Jhansi Attractions - Tourist Places To Visit In Jhansi

Fort of Jhansi or Jhansi Fort was built by Raja Bir Singh Deo of Orchha atop the rocky hills in 1613. It was surrounded by a huge16 to 20 ft thick granite wall as part of its fortification. The wall had ten gates each of which was named after some ruler or landmark of the kingdom.

Accordingly, there is Chand Gate, Datia Darwaza, Jharna Gate, Laxmi Gate, Orcha Gate, Sagar Gate, Unnao Gate, Khanderao Gate and Sainyar Gate. While some of these gates have disappeared with the passage of time, there are some that still stand intact.

Jhansi Fort played an important role in the history of the freedom movement as it was the centre of the 1857 war of Independence of India. The wall of the fort bears the diorama depicting the battle fought by the brave Rani of Jhansi against the British armies. The fort has a museum that besides depicting a wide array of exhibits also houses Karak Bijlee, the cannon that terrified the British army with its lethal fire.

Jhansi Museum is housed in the historic Jhansi Fort and is a popular tourist destination of the city. It boasts of a rich collection of exhibits including weapons, terracotta, statues, costumes, bronzes, coins of silver, gold and copper and a large number of sculptures.

The exhibits vividly depict the life and times of the Chandela kings as well as the ancient history and heritage of the city and the region of Bundelkhand. Of particular interest to the students of ancient Indian history is the picture gallery that shows images of the Gupta period.

On display are also the weapons, arms and ammunition used by the British forces to quell the Indian rebellion of 1857. There are also separate sections devoted to the periods of the Chandelas and the Bundelas. The weaponry deployed by the Rani of Jhansi and her Maratha compatriots evokes keen interest among the visitors.

St. Jude’s Shrine, situated on Civil Lines in Jhansi, is a popular tourist destination for the Catholic Christians. It is believed that the bone of St. Jude Thaddaeus is buried in its foundation. The church was consecrated in the year 1966.

Late Bishop FX Fenech was the first person who along with a few other co-religionists started offering prayers at the shrine. His example was followed by others. With the passage of time, the trickle of devotees built into a stream that continues to grow to this day.

Catholic devotees from far and near visit the shrine and pay their homage to the holy relic of the great saint. A week-long festival is held every year on the shrine which culminates on 28th October. This day is celebrated as St. Jude’s Feast Day.

A procession is also taken out to mark the occasion. The shrine, built in a blend of Christian and Hindu architectural style, draws not only Christians but also a large number of believers from other faiths.

Rani Mahal is so called because it was the palace of the famous warrior queen of India, Rani Lakshmi Bai, popularly known as Jhansi Ki Rani. It was built by Raghu Nath-II of the Nawalkar Family. The palace was the epicentre of the patriotic forces led by the Rani and the Maratha chieftains Tantya Tope and Nana Sahib who fought against the ruling British armies during the first war of Indian Independence in 1857.

Rani Mahal is a two-storied building with flat roofs, built opposite a quadrangular courtyard. There is a well on one side of the courtyard and a fountain on its other side. The palace has six halls including the famous Darbar Hall. These halls are built along with corridors that run parallel to each other.

There are a few small rooms as well. The walls of the Darbar Hall are decorated with motifs of a varied flora and fauna painted in bright colours. A large part of the huge building was destroyed by the British artillery. The palace has now been converted into a historical museum.

Barua Sagar, a city in Jhansi district is so called because it has a magnificent lake called Barua Sagar, situated 25 km from Jhansi on the banks of the Betwa river. Built by Raja Udit Singh, the city boasts of a number of scenic sites that attract a huge number of visitors. Besides the lake, the city is also famous for the historic Bundelkhand Fort.

Its strategic position atop a hill was meant to provide protection to the city from the enemies. The sandstone fort offers panoramic views of the miles long reservoir of Betwa river. The city is a home to an ancient shrine dedicated to Goddess Durga, also popularly called Jarai-ka-Math. The construction of the shrine in Prtihara architectural style dates back to 860 AD.

It is flanked by four small temples located on its four corners. The temple has been listed as a protected monument by the Archaeological Survey of India in 1928.

The name Parichha refers to two important landmarks in Jhansi. One is the name of a dam located on Betwa river, approximately 25 km from the city. It has a reservoir whose placid waters reach up to Notghat Bridge, located 34 km from Jhansi. The dam is a major destination for water sports, especially for those who love boating.

Parichha is also the name of a colony in Jhansi District and is situated on the Kanpur-Jhansi highway. It remains under the protective cover of the Central Industrial Security Force (C.I.S.F.) because of its proximity to Parichha Thermal Power Station, a big coal-based power plant which produces 1140 Mega Watt of electricity.

Parichha is home to a temple, mosque, church and a Buddha monastery. It also has the usual public facilities like banks, parks, four different clubs, guest house, a hospital, college and schools notably Maharani Laxmibai Saraswati Shishu Mandir and Sacred Heart Convent School.  

