Jhansi(pronunciation(helpinfo)) Urdu ("") is a historic city of northernIndia, located on the banks of thePahuj or Pushpavati River, in thestateofUttar Pradesh. It is located in the region ofBundelkhand. Jhansi is the administrative headquarters ofJhansi DistrictandJhansi Division. The original walled city grew up around its stone fort, which crowns a neighboring rock. This district is on the banks of theBetwa River.The city is situated between the rivers Pahuj and Betwa between North longitudes 2411 and 2557and East latitudes 7810and 7925. It has an average elevation of 284 metres (935feet). The boundary of the city is irregular, the northern boundary being contiguous with that of the district ofJalaun. Jhansi is well connected to all other major towns inUttar Pradeshby road and railway networks. It is about 415km fromNew Delhiand 292km fromLucknow, and is called theGateway toBundelkhand.TheNational Highway Development Projecthas supported development of Jhansi. The north-south corridor connectingKashmirtoKanyakumaripasses through Jhansi as does the East-West corridor; consequently there has been a sudden rush to infrastructure and real estate development in the city. Agreenfieldairportdevelopment has been planned.[2]Contents[hide] 1Etymology 2History 2.1Early history 2.218171856 2.318571858 2.41859present 3Demographics 4Geography and climate 4.1Climate 5Places of Interest 5.1Jhansi Fort 5.2Government Museum; and Rani Mahal 5.3Other places of interest 6Education 6.1Higher education 6.1.1Medical colleges 6.2Schools 6.3Engineering 6.4Polytechnic & ITI 6.5Science College 6.6NGO in Bundelkhand 6.7Townships 6.8Govt.Works 6.9Jhansi Cantt Board 6.10BHEL 7Organisation 8Products 8.1Workforce 8.2Certifications & recognitions 8.3Shopping Area 8.4Malls 8.5Entertainment 8.6Cinemas 8.7Crossings And Chuorahas 8.8Hotels 8.9Networks 8.10Banks 8.11Banks ATM 8.12Newspaper 9Radio Stations 10Transport 10.1Railways 11History 12Connectivity 13Demand for new trains 14Facilities 14.1Road transport 14.2Air transport 15Armed forces 16Sport 17Notable people associated with Jhansi 18See also 19References 20External links

Etymology[edit]According to a legend the Raja of Orchha was sitting on the roof of his palace with his friend, the Raja of Jaitpur, and asked the latter whether he could discern thisnew fortthat he had built on Bangara hill, and he replied that he could see it 'jhainsi' (meaning rather indistinct). This name 'Jhainsi' in course of time became corrupted to 'Jhansi'. It was one of the most strategically situated forts of central India being built on an elevated rock rising out of the plain and commanding the city and the surrounding country.History[edit]

