Rani Mahal Jhansi, History Uttar Pradesh, India

The Rani Mahal Jhansi or Queen’s Palace, is one of the Royal Palace of Jhansi. It is situated at Rani Mahal Rd, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India. Raghu Nath-2, one of the members of the Newalkar family, built the Mahal. It was constructed during his reign (1769-96) when he was the subedar of Jhansi. Basically, the Rani Mahal is a flat-roofed and two-storeyed building. It has a quadrangular courtyard that is beautifully decorated with a small well and a fountain on opposite sides. The ground floor is adorned with stone sculptures. These sculptures are collected from various locations, such as Barua Sagar, Chandpur, Dudhai, and Madanpur. Those sculptures tell the story of the Gupta to Medieval Period (9th to 12th centuries). Nowadays, the Rani Mahal is a place of history and memories of a remarkable era.

Attraction

The entire Rani Mahal was originally one of the most attractive places in the world. Here, you can find simplicity and elegance at a time. Everywhere, you find a royal touch. The architectural grandeur expresses its royalty. The walls take you back to the 9th to 12th centuries. It was constructed in the Bundelkhand Architectural style. Besides, the mahal stands as an awesome blending of Mughal and Rajput styles. The ancient sculpture museum is also very impressive. Moreover, If you want to explore Jhansi, the Rani Mahal is the must-visit place.

History

The Rani Mahal is located at the heart of Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India. It was a memorable place because of Queen Laxmibai, who was the wife of Raja Gangadhar Rao.

Between 1769 and 1796, Raghu Nath-2, one of the members of the Newalkar family, was the subedar of Jhansi. He was built the Rani Mahal. It became the home of the uncompromising Rani Laxmibai from 1853-58. The indomitable queen is famous for her continuous bravery and warriorism. She was able to leave her landmark on the blessed walls of the mahal. But in 1858, her fate faced a harsh reality in the time of the Indian Rebellion. A significant portion of the palace was destroyed by the British bombardment.

Inside/Outside Views

Actually, the Rani Mahal is a royal building that is flat-roofed and two-storeyed with a long quadrangular courtyard. It is adorned with a fountain and a small well on the opposite sides. The palace has six halls. The parallel corridors are adorned with multi-foiled arches and a number of small rooms. Everywhere in the palace, you can experience the royal touch. The Darbar Hall is decorated with vibrant flower paintings.

It also showcases an array of faunal, floral, and geometrical motifs. However, Darbar Hall can be called a place of elegance and grandeur. The arches aren’t decorated in an ordinary way. Rather, they are adorned with peacock and rosette patterns. Besides this, the ground floor of the palace is also embellished with various elegant stone sculptures, which are collected from Gupta to Medieval Period(9th to 12th centuries). Here, you will also find a museum of ancient sculptures. Though the sculptures are destroyed, they also stand as a testament to resilience. Here, you can still hear the echo of the queen’s footsteps.

How to Reach

By Air: Gwalior Domestic Airport is the nearest airport of the mahal . It is about 103 km away from the mahal. You can take local buses, cabs or taxis to reach your desired place very easily.

By Train: Jhansi Railway Station is the nearest station of the mahal. Most major cities in the country like Delhi, Mumbai,Chennai,Agra,Bhopal,Gwalior etc. are well- connected to Jhansi by rail.You can easily get any local transports such as taxis or buses from the railway station.

By Bus: Jhansi has well road connectivity with major cities of the country such as Agra, Khajurao,Delhi,Kanpur,Lucknow .So, it is easily accessible for all local modes of transports. You can take any local bus from nearby cities or States. Besides, you can also take auto or taxi to get there.

Tips for Travellers

Before your visit, study the history of Rani Laxmibai . It will help you to explore the mahal properly.
Try to wear comfortable shoes as you should visit the mahal and it’s surrounding by walking.
Consider the historical significance, dressed modesty with respect.
Avoid to touch any sculptures.
October to March that means winter is the best time to visit the mahal. It will give you pleasant weather throughout the visit. Because, during summer, the temperature of Jhansi increases and becomes too hot.
Try to explore the local markets.
Carry your necessary papers, water bottles, medicines and other emergency contacts
Maintain the guidelines given by the authorities.
Take care of you and your belongings.