Jhansi

Jhansi, in southwestern Uttar Pradesh, is a historic city best known for its valour, especially during the 1857 uprising. The city grew around the hilltop Jhansi Fort, built in 1613 CE by Bundela Rajput ruler Raja Bir Singh Deo of Orchha. Originally called Balwantnagar, the settlement later came to be known as Jhansi—believed to refer to a “shadowy” or “blurred” view of the fort from a distance (jhainsi).

In the 18th century, Jhansi became part of the Maratha Confederacy, administered by the Peshwas’ governors. In 1804, after the Maratha Treaty with the British, Jhansi came under the East India Company but continued to be ruled by Maratha-appointed leaders. The most famous among them was Rani Lakshmibai, who became queen after her marriage to Raja Gangadhar Rao.

Following the controversial Doctrine of Lapse, the British refused to recognise her adopted heir after the king’s death and annexed Jhansi. This sparked Lakshmibai’s leadership in the 1857 War of Independence, during which she defended Jhansi Fort with extraordinary bravery before falling in battle in 1858.

After 1858, Jhansi became part of British India until Independence. Today, Jhansi is a major Bundelkhand city, known for its fort, Rani Lakshmibai’s legacy, and its role in India’s freedom struggle.