Jhusi

Jhusi
city
Jhusi Location in Uttar Pradesh, India
Coordinates: 25°26′N 81°56′E / 25.43°N 81.93°E / 25.43; 81.93Coordinates: 25°26′N 81°56′E / 25.43°N 81.93°E / 25.43; 81.93
Country	India
State	Uttar Pradesh
District	Allahabad
Elevation	76 m (249 ft)
Population (2001)
• Total	13,633
Languages
• Official	Hindi
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Postal Code	211019

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.

Geography

Jhusi has an average elevation of 76 metres (249 ft). It is the biggest town area in Allahabad district. The town has a huge religious importance, being on the bank of the River Ganges and lying in the Kumbh Mela area. A Birla guest house and the Harish-Chandra Research Institute are near the bank of the Ganges. This area also hosts the international headquarters of the spiritual organization Vihangam Yoga, on Chatnag road. This center is of great importance for meditation training and related disciplines such as ayurveda and acupressure, and draws visitors from more than 40 countries. GB Pant Social Science research center, Vishnu Temple and Ulta Kila (an old fort) are also here.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census,^[1] Jhusi had a population of 13,633. Males constitute 57% of the population and females 43%. The average literacy rate is 53%, lower than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 60%, and female literacy is 43%. 13% of the population of Jhusi is under 6 years of age.

History

Recently an archeological site near the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers 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 the 13-14th century and then came to be known as Jhulsi (Hindi word meaning burnt); the 'l' went missing as years passed on, giving rise to the current name.

Prayag's past buried at Jhusi

Once belonging to the rulers of Mauryan, Shunga, Kushana and Gupta period, the ancient Pratisthana has lost its identity to the modernity of Jhusi. The only evidence related to this historical fact is still visible in the shape of high mounds in Jhusi. 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 a conflagration which completed the destruction of the city and the ruins went by the name of Jhulsi, 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 Jhusi 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".

Tourism

Jhusi is important for its proximity to the Ganges. Tourists visit the historical buildings. The mighty Samudrakoop, which was probably built by King Samudragupta, is significant for the water in this well that never dries up. It is believed that this well is connected directly to the oceans. One interesting thing is that a coin dropped into the well in any way follows a spiral path and sinks at the centre of the well. Even if a stone is dropped in, sounds of coins are heard instead of the water into which it has fallen. It is believed that bathing in the water of this well on a full moon day leads to prosperity and happiness.

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  Jhusi Railway Station signboard

Another important thing to look here is the fort of King Puru. Archaeologists 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 their priest shah Mohammed Magdoom Taqiuddin Ali Murtaza "Taki Baba" planted when he arrived in Jhusi hundreds of years ago to preach Islam. The tree is a rare member of the baobab family, Adansonia digitata.

References