https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

IAS Officer Endeavours to Recreate Jhansi’s Glorious Past

The ancient city of Jhansi is getting a makeover under DM Andra Vamsi. Renovation work on heritage buildings like Pani Wali Dharamshala has started. Important historical areas to be also developed.
Indian Masterminds Stories

Situated between the rivers, Pahunj and Betwa, the city of Jhansi is a symbol of great courage and quiet dignity, and it inspires respect. It is a city rooted in historical significance and culture. After the Marathas took over the fort of Jhansi, they added numerous constructions to it. Around the same time, a number of sweet potable water resources were also developed in the region.

In an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds, the District Magistrate of Jhansi, Mr. Andra Vamsi, who has taken up the task of restoring the centuries-old water bodies and structures, spoke about it at length.

Pani wali Dharamshala

PANI WALI DHARAMSHALA

In 1742, Subedar Naroshanker initiated the development of Jhansi and its water resources with the Pani Wali Dharamshala. Later on, many other sarais and Dharamshalas came up around the same water source. These structures are still there, bearing testimony of a great historical past.

“To the North, there is the present Lokmanya Tilak Girls College. To the East, there is Marghaata (crematorium). To the North East, there is a temple of Yamuna and to the South East is a temple of Ganga. The statue of Yamuna is called Annapurna. There is also a shed in front of the Yamuna temple, where the last rites and rituals used to take place. The other rituals were held in Mahadeo Temple,” Mr. Vamsi informed.

Clean water of the dharamshala

RESTORING THE DHARAMSHALA

During the reign of Bhaisaheb, the funeral rites held in Pani Wali Dharamshala were stopped and a new crematorium was developed on the Eastern side of Laxmi Taal. This was named Shyam Chopadra and was open to the public. To the south of Shyam Chopadra, another crematorium was built exclusively for the funeral rites of the members of the Jhansi state.

“The sanctity, cleanliness, and beauty of Pani Wali Dharamshala had actually begun getting restored a long time back, during the reign of Bhaisaheb itself,” the officer said.

Now, once again, under the aegis of the district administration, restoration work has been taken up on all heritage structures to revive their lost glory.

Pani Wali Dharamshala under restoration

REJUVENATION WORK UNDER SMART CITY PROJECT

Pani Wali Dharamshala has now come under the Restoration and Rejuvenation Project of Smart City, Jhansi. Under this project, an ancient pond located at the center of Jhansi city and a Step Well of 75-meter length and 70-meter width have already regained their beauty.

While rejuvenating the water bodies, the main areas of focus were:

  • Cleaning the hyacinth
  • Modernizing and deep cleaning the ponds
  • Desilting and diverting the sewage lines
  • Removing unwanted encroachments and marking boundaries
  • Diverting the excess and dirty overflowing water into the nallahs
  • Restoring the Natwari Nala
The waterbody in all its glory

The officer said that the pending aeration and filtration works of the pond will be completed by the month’s end. He appealed to all the citizens to desist from throwing any litter into the stepwell or any other water body.

Happy with the progress achieved so far, Mr. Vamsi congratulated the Nagar Nigam team, Mayor Mr. Ramteerth, MLA Mr. Ravi Sharma, and Nagar Ayukt Mr. Awanish for the beautiful work.

He also revealed that the work will not stop here, as this is just the beginning. Some similar projects in the pipeline are – renovation of Laxmi Taal and Jhansi Fort, façade lighting, sound, and light shows in historical monuments, upliftment of Narayan Bagh, and the renovation of GIC.

If everything goes as planned, the city of Jhansi will soon be able to take people back in time to offer glimpses of its past glory.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
ACC_Appointments Committee of Cabinet
IDES Aseem Kumar’s Tenure at MNRE Extended by 2 Years; IRSME Sushil Kumar Singh to Continue Addl Charge of Mumbai Port Authority
Indian Forest Services IFS officer
IFS Officer Priya Ranjan Gets Extension as Managing Director of National Horticulture Board - Know More!
RCIL RAILTel
RailTel Selects Techno Electric as Partner for 10MW Data Centre in Noida on Revenue-Sharing Basis - Details Inside
Squadron-Leader-Manisha-Padhi
Who Is Squadron Leader Manisha Padhi, Who Becomes India’s First Woman Aide-de-Camp?
Sundarban Forest
West Bengal to Replace 56 km of Nylon Nets in Sunderbans to Prevent Tiger Intrusion into Villages - Details Inside
IRS Officer Indian revenue Services
CBI Orders Attachment of ₹7 Crore Properties in Corruption Case Involving IRS Officer Amit Nigam - Details Inside
IAS B Ashok
Setback for Kerala Govt: CAT Quashes IAS B Ashok’s Appointment as LSG Reforms Commission Chairman - Details Inside
cybercrime
How a Fake Terror Probe Call Led to a Retired Doctor Being Duped of ₹2.2 Crore by Cyber Fraudsters Posing as IPS, NIA Officers
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Monika Singh
Monika Singh’s Life Beyond the Bureaucracy | Video Interview 
IAS Tushar G Nikhare
Modernising Governance: A Digital Transformation in Gangtok
IMG-20250523-WA0036
Abhishek Singh's SECRET: Vipassana, Anthropology & Smart Answer Writing | Video Interview 
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
ANUBHAV SINGH UPSC IFS 2024
9 Years, 8 Attempts, 7 Failures: How Anubhav Singh Cracked UPSC IFS 2024 with AIR 3 Against All Odds | Exclusive
Anubhav Singh’s inspiring journey to UPSC IFS Rank 3 showcases relentless perseverance, strategic preparation,...
Jogender Sihag
“I Cleared UPSC, But My Grandfather isn’t Here to Hear it,” Jogender Sihag, AIR 521, UPSC CSE 2024
"Life is short; make the most of it, whether in civil service or any other field. Just have a clear vision...
WhatsApp Image 2025-05-28 at 18.56
Didn’t Clear UPSC But Found Something Greater: A Story That Will Change How You See Success
She left a top finance job for UPSC, did not clear but built a thriving wellness brand instead. Veda's...
Social Media
Tiger jump Sundarban
Stunning Viral Video Shows Royal Bengal Tiger Making Spectacular 30-Foot Leap Across River in Sunderbans - See It Here
Retired Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Susanta Nanda shared the clip online, which quickly went...
shubham kumar ias marriage
IAS Topper Weds BPSC Topper: Shubham Kumar Marries IRS Officer Priyangi Mehta in Patna; Wedding Video Goes Viral
Topper Couple Alert: Shubham Kumar, Priyangi Mehta’s Wedding Grabs Spotlight in Bihar
parveen kaswan elephant
Elephant Outsmarts Electric Fence! IFS Parveen Kaswan Shares Incredible Video!
In the now-viral 51-second clip, the intelligent giant approaches a wooden pole supporting high-voltage...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
ACC_Appointments Committee of Cabinet
IDES Aseem Kumar’s Tenure at MNRE Extended by 2 Years; IRSME Sushil Kumar Singh to Continue Addl Charge of Mumbai Port Authority
Indian Forest Services IFS officer
IFS Officer Priya Ranjan Gets Extension as Managing Director of National Horticulture Board - Know More!
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Monika Singh
IAS Tushar G Nikhare
IMG-20250523-WA0036
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT