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STAR FORT

Star Fort

STAR FORT

Walk through the narrow lanes of Jhansi, and keep your eyes peeled as you cross the Sadar Bazar area and enter the cantonment area. Hidden behind row of houses, you will slowly start noticing walls and battlements of a fortification. They have been carefully camouflaged and are almost impossible to photograph. What you are looking at is the ‘hidden fort’ of Jhansi, also known as the ‘Star Fort’ due to its star-like shape.

The magnificent six-pointed star fort is unique and is not usually seen in India. It was an architectural design used in castles in Italy and France. The star shape makes the fort less vulnerable to artillery attack.

No one knows who built this fort or how old it is. The third Anglo-Maratha War ended in 1818. During the reign of Raja Ramchandrarao the British stationed a subsidiary force in Jhansi. Built on 1.4 acres of land and made of local granite and lakhauri bricks set in lime mortar, the fort was used to house this force, a treasury and an arms and ammunition depot.

This fort played an important role in the Revolt of 1857. It was here that the revolt of the East India Company sepoys actually began in Jhansi. The sepoys in the 14th Cavalry stationed in Jhansi marched into the Star Fort and attacked the British, who took refuge in the main Jhansi Fort. They then marched to Rani Mahal and declared Rani Laxmibai as their leader. Today, the fort is in the charge of the Indian Army and is used for administrative purposes.

Distance from Shatam Jeeva

9.7 km

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