It’s been a while since I got back from a very exciting India trip, full of family time, a slow train journey halfway across the country, forts, temples, palaces, all for the purpose of attending a dear cousin’s wedding.
This time I chose to experience the journey like a tourist, not a native, and what an eye opener it was! Travelling to my dad’s hometown of Jhansi after a several years was a thrill because of the great weather and our plans of eating all things fried and wonderful. As kids, we thought Jhansi was a rather messy town, and were never too happy to walk through the streets, but armed with a nice camera, that changed completely. More the chaos, better the picture. And Jhansi has plenty of history to make it significant, loads of atmosphere to keep it quaint.
Somehow fresh hot jalebis and samosas for breakfast make sense on a holiday! I’m also recommending all the spicy chaat, dahi bhallas, and the softest rasgullas ever.
The biggest attraction in the historic town of Jhansi by far is the big fort, and Rani Laxmibai its most famous resident. The fort is 400 years old, built by Raja Bir Singh Deo of Orchha, and happily, ageing well, thanks to all the preservation efforts. Read more about it here. Reva and I sneaked out one morning for an exploration, and also to justify those sinful breakfasts. We were cautious (it is Uttar Pradesh after all), but the only people we had to fend off were some persistent guides and some random do-gooders.
The neighbourhood kids were as curious about us as we were about them. We all were delighted by their ‘welcome dance’ performance in the courtyard. 
And there’s us, all stuffed and happy!
A Busy Life of Leisure 
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