Jhansi Travel Essentials

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"City of Rani Laxmi Bai"

Jhansi Tourism

The city of Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh is a definite addition to every history buff or traveller who sets foot in this state. Sitting at the very south in the Bundelkhand region and built on the banks of the Betwa and Pahunch rivers, Jhansi is popular as the place where Rani Laxmi Bai, who is also referred to as “Jhansi Ki Rani”, lived and reigned. 

Jhansi gets its name from the Jhansi Fort built by Raja Bir Singh Deo who named it so as the rulers could only see a shadow atop a distant hill when gazing at the fort. The historical city was also the seat of the Chandela Dynasties power. Jhansi was originally known as Balwantnagar, which was a walled city built around a fort. 

These facts and the variety of monuments and essential landmarks down to the streets of the city show that Jhansi has a string of historical evidence which is dug deep into its roots and is one of the main reasons individuals are drawn to this city.

Gwalior is the nearest biggest city to Jhansi, which lies in Madhya Pradesh and at a distance of 99 Km. The National Highway Development Project has given way to the Development of Jhansi, resulting in a real estate boom in the modern day. Currently, it is the 3rd cleanest city in Uttar Pradesh.

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History of Jhansi

The history of Jhansi dates back to the 18th century. The former name for this place was Balwant Nagar. It was ruled by the Chandela Kings during the 11th century and acted as an entry gate to Bundelkhand. Raja Gangadhar Rao married Manikarnika who was named Rani Laxmi Bai shortly after. As no son heir was there for the throne of Jhansi, the British Government annexed the state. During this period the Rani of Jhansi bravely fought with the British. In 1857, she was a leading face of the Sepoy Mutiny. In 1858, she was martyred fighting the battle for the struggle of India’s Independence.

The historical fort of Jhansi was thus captured by the British and in 1861; the Government gave its charge to Jiyaji Rao Scindia. Till date, Jhansi is famous for the brave Rani who ruled over this place. Rani Laxmi Bai is often called the Joan of Arc of India. At present, the Headquarters of the Divisional Commissioner is located in Jhansi. Three districts of Jalaun, Lalitpur, and Jhansi come under its jurisdiction.

There is a famous story related to the origin of Jhansi. The Raja of Orchha and Jaitpur were two friends who were sitting on a hilltop. The Raja of Orchha asked his friend whether he could recognize the new fort on the Bangara Hill. While answering the question, the Jaitpur Raja said that he could see it ‘Jhainsi’ (meaning- indistinct). The place was called by the same name which later corrupted to Jhansi. The uniqueness of the fort is that it is built on an upraised rock and the whole city surrounds it.

Culture of Jhansi

Language & Media: Major languages spoken in Jhansi are Hindi, English and Bundeli. The phonetics of Bundeli prominently matches with Hindi, but it is much sweeter to listen to. In Jhansi, the people mainly follow Hinduism. Islam and Christianity are also followed by some people here. There are various mass media present in Jhansi. Mainly, people read Hindi and Urdu newspapers. Major newspapers are Dainik Jagran, Amar Ujala and Patrika. The radio stations in the city are Radio Mirchi, Big FM, AIR FM and RED FM. Cinema halls such as Elite, Khilona and Natraj are present in the city. The mass media are prominently connected with the lifestyle and culture of the people.

Art & Craft: Folk dances and songs are performed regularly in Jhansi, especially prominent dance forms like Badhai and Akai. The Badhai dance is commonly performed in Jhansi during childbirth or harvest. The bamboo sticks are used in Akai dance as the martial arts primarily influence it. Other dance forms are the Rai dance, Norta dance, and Diwali dance. Ghazal, Alha songs and Suata are also performed during the festival. In the modern days, the tourism department of the state organizes the Jhansi Mahotsav. A big fair comprising of handicrafts items makes its glorious presence in the event too.

