Jhansi Fort: Testimony to the Valour of Rani Laxmibai

After spending a day at Orchha exploring Orchha Fort and its hundreds of years old temples, I had a half day before my train back to Delhi. Orchha does not have any major railway station and the closest railway station is around 15 kilometres away in Jhansi. I thought of exploring Jhansi before boarding my train. Jhansi does not have many tourist attractions and the most popular one is Jhansi Fort.

ALSO READ: ORCHHA TRAVEL GUIDE

How to Reach Jhansi Fort

Jhansi Fort is about 3 kilometres away from Jhansi railway station. You may take the auto-rickshaw (Rs 50 – Rs 60) to reach there. Alternatively, you can also reach the fort by bus by getting down at the Jhansi Museum Bus Stop. The fort is at a 5 minutes walking distance from the bus stop.

History of Jhansi Fort

Jhansi Fort was built by the Bundelas in 1613. It was then passed to Mughals for 100 years and then subsequently passed to Marathas for another 100 years before it came under the possession of the British.

Every Indian must have read about the story of the bravery of Rani Lakshmi Bai (Queen of Jhansi) in school who fought tooth and nail against the British East India Company during the revolt of 1857. The company took control of the fort on 4 April 1858. In 1861, the British gave Jhansi to Jiyaji Rao Scindia, the Maharaja of Gwalior, but took back from him in 1868.

Important Structures in the Fort

The Jhansi fort is spanned across 15 acres and had 10 gates. Important structures to see in Jhansi Fort are:

1) Kadak Bijli Canon

As you make entry to the Jhansi Fort, you will see the Kadak Bijli canon on your right. It is said that when fired, it used to generate the sound of a lion roar.

2) Ganesh Mandir

Ganesh Mandir as the name suggests is dedicated to Lord Ganesh. It is built near the entrance gate. Rani Lakshmi Bai used to pay regular visit to the temple for worship.

3) Bhawani Shankar

Take stairs on the side of the Ganesh Mandir and you will see a canon named Bhawani Shankar. The front portion of the canon has the shape of crocodile and back portion has elephant inscribed on it. It was believed to be blessed with the power of Goddess Bhawani and hence got its name.

4) Grave of Gulam Gaus Khan, Moti Bai and Khuda Buksh

The stairs on the left of the fort’s entrance gate go to the inner area of the fort. On the left lies the graves of the gunner Gulam Gaus Khan and Moti Bai, and horse rider Khuda Buksh. They all were martyred in the war against British East India Company on 4 June 1858.

5) Panch Mahal

Near the graves, lies the Panch Mahal. It was originally built as a five-storey building but presently only three storeys remain. Rani Lakshmi Bai used its ground floor as a conference room and she used to stay in a corner room on the first floor.

6) Kal Kothari

Kal Kothari or Prison Room lies next to Panch Mahal. It was built by the Marathas. The British added one more floor and used for the same purpose.

7) Flag Hoisting Point

Near the Panch Mahal lies the Flag Hoisting Point where Indian tri-coloured flag is hoisted.

8) Jumping Point

This is a famous part of Jhansi Fort. It is from this place that Rani Lakshmi Bai on the horse with her adopted son jumped to escape the British after they had besieged the fort.

9) Rani’s Amod Garden

To the right end of the entrance of the inner area of the fort is a gate that goes down towards the Rani’s Amod Garden. It was later used by the British as an armoury.

10) Hanging Tower

The Hanging Tower lies opposite to the Rani’s Amod Garden. This was used during the reign of Raja Gangadhar Rao (husband of Rani Lakshmi Bai) to execute the hanging of the criminals.

11) Shiva Temple

Next to the Hanging Tower lies a pathway that goes down to the Shiva Temple. Shiva Temple was constructed during the reign of Naroshankar (1742 – 1757). Its architecture reflects the Bundela and Maratha style. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and still receives a large number of devotees during the festival of Shivratri. You must take off your shoes to enter the temple.

My Experience

I felt that the fort was not properly maintained. The tree leaves were laying on the ground and the passages that go underground looked dirty from the distance and I avoided going there. The signage could have been better. Instead of a one-liner for each tourist spot, a detailed description would help in their better understanding.

Since Rani Lakshmi Bai, as Queen of Jhansi, is known to every Indian, the government could have easily made the Jhansi Fort into a hot tourist attraction. Instead, years of neglect have pushed it into the darkness. It was ridiculous to see the number of tourists when I was there. There was hardly 50 tourists and I am talking about noon time on Sunday.

Yes, the fort might not have the aesthetic palaces like Amer Fort or Gwalior Fort but it still holds the important place in the Indian history. It provides some amazing and breathtaking 360-degree view of the Jhansi city. Visiting there for the panoramic view only is in itself well worth the time spent. But when you add the fort’s glorious history on the top of the excellent views, it becomes worth sparing two hours of your time for Jhansi Fort when you are in Jhansi or passing through it.

Other Important Information

• Eatery items are not allowed inside the fort. You can deposit the food item or any bag outside the gate for Rs 10.
• There is no cafeteria service inside the Jhansi Fort. So, make sure to take a meal before visiting the fort.
• No guided tours are available. You have to do the self-exploration of the Jhansi Fort.

Address – Near Lakshmi Bai Park, Jhokan Bagh, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh
Opening Hours – Sunrise to Sunset
Suggested Duration – 2 to 3 hours
Ticket Cost – Rs 25 (Indian), Rs 300 (Foreigners), Free(Children under 15 years)

Light and Sound Show

A one hour Light and Sound show narrating the history of Jhansi Fort is conducted every evening in English and Hindi language.

Timings – English show (7:30 PM to 8:30 PM from April to October , 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM from November to March), Hindi show (8:40 PM to 9:40 PM from April to October, 7:40 PM to 8:40 PM from November to March)
Ticket Cost – Rs 50 (Indian Adult), Rs 300 (Foreign Adult), Rs 15 (Student)