Located on the bank of Betwa river, approximately 30 km from Jhansi, Chirgaon was the birthplace of the renowned Hindi poet, Maithili Sharan Gupta who was also the National Poet of the country. His Samadhi is also situated in the village.

The town also boasts of two other famous literary figures. One was Siyaram Sharan Gupta, the younger brother of the Poet Laureate and the other, an Urdu poet, Munshi Ajmeri. Both the Gupta siblings regarded the Munshi as their elder brother.

The town hosts a temple and a mosque in the same compound. It has three darwazas or the gates and a fort or quilla. There are several ancient ponds in the city. A popular tourist draw is the ancient temple called Shiv-Sai temple, located at Collector Ganj. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Founded by its ruler, Maharaja Rudra Pratap Singh in 1501, Orchha, also termed Urchha, is located in Tikamgarh District. This princely state was a part of the Budelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh. Orchha is situated on the banks of the Betwa river approximately, 15 km from Jhansi and 80 km from Tikamgarh.

The Maharaja also built a fort named Orchha Fort. Another member of the ruling dynasty of Orchha, Queen Ganesha Bai established Chaturbhuj Temple during the reign of Mughal Emperor Akbar. Raj Mandir, another religious landmark in the city was constructed by Madhukar Shah during 1554 to 1591.

River Betwa forms a seasonal island which hosts a palace fort surrounded by a battlement wall. The fort houses a number of buildings constructed by Maharaja Bir Singh Dev during the different periods of his rule. A unique feature of these buildings is that they are connected with each other. There are several cenotaphs or chhatris on the bank of Betwa river close to the fort.

Maharaja Gangadhar Rao ki Chhatri is a cenotaph or a war memorial. It was built by Rani Lakshmi Bai after the death of her husband, Maharaja Gangadhar Rao on 21st November 1853. Located by the side of Lakshmi Tal or pond, the chhatri is regarded as one of the most important historical monuments in the city of Jhansi.

Despite being more than 150 years old, Maharaja Gangadhar Rao ki Chhatri has withstood the ravages of times. Its curved roof standing upon 12 artistically carved pillars is a splendid example of the magnificent architecture of those times.

The chhattri draws large crowds of local visitors as well as the tourists for its emotional appeal. The site evokes great patriotic fervour and deep reverence for the heroes of those times, particularly the valiant Jhansi ki Rani.

Ganesh Mandir, dedicated to Lord Ganesha, was the venue of the marriage of Rani Lakshmi Bai with Raja Gangadhar Rao in 1842. The Rani, whose maiden name was Manikarnika, was formally given the name of Lakshmi Bai. Situated at the entrance of the Jhansi Fort, the beautiful temple with the idol of Lord Ganesh enshrined in it acted as the protector or patron god of the fort, its habitants as well as the city.

Despite its domed structure, the architectural design and some characteristic features of the temple indicate that it was built concurrently with the fort. The Jhansi Fort along with the Ganesh Temple bear testimony to the extraordinary valour of its devotees of those times, particularly the Rani of Jhansi, who sacrificed her life for the cause of freedom.

Ganesh Temple is the favourite destination both of the devotees of Lord Ganesh and the tourists who visit it in large numbers.

Maha Lakshmi Temple is dedicated to the great goddess Lakshmi. Situated outside the Lakshmi Darwaza close to Laskmi Tal, the splendid shrine was built in the 18th century by Raghunath Rao (II) Newalkar, who was appointed the subedar of Jhansi, consequent to the demise of his predecessor Vishwas Rao Laksman in 1769.

The Hindu rulers and the general public of Jhansi were ardent devotees of Goddess Maha Lakshmi. The name of the temple has nothing to do with Rani Lakshmi Bai as it was built long before she was married to Raja Gangadhar Rao.

The exquisitely crafted ancient temple, which has been a witness to all the historical upheavals since the time it was built, is a favourite destination of not only the devotees of Goddess Lakshmi but also the historians and tourists who visit it in large numbers throughout the year.

The temple draws huge crowds during the festival times, especially Diwali when people perform Laksmi Puja to invoke the goddess of wealth for her blessings.

Organized by the Tourism Department of the Government of Uttar Pradesh at the end of February or the beginning of March, the weeklong extravaganza called Jhansi Mahotsav, draws huge crowds of admirers at its venues.

The festival is packed with delightful events that highlight the ethnicity, traditions, social customs, rituals, religious beliefs, culture and especially the colourful rustic life of the people of Budelkhand. The main programme of the festival is held in the evenings in an open air auditorium located in the vicinity of the Archaeological Museum.

The events in the programme comprise music and dance performances including the local folk dances and Alha songs depicting the traditions and culture of the region. An array of competitive events including making rangoli, mehndi designs and presenting Ayurvedic recipe are held in the State Archaeological Museum.

But the events requiring larger space such as fruits, flowers and vegetable shows and handicrafts fair are held in Rani Laskmi Bai Park and Narayan Bagh.