) Districts Jalaun Jhansi Lalitpur Rivers, dams, lakes Betwa Dhasan Jamni Yamuna Matatila Dam Parichha Dam Rajghat Dam Barua Sagar Tal Languages, people Bundeli Bundela Hindustani Standard Hindi Urdu Transport NH 12A NH 26 NH 76 Industries Parichha Thermal Power Station Lok Sabha constituencies Jalaun Jhansi See also Cities and towns in Jalaun district Cities and towns in Jhansi district Cities and towns in Lalitpur district Villages in Jalaun district Villages in Lalitpur district People from Jalaun People from Jhansi People from Lalitpur Other Divisions Agra Aligarh Allahabad Azamgarh Bareilly Basti Chitrakoot Devipatan Faizabad Gorakhpur Kanpur Lucknow Meerut Mirzapur Moradabad Saharanpur Varanasi