The Jhansi Fort is known to have been built sometime in the eleventh century. In 1613, Raja Bir Singh Ja Deo, reconstructed the entire fort. This phase saw great development of the Fort in terms of great sculptures, rare tenth and eleventh century artifacts, and splendid paintings. This aesthetic collection provides a great insight into the time and lives of the great warriors and the graceful history of the rulers of Jhansi. One can also find a fine collection of regional antiques, some gold artifacts, and those done in bronzes, beautiful sculptures, manuscripts, and coins of gold, silver and copper. The Fort used to have strategic importance since the earliest of times. It stands majestically atop a rocky hill called Bangra in Jhansi. The fort has ten gates ( Darwaza). From atop the hill where the Fort stands, one can see the majestic view of the entire town.
Jhansi Fort is more than a spectacular monument. Heroic legends transcend its beauty. The entire city of Jhansi is linked to the heroism of Rani Laxmi Bai, the brave Queen who fought against the British troops during the national uprising of 1857. She was married off to Raja Gangadhar of Jhansi but never bore him children. The British played opportunistic politics here and asked her to surrender as she had no natural heir. The Rani retaliated by adopting a son and fighting her kingdom. In 1857, the year of national mutiny, she led her five hundred Afghan-Pathan warriors to seize Jhansi fort. The British dispatched troops to see off the insurgents but took seventeen days to blow a beach in the walls of the citadel. Three days of fierce hand-to-hand fighting ensued, in which five thousand soldiers were killed. Though Rani was defeated, even the Britsih remember her valor and righteousness with which she fought them. Known as India’s Joan of Arc, she has now become a symbol of courage in India.
The entire city speaks of a glorious past. It is about 400 kms away from Delhi and Gwalior is the nearest airport [100 kms] to get here.