Festivals: The Ayurveda Festival is also organized in the city, having the main aim to disseminate the knowledge about Ayurveda and its importance. This fest is also called ‘Ayurved Jhansi Mahotsav’. At Narayan Bagh in Jhansi, the Vegetable and Flower Exhibition is organized by the state government. It is a three-day event and attracts many common people as well as the tourists. This fest also commences during February. The birthday of Rani Laxmibai is also celebrated graciously by the common people of Jhansi. The people of Jhansi are soft-spoken and down-to-earth. You can expect a humble friendliness as you meet them. As a visitor, you would be much comfortable among the people as they are well-mannered too.

The Jhansi Mahotsav is a colourful festival celebrated annually with enthusiasm and reflects its cultural heritage. This week-long celebration is jointly organized by the UP Tourism Board along with the district administration office. The native people participate in the Jhansi Mahotsav that acts as a platform to portray different music and dance forms. The event is organized in the memories of some esteemed poets who lived in the city.

Suggested Itinerary for Jhansi

DAY 1: It will be convenient to start sightseeing in the morning after breakfast. The first sightseeing spot you can reach is the Jhansi Fort. It is a must-watch while you are in the city. The place is only 4 km away from the railway station. You will surely be amazed while exploring the magnificent structure. Next, you can head to the Rani Mahal which has been the residing place of Rani Laxmibai. It is just adjacent to the fort. The third place you can visit is the Rani Jhansi Museum. This worth visiting spot is only 3 km away from Jhansi Junction. Keep the afternoon and free for leisure as you might explore the markets of Jhansi and shop according to your wish. 

Day 2: You must start your day with a fantastic breakfast dishes served by the local vendors. Then, you can head out to visit the St. Jude’s Shrine, a marvellous church in the city. The next spot should be the Cenotaph of Raja Gangadhar Rao which is at a distance of 5.5 km from the railway station and is a place worth visiting. This place is located beside the Rani Jhansi Talab. The Barua Sagar and the Parichha Dam can be visited in the evening where you can enjoy the sunset. However, if you are in a mood to travel further, you can also head towards the city of Orchha located at a distance of 16 km from the city on the second day.

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How to Reach Jhansi

How to Reach Overview

Jhansi is well connected to major cities in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh and other parts of India by railways and roadways. The Jhansi Airport is a military airport and restricted for tourists. The nearest airport to Jhansi is the Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia Air Terminal in Gwalior, located 103 km away. The Jhansi railway station is connected to all the major cities in India like Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Agra, etc by regular trains. One can also reach Jhansi by bus or cab from nearby cities like Gwalior and Khajuraho.

How to reach Jhansi by flight

The Jhansi Airport is a base used for military aviation solely. Although civil aircraft might land in this airport, it is not used as much. The nearest public airport to Jhansi is the Gwalior Airport (Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia Air Terminal) located around 100 km away. 

The closest international airport to Jhansi is the Indira Gandhi International Airport located in New Delhi, about 320 kms away.

How to reach Jhansi by road

Jhansi is situated at the junction of three National Highways - NH 27 (Gujarat to Assam), NH 75 (Gwalior to Rewa via Chattarpur) and NH 44 (Jammu to Kanyakumari). The district city of Jhansi is well-connected by road with the cities like Gwalior, New Delhi, Allahabad, Bhopal, Chhatarpur, Kanpur and Orchha. Both east-west and north-south corridors present here allows Jhansi to be well connected to cities like Kanpur and Lucknow. 

How to reach Jhansi by train

Jhansi Junction is the central railway station and several trains either originate from here or provides a halt. Different trains connect Jhansi to other cities in India like New Delhi, Kanpur, Agra, Bhopal, Khajuraho, Lucknow, Allahabad, and Kolkata. Some other cities connected to the Jhansi Junction are Mumbai and Chattarpur. Direct trains from Chennai, Bangalore, Pune, and Gorakhpur are also available.

Autorickshaws and tempos are easily available from the railway station to most part of Jhansi 24 hours a day. There is also a pre-paid tempo both at the station.

