Samthar Fort, in Jhansi district Uttar Pradesh, is famous for its ancient architecture and rural landscapes. The traces of the origin of this fort are from the 16th century, during the rule of the Mughal emperor Shamsher Khan. It is said that this was a small fort named Shamsher Ghar, used as a small checkpoint for the Mughals. The residential area of the centre of the fort has elements of European architecture. A few beautiful temples and a stepwell have been recently restored. This fort is known for its amazing architecture in Bundelkhandi and French style, with powerful rulers ruling in this region.
Samthar Fort Location
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Samthar Fort is 60 km north of the Jhansi district and showcases the history of Samthar and the rulers of Jhansi, depicting its past with beautiful architecture reflecting many Bundeli references. It has scenic views of the town along with the detailing of the fort. It was also a part of Samshergarh town in a level plain in the Bundelkhand region, crossing the Pahauj and Betwa rivers.
How To Reach Samthar Fort
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By Air: The Gwalior airport and Kanpur airport are the nearest ones, to Samthar Fort.
By Rail: The nearest railway station to the Samthar Fort is the Jhansi railway junction that connects to various other parts of India.
By Road: There are many buses from the city of Uttar Pradesh and other cities that connect to the Jhansi district and there are also taxis and cabs available.
Places To Visit In And Around Samthar Fort
Here are a few places to visit in and around Samthar Fort to explore the culture and heritage of many powerful rulers and the architecture.
1. Rani Mahal
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Rani Mahal, in Jhansi district, Uttar Pradesh, is a royal palace that was built by Raghunath II of the Newalkar family. This palace was one of the residences of Rani Lakshmi Bai. The architecture of this palace has been constructed with a nice plan with a flat roof, a two-story building with a small well, one fountain, and a quadrangle courtyard. The place has 6 halls and parallel corridors with many small rooms and multi-foil arches. The Darbar is decorated with brightly coloured paintings depicting many floral and geometrical patterns.
Location: Rani Mahal Jhansi, Rani Mahal Rd, Manik Chowk, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh 284002
Timings: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Distance From Samthar Fort: 69.2 km
2. Garhmau Lake
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Garhmau Lake is in Jhansi district, Uttar Pradesh, surrounded by a calm environment. This place is beautiful, with scenery of calm nature that attracts many tourists visiting Jhansi. This lake is the best place to escape the busy city life and sit for some time amidst nature. Many animals are living surrounded by lush green areas. This place is ideal for many activities like camping, water activities like boating, hiking, nature walks and bird watching. This place has picture-perfect views with mesmerising scenery of the sky reflecting on the water.
Location: Garhmau Lake, Uttar Pradesh
Timings: Sunrise to sunset
Distance From Samthar Fort: 63.2 km
3. Jhansi Fort
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Jhansi Fort, also known as Jhansi Ka Qila, is in the heart of the Jhansi city, Uttar Pradesh. This fort was constructed during the rule of Karhade Brahmin Kings in Balwant Nagar from the 11th century to the 17th century and served as a stronghold. The Fort is standing on a hilly area with a North Indian style of construction. The Jhansi Mahotsav, held every year between January to February, is a grand occasion where many popular personalities and artists perform their plays.
Location: Jhansi Fort, Jhokan Bagh, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh 284002
Timings: 7 AM – 6 PM
Distance From Samthar Fort: 69.6 km
4. Pitambara Peeth
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Sri Pitambara Peeth, located in Datia, Madhya Pradesh, is a complex of Hindu temples along with an ashram. According to many legends, this place was the tapasthali of many mythological and real-life people. The shivling of Sri Vankhandeshwar Shiva in this temple is declared to be the same age as that of the Mahabharata by the archaeological survey of India. This place is also a Shakti Peeth, which is dedicated to Goddess Parvati. There is a huge crowd on Saturdays in this temple. This ashram also teaches Sanskrit language to young children free of charge.
Location: Shri Pitambara Peeth, Datia, Madhya Pradesh 475661
Timings: 5 AM – 11 PM
Distance From Samthar Fort: 61.1 km
5. Gwalior Fort
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Gwalior Fort, on a hilltop near Gwalior city, is one of India’s architectural treasures and was constructed by the Kachchhapaghata Dynasty during the times of 8th century A.D. This fort has survived many centuries, with many ruling dynasties passing by like Mughal Marathas and still strong. Even after all these rulings over time, the architectural design of this fort is still as beautiful as it was. This fort has many detailed carvings on various parts of the fort and towers. There is also a light show organised in the evening at this Fort to learn more about the history and the culture.
Location: Gwalior Fort, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh 474008
Timings: 24*7
Distance From Samthar Fort: 134.9 km
Where To Stay
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There are a few hotels near Samthar Fort that provide all the basic facilities necessary with budget-friendly prices. Most of the hotels provide facilities like free Wi-Fi, breakfast, AC room service, restaurant, airport shuttle, laundry service, parking area and many more. There are a few hotels that are popular around Samthar Fort, like Hotel Sunset, Jhansi Hotel, Hotel Fort View Orccha, Hotel Shree Palace, Hotel Raj Palace, Hotel Kamala, Om Residency and a few more.
Where To Eat
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Many restaurants and food outlets near Samthar Fort provide delicious food items from local cuisine and various other Indian cuisines. A few of the famous local cuisines to try in this place are Bedai with aloo sabzi, poha Jalebi and malpua. There are a few restaurants nearby like Shrotriy Bhojnalaya, Aakash Dhaba, Vegetarian Express, Maa Ki Rasoi, Molecular Air Bar Kitchen, Kushwaha Ji Foods and many more to try.
Best Time To Visit
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The best time to visit Samthar Fort is between the months of September to December, which is during the autumn season to explore the clear skies, and pleasant weather and the ideal time for sightseeing, picnics, and outings exploring the colours of the fort and the city. This Fort is open 24 hours a day on Sundays and closed from Monday to Saturday.
Other Factors To Consider
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Here are a few factors to consider while you plan your trip to Samthar Fort.
Average Cost Of Trip:
Taking into account the prices of the hotel stay, food and travel, the cost of a day trip to Samthar Fort ranges from ₹500 – 2000 depending on the accommodation and places visited.
Tips For Travellers:
- Keep in mind that during the peak season, the accommodation has high prices and more crowd
- Check for local events before visiting the place for many activities
- Take time and explore the architecture of the Fort
- Visit a few nearby attractions to learn more about the history and culture of this place
Samthar Fort in Jhansi is one of the most famous places in the state and is known for its architecture and great history. This place is a must-visit, and it is also surrounded by one of the most popular forts and temples that are known throughout India. Visit this place to learn about the history and culture of various powerful rulers. To know more about this place and for further information, visit TripXL.
Cover Photo: Recheck100 / Wikimedia Commons