Shree Ganesh Mandir, Jhansi

Jhansi Fort,c.1882

A drawing of the necropolis of the Rajahs of Jhansi, 1872Early history[edit]Jhansi was a stronghold of the Chandela kings. Balwant Nagar was the name of this place. But in 11th century Jhansi lost its importance. In 17th century under Raja Bir Singh Deo 1ST (r. 16051627) of Orchha (Jhansi) again rose to prominence. Raja Bir Singh Deo had good relations with the Mughal emperorJehangir. In five year construction period (16131618) Raja Bir Singh Deo got constructed the Jhansi fort and around it got established a BALWANT NAGAR which lateron named jhansi. A silver rupee coin minted in the name of Balwantnagar in the reign of Shahalam 2nd for the regional year 11 is with Shri HM Dubey at Jhansi. Raja Bir Singh Ji Deo expired in 1627. After his death his son JuJhar Singh succeeded him. SHRI BIRSINGH JI DEOwas a brave king. There were 81 Pargana and 12,500 villages under his reign with a revenue of Rs 2 crores per year.A silver coin of Shah Alam II RY 11.jpgMaharaja Chattrasal Bundela of Panna was beset by incursions into the Bundela country by theMuslimgovernors of theMughal empire; in 1729 Mohammed Khan Bangash attacked Chattrasal. In 1732Chhatrasal, the Bundela king, a good administrator and a brave warrior, called in the aid of the HinduMarathas. Peshwa Baji Rao (I) helped Maharaja Chattrasal and defeated the Mughal army, and Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao (I) was rewarded by the bequest of one-third of the Maharaja's dominions upon his death two years later (Jhansi was included in this part). The Maratha general developed the city of Jhansi, and peopled it with inhabitants from Orchha state. In 1742 Naroshanker was made the subedar of Jhansi. During his tenure of 15 years he not only extended the Jhansi fort which was of strategic importance but also constructed some other buildings. The extended part of the fort is called Shankergarh. In 1757 Naroshanker was called back by the Peshwa; his successor was Madhav Govind Kakirde who was himself succeeded by Babulal Kanahai. Next in the line of subedars was Vishwas Rao Laxman (1766-1769) who was followed by Raghunath Rao (II) Newalkar. He was a very able administrator and succeeded in increasing the revenue of the state. TheMahaLakshmiTemple and the Raghunath Temple were built by him. In 1804 British protection was promised to theMarathasubedar[who?]resulting in his de facto independence of the Peshwa inPuneand a treaty of 1817 between the Peshwa and theBritish East India Companymeant that he no longer claimed rights in Bundelkhand.18171856[edit]In 1817 theMarathaPeshwainPunehad ceded all his rights over Bundelkhand to the Company. After the death of Shiv Rao his grandson Ramchandra Rao was made subedar of Jhansi.[when?]He was not a good administrator. Ramchandra Rao died in 1835. After his death Raghunath Rao (III) was made his successor. In 1835 he was favoured with the title "Maharajahdhiraj Fidvi Badshah Jamjah Inglistan". On the death of that raja his widow adopted a son of her sister which however was followed by him being passed over (which was in accordance with Hindu tradition) so that another prince became raja. The new raja Raghunath Rao (III) was so incapable and dissolute that the administration came under British control while he himself remained raja. On his death in 1838 the British rulers then accepted Ganghadar Rao (a 'natural son' of the raja) as the Raja of Jhansi in 1843. Due to the inefficient administration during the period of Raghunath Rao (III) the financial position of Jhansi was very critical. However the raja was a cultured man who was able to enrich the architecture of the city and acquire a fine library of Sanskrit manuscripts, though he was without issue.[3]Raja Ganghadar Rao adopted a child called Anand Rao, the son of his cousin, who was renamed Damodar Rao, on the day before he died. The adoption was in the presence of the British political officer who was given a letter from the raja requesting that the child should be treated with kindness and that the government of Jhansi should be given to his widow for her lifetime. After the death of the raja in November 1853 because Damodar Rao was adopted, theBritish East India Company, under Governor-GeneralLord Dalhousie, applied theDoctrine of Lapse, rejecting Damodar Rao's claim to the throne and annexing the state to its territories. The Jhansi state and theJalaunandChanderidistricts were then formed into a superintendency. In March 1854, Lakshmibai was given a pension of Rs. 60,000 and ordered to leave the palace and the fort.[4]Rani Lakshmibai, widow of the Raja, petitioned the Governor General and then the British government that Damodar Rao's claim to the throne should be recognised. She was also displeased because the slaughter of cattle was now permitted in the Jhansi territory.18571858[edit]TheIndian Rebellion of 1857accordingly found Jhansi ripe for rebellion. In June a few men of the 12th Bengal Native Infantry seized the fort containing the treasure and magazine, andmassacredthe European officers of the garrison along with their wives and children on 8 June 1857. The massacre is commemorated in the poem 'In the Round Tower at Jhansi, 8 June 1857' byChristina Rossetti, in which a British army officer takes his wife's life and his own so that they do not have to face a horrific and dishonourable death at the hands of the rebelling sepoys.