How to reach Jhansi by bus

The Jhansi Bus Stop is a mere 4 kilometres from the city centre, on the Jhansi-Kanpur highway. Most of the buses coming from Jaipur-Agra route also make a stop at BKD Chowk and Elite Chowk of Jhansi city. 

Local transport in Jhansi

Travelling within Jhansi is very accessible because of easy availability of a variety of local transport.

Tempo: The cheapest and most convenient mode of travelling within Jhansi is the tempo. These are a bigger version of the three-wheeled autorickshaws and runs on per passenger basis. Tempos run on a fixed fare and fixed route and you can simply hop on. Even though the tempos have a seating capacity of 8 passengers, you might find up to 12 people at times. Avoid travelling on over-crowded tempos.

Autorickshaws: Jhansi has a big fleet of autorickshaws which are a little costlier than tempos but a convenient mode for travelling to inner parts of the city. Autorickshaws in Jhansi do not run on a fixed meter, so make sure to fix the fare before travelling.

Taxis: Private taxis are available within Jhansi at various taxi stands. The most popular taxi stand is the one opposite of the Sita Hotel. You can also ask your hotel or the travel operator to book a taxi.

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Jhansi Photos

Jhansi
Jhansi Fort - Situated in the middle of the City, the Fortress was built in the 17th Century
Rani Mahal - Royal Palace Constructed by Raghu Nath-II, Subedar of Jhansi
Ancient Sculptors Found in Jhansi Rani Mahal

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FAQs on Jhansi

What is the best time to visit Jhansi?

The best time to visit Jhansi is pre-winters (October-November) and spring (February-March) when the climate is perfect for sightseeing. February is also the time when the popular Jhansi Festival takes place attracting tourists from far and wide.

Jhansi is located near the central region of India and sits on a rocky plateau resulting in extreme temperatures. As a result, the weather during the summer season is scorching while in winters it gets extremely cold. The months from April to August should be avoided if planning to visit Jhansi.
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What is the local food in Jhansi?

The food in Jhansi comprises a typical Bundelkhand meal. The dishes are vastly different from the spicy and heavily excessive dishes that India is known for. Instead, the Jhansi locals prefer food of a light variety, which many times includes Jain food, or simple substances for healthy eating. These substances include food with less oil, sprouts, eggplant, and Ras Kheer which includes an extract from the Mahua flowers. Eating in Dhabas, which are located on the outskirts of the city, is also considered a fun activity.

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What is the best way to reach Jhansi?

Jhansi is well connected to major cities in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh and other parts of India by railways and roadways. The nearest big city to Jhansi is Gwalior which lies in Madhya Pradesh. It has got excellent internal transport system that allows the people to move around different places within the district with ease.
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What are the things to do in Jhansi?

The top things to do in Jhansi are Rani Mahal, Jhansi Fort, Jhansi Museum, Panchatantra Park, Cenotaph of Raja Gangadhar Rao, Orchha Fort Complex. You can see all the places to visit in Jhansi here

What are the places near Jhansi?

The top places near to Jhansi are Orchha which is 11 km from Jhansi, Agra which is located 200 km from Jhansi, Jaipur which is located 321 km from Jhansi, Chanderi which is located 92 km from Jhansi, Khajuraho which is located 152 km from Jhansi

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Jhansi Reviews

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Sumit Shrivastava

4 years ago
Knowing about Rani Laxmi Bai is great for me because as she fought against Britishers is memorable. Museum is very attractive place where I got knowledge about chandela dynasty and Gupta period and t (Read More)heir picture collection and weapons. Light show is very attractive in museum. The fort of Jhansi is great to see.

Ankita Rani

on Panchatantra Park 3 years ago
Hello, I am from Jhansi ... Panchatantra park I would have recommended when it was just built, but it has nothing now... I cannot say it now in 2021 because it became the worst place to visit, so I (Read More)haven't been there for a couple of years But yes, do visit Maharani Laxmi bai park no entry fee but nice and well-maintained park to spend a good time. THANK YOU
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