In September 1851, she gave birth to a boy, later named Damodar Rao, who died four months after birth due to a chronic illness.

Manikarnika was married to the Maharaja of Jhansi, Gangadhar Rao Newalkar, in May 1842 and was afterwards called Lakshmibai (or Laxmibai) in honour of the Hindu goddess Devi Lakshmi and according to the Maharashtrian tradition of women being given a new name after marriage. It houses a collection of archaeological remains of the period between the 9th and 12th centuries AD. Her palace, the Rani Mahal, has now been converted into a museum. Her horses included Sarangi, Pavan and Baadal according to historians she rode Baadal when escaping from the fort in 1858. Rani Lakshmibai was accustomed to riding on horseback accompanied by escorts between the palace and the temple, although sometimes she was carried in a palanquin. And she was known for her unique perspectives and her courage to fight against social norms even in front of the whole society. Rani Lakshmibai contrasted many of the patriarchal cultural expectations for women in India's society at this time. She was educated at home and was taught to read and write, and was more independent in her childhood than others of her age her studies included shooting, horsemanship, fencing and mallakhamba with her childhood friends Nana Sahib and Tantia Tope. The Peshwa called her 'Chhabili', which means 'beautiful ' and 'lively and cheerful'. Her father worked for Peshwa Baji Rao II of Bithoor district. Her father was the Commander of the war of Kalyanpranth. Her mother died when she was four years old. Her parents came from the Tambe village of the Guhagar taluka located in the Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra.

Her father was Moropant Tambe and her mother Bhagirathi Sapre (Bhagirathi Bai). She was named Manikarnika Tambe and was nicknamed Manu. Rani Lakshmibai (or Rani Lakshmi Bai) was born on 19 November 1828 (some sources say 1835) in the town of Benares (now Varanasi) into a Marathi Karhade Brahmin family.

Jhansi ki rani episode 1