Rani Lakshmibai was born on 19 November 1828 [4][5][6] in the town of Varanasi into

a Marathi Karhade Brahmin family.[7] She was named Manikarnika Tambe and was

nicknamed Manu.[8] Her father was Moropant Tambe[9] and her mother Bhagirathi
Sapre (Bhagirathi Bai). Her parents came from Maharashtra.[10] Her mother died when
she was four years old. Her father worked for Peshwa Baji Rao II of Bithoor district.
[11]
 The Peshwa called her "Chhabili", which means "playful". She was educated at
home, able to read and write, and was more independent in her childhood than others
of her age; her studies included shooting, horsemanship, fencing [12]
[13]
 and mallakhamba with her childhood friends Nana Sahib and Tatya Tope.[14][15]
[dubious  –  discuss]
 Rani Lakshmibai contrasted many of the patriarchal cultural expectations for
women in India's society at this time.[16]
Rani Lakshmibai was accustomed to riding on horseback accompanied by a small
escort between the palace and the temple although sometimes she was carried
by palanquin.[17] Her horses included Sarangi, Pavan and Baadal; according to
historians she rode Baadal when escaping from the fort in 1858. The Rani Mahal, the
palace of Rani Lakshmibai, has now been converted into a museum. It houses a
collection of archaeological remains of the period between the 9th and 12th centuries
AD.