[5]Four days after the massacre the sepoys left Jhansi having obtained a large sum of money from the Rani, and having threatened to blow up the palace where she lived. Following this as the only source of authority in the city the Rani felt obliged to assume the administration and wrote to Major Erskine, commissioner of the Saugor division explaining the events which had led her to do so.[6]On July 2 Erskine wrote in reply that he requested her to "manage the District for the British Government" until the arrival of a British Superintendent.[7]The Rani's forces defeated an attempt by the mutineers to assert the claim to the throne of a rival prince who was captured and imprisoned. There was then an invasion of Jhansi by the forces ofOrchhaandDatia(allies of the British); their intention however was to divide Jhansi between them. The Rani appealed to the British for aid but it was now believed that she was responsible for the massacre and no reply was received. She assembled forces including some from former feudatories of Jhansi and elements of the mutineers which were able to defeat the invaders in August 1857. Her intention at this time was still to hold Jhansi on behalf of the British.[8]From August 1857 to January 1858 Jhansi under the Rani's rule was at peace. The British had announced that troops would be sent there to maintain control but the fact that none arrived strengthened the position of a party of her advisers who wanted independence from British rule. When the British forces finally arrived in March they found it well defended and the fort had heavy guns which could fire over the town and nearby countryside. Sir Hugh Rose, commanding the British forces, demanded the surrender of the city; if this was refused it would be destroyed.[9]After due deliberation the Rani issued a proclamation: "We fight for independence. In the words of Lord Krishna, we will if we are victorious, enjoy the fruits of victory, if defeated and killed on the field of battle, we shall surely earn eternal glory and salvation."[10]She defended Jhansi against British troops whenSir Hugh Rosebesieged Jhansi on 23 March 1858. The bombardment began on 24 March but was met by heavy return fire and the damaged defences were repaired. The defenders sent appeals for help to Tatya Tope.[11]An army of more than 20,000, headed byTatya Tope, was sent to relieve Jhansi but they failed to do so when they fought the British on 31 March. During the battle with Tatya Tope's forces part of the British forces continued the siege and by 2 April it was decided to launch an assault by a breach in the walls. Four columns assaulted the defences at different points and those attempting to scale the walls came under heavy fire. Two other columns had already entered the city and were approaching the palace together. Determined resistance was encountered in every street and in every room of the palace. Street fighting continued into the following day and no quarter was given, even to women and children. "No maudlin clemency was to mark the fall of the city" wrote Thomas Lowe.[12]The Rani withdrew from the palace to the fort and after taking counsel decided that since resistance in the city was useless she must leave and join either Tatya Tope or Rao Sahib (Nana Sahib's nephew).[13]The Rani escaped in the night with her son, surrounded by guards.[14]Rani Lakshmibaidied in battle atGwalioron 18 June. It was not until November, 1858 that Jhansi was brought under British control.1859present[edit]In 1861 the city and a dependent territory was ceded toGwalior Stateand the capital of the district was moved toJhansi Naoabad(Jhansi Refounded), a village without "cantonment" (military camp). Jhansi (the old city) became the capital of a "subah" (provnce) within the state of Gwalior, but in 1886 was returned to British rule in exchange for theGwalior Fortand the cantonment of Morar nearby.[15](It had been given to the Maharaja of Gwalior, but came under British rule in 1886 as the result of a territorial swap.)Jhansi was added to theUnited Provinces, which became the state ofUttar PradeshafterIndia's independencein 1947.Demographics[edit]According to the 2011 census, Jhansi has a population of 507,293 and itsUrban Agglomeration 549,391. Of the total population 91.5% are Hindu, 7.5% are Muslims, 0.5% are Christians and the rest 0.5% are Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists, as per 2001 census. Religious data for 2011 census as yet not revealed. Jhansi city has 85th rank among the most populated cities of India, according to the 2011 Census. The literacy rate of Jhansi is 63.81%, much lower than the national average.Religions in Jhansi

ReligionPercent

Hindus91.5%

Islam7.5%

Christianity0.5%

Others0.5%

Distribution of religionsIncludesSikhs(0.33%),Jains(0.1%)Buddhists(