Jhansi is an important tourist destination in Uttar Pradesh and is known for its insight into the life and History of the Bundelkhand region. Jhansi is a major road and rail junction, and is the administrative seat of Jhansi District and Jhansi Division. The original walled city grew up around its stone fort, which sits atop an adjacent hillock. Jhansi gained prominence because of its relation with Jhansi ki Rani, Lakshmi Bai and the Great Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. The National Highway Development Project, initiated by the government some 5 years ago has sparked Jhansi's development. The North-South Corridor connecting Kashmir to Kanyakumari passes through Jhansi. The East-West corridor also goes through this city, so infrastructure and real estate development in the city has taken rapid steps. A new airport is also on the cards.
Orchha was the local capital in the 1600s. To strengthen the security of Orchha, the Bundela King was constructing a fort on a hill in Shankargarh. When he looked at the site of the new fort, from his palace in Orchha, he told his general that the place was looking jhain-si (blurred shadow), and Jhansi got its present name then.
What to See
Fort of Jhansi built in 1613, by Raja Bir Singh Judao (1606-27) of Orchha; Rani Mahal or Queen's Palace; St Jude's Shrine: This shrine of great imortance among Catholics. St. Jude's bone is buried in the foundation of the cathedral. Devotees come from as far as Goa, on St Jude's feast day on October 28 every year; Orchha, a town in Madhya Pradesh, 14 km/30 min from Jhansi; Barua sagar; Deogarh, Khajuraho, 175 Km away and Jhansi Museum, located in the Jhansi Fort itself.
How to Get there
By Air:
Jhansi has no airstrip and the nearest airport is at Gwalior, 108 km away.
By Rail:
Jhansi is very well connected to major cities across India by direct train links. You can reach Jhansi from India's capital New Delhi, in 4.5 hours by New Delhi-Bhopal Shatabdi Express
(India's fastest train). This city is directly connected to Jammu, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Dehradun,
Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram, Kanyakumari, Vishakhapattnam, Patna, Kolkata, etc. It is a major rail junction in central India.
By Road:
The North-South Corridor connecting Kashmir to Kanyakumari passes through Jhansi. The East-West corridor also goes through this city, making it a major roadways hub.
Moving around:
Autos are convenient, but it is best to hire a cab of a suitable size.
Where to Stay: Jhansi has more hotels than Gwalior, with half its population. Currently, about 600,000 people live in Jhansi, in 156 km2. Jhansi Hotel; Hotel Sita; Hotel Shrinath Palace; Hotel Prakash Regency; Chanda
Hotel; Hotel Yatrik and Hotel Raj Palace are mid-range, while Hotel Rahi Veerangana, Hotel Tulsi, Dreamland Hotel, Ashok Hotel and Hotel Highway are cheaper, but nice. Hotel Shrinath Inn, Pujan, Central, Apna Guest House,Samrat Hotel and Hotel Bhavna are budget hotels.
Where to Eat
The better hotels have their own restaurants. Navbharat Restaurant; Sagar Restaurant; Haveli Restaurant and Hotel Yatrik are quite good; Hot Bite; Samrat Hotel; Holiday Restaurant; Janack's and Geeta Bhojnalaya are budget class.
