|
|
Jhansi Attractions
.............................................................................................................................................................................. |
|
Tourist
Attractions in Jhansi
The tourist attractions in Jhansi are the Jhansi Fort,
Jhansi Museum, Rani Mahal and Chhatri of Gangadhar Rao. |
| |
|
Jhansi Fort
The Jhansi Fort was built by King Bir Singh Judeo
of Orchha in the 17th century on the top of a
hill, as an army stronghold. The Jhansi Fort
offers excellent views from its ramparts. The
British ceded the fort to Maharaja Scindia in 1858
but later exchanged it for Gwalior in 1866. The
fort has been a witness to the fiery battle led by
Queen Laxmi Bai. The fort consists of a tier of
ramparts which varies in height from 5.5 m to 9 m.
They are built of solid masonry and have ten
gates: |
 |
|
|
Khanderao, Datia, Unao, Orchha, Baragaon, Lakshmi, Sagar,
Sainyar, Bhander and Jhirna. The breach made by the
British under Sir Huge Rose is between the Sainyar and
Jhirna gates. There is a temple inside the fort which is
attended by a priest. There are beautiful temples of
Lord Shiva and Ganesha inside the fort. The Karak Biji
and Bhawani Shankar cannons of the queen are also kept
here.
Rani Mahal
The palace of Queen Laxmi Bai or Rani Mahal is a fine
piece of traditional architecture, which has now been
converted into a museum. It houses a collection of
archaeological remains of the period between the 9th and
the 12th century AD and the sculptures excavated by the
Archaeological Survey of India. On the first floor of
the palace, decorative murals grace the ceiling as they
used to do it when they resided here after the British
annexed her kingdom.
Chhatri of Gangadhar Rao
The chhatri or cenotaph of Gangadhar Rao, the Rani Laxmi
Bai's husband stands in a walled enclosure. This
cenotaph is centred around a pavilion and devoid of
frescoes. It has a quiet and nostalgic feet about it. A
door leads to a reservoir or tank where local men bathe.
Jhansi Museum
Weapons, statues, dresses and photographs that represent
the Chandela dynasty and a picture galley, are the main
features of the Government museum. The Museum's folk art
gallery is fascinating with its exhibits of finger
painting from the walls of village huts.
Excursion from Jhansi |
|
|
|
Deogarh
Deogarh is situated about 123 kms. from Jhansi.
Deogarh is situtated on the right bank of the
Betwa river, at the western end of the Lalitpur
range of hills. It is of great antiquarian,
epigraphical and archaeological importance. It
remained in glory during the region of the Guptas,
the Gondas, Gurjara-Pratiharas, the Muslim rulers
of Delhi, the Marathas and the British. The
architecture and sculptures of these temples
display a high level of craftsmanship. The great
Gupta dynasty of |
 |
|
|
the 4th
and 5th century AD, fortified Deogarh and built the hand
crafted Dashavatar Temple. This fine temple is dedicated
to Lord Vishnu, and the earliest known Panchayatan
temple in North India. The Guptas have left an indelible
stamp on the sculptural art and architecture of India
and this temple is among their best. The carvings in the
temple almost seem as if they had been moulded, rather
than been fashioned painstakingly with a hammer and
chisel. Lord Vishnu reclines on an elbow and the
cushions below him have been indented to take the varied
pressures of his hips, back, shoulders. All around the
temple such minute details have been depicted on the
hard stone with the most exquisite fidelity. The
Deogarh's most famous attraction is the walled complex
of temples belonging to the gentle and non-violent Jain
community. The site was a Jain centre from the 8th to
the 17th century. There are 31 Jain temples, all
situated inside the Fort of Karnali, on the hill
overlooking the river Betwa. This complex has the
world's largest collection of the Jain sculptures
belonging from the 9th to 12th centuries. Most of them
have been imbedded in the walls of the complex which not
only protects them but also makes them accessible to
visitors. There are also beautiful images installed in
the various temples of the complex. Gorakhgiri is the
hill where Guru Gorakhnath once resided with his
disciples. The spot is ideal for rock-climbing and
picnics.
Mahoba
Mahoba is situated about 140 km from Jhansi, and
associated with the Chandela kings who ruled over
Bundelkhand between the 9th and the 12 centuries. Mahoba
is believed to have been existed under the different
names in all the successive cycles through which the
world has passed. Mahoba is said to be derived from a
great sacrifice, performed by its reputed founder the
Chandela Raja Chandra Varma in 800 AD. Architectural
antiquities of the Chandela period abound throughout the
neighbourhood. Mahoba was also a prominent cultural
centre. The Chandela kings, apparently, desired two
earthly things after the safe possession of Bundelkhand:
to built temples for their gods and to bring water to
the land. Ballads praise its days of glory and narrate
the inspiring saga of Alha and Udal, the two legendary
warrior brothers who sacrificed their lives for the
honour of their land. The Chandelas constructed four
lakes in Mahoba. These lakes are Madan Sagar, Vijay
Sagar, Kalyan Sagar and Kirat Sagar. Madan Sagar, 5 km
in circumference, was made in the 12th century, Vijay
Sagar in 11th century. The other two are Kalyan Sagar
and Kirat Sagar. The Ram Kund lake marks the place where
the dynasty's founder died and on an island in Madan
Sagar, the main lake, stands a Shiva temple that belongs
to the 12th century. The shores of the lakes and the
islands are littered with ruined temples, large rock
figures, Buddhist and Jain sculptures, a dancing Ganesh
of whitewashed, a sun temple dedicated to Surya and a
vast figure of Siva cut into the rock. There are various
temples, besides the numerous lakes that dot the rocky
islets. The Sun Temple at Rahila lies to the west of
Rahila Sagar, an artificial lake credited to Chandela
ruler Rahila, who ruled between 890 to 910 A.D. Though
in a ruined state today, the temple is a fine example of
early Pratihara architecture in the area. Maniya Dev
Temple is dedicated to the tutelary deity of the
Chandelas and stands on the bank of Madan Sagar.
Charkhari
The hill fort at Charkhari is surrounded on three sides
by water. The landward approach to the fort is made
though an imposing gate, its door studded with spikes to
deter elephants from knocing it down. It leads to a
courtyard and durbar hall decorated with portraits of
the Charkhari Rajas. From there the ascent is long and
gradual and this enabled elephants and heavy guns to be
taken higher. There are canons abandoned in nearly every
bastion. Also within these walls are the temple gardens
and well. Parmadidev, the last Chandela king, was
defeated by the Chauhan emperor Prithiraj in 1182, the
latter making Delhi his strategic base. Qutb-ud-Din (See
page 165) took the town in 1195. A number of Muslim
remains survive. The tomb of Jalhan Khan is constructed
from the remains of a Saivite temple, and a mosque whose
Persian inscription indicates it was founded in 1322
during the reign of Ghiyas-ud-din-Tughlug. The fort fell
into the hands of Tantia Topi during the Mutiny but the
local Raja Ratan Singh remained loyal to the British and
afterwards was awarded a hereditary 11 gun salute. |
|
