Tourism in Nagpur

Nagpur is located in northeastern part of Maharashtra State, southwestern India and is almost at the geographical center of India. The zero milestone of India is in this city. Bakht Buland, a Gond Raja (king), founded Nagpur in the early eighteenth century; it became the capital of the Bhonsles of the Maratha confederacy. In 1817 it came under British influence, in 1853 it lapsed into British control, and in 1861 became the capital of the Central Provinces.

Nagpur was the capital of Madhya Pradesh State till 1956 before it became a part of Maharashtra State. The city has a landscape of low, flat-topped hills, flat tablelands, and deep, black fertile soils in stream and river valleys. The town is dominated by the British fort built in 1818 on the twin hills of Sitabuldi in the center of the city. This fort is a British creation and a prominent landmark of the city.

Cultural Life
By culture Nagpur is a cosmopolitan city. This is a bilingual city where the national language Hindi is as popular as state language Marathi. Nagpur district has an urban population of about 68% and has people of different castes and religion. Celebrations on some community festivals like Marbat, Ram Navami procession, Durga Devi Exhibition, and Ganesh Puja are noteworthy.

History
A Gond prince called Bhakt Buland started to build Nagpur as his new capital, looking at the advantages of civilized life in Delhi. His successor Chand Sultan continued the work. On Chand Sultan's death in 1739, disputes regarding succession arose and Raghuji Bhonsle, the Maratha governor of Berar, helped to restore the elder son to the throne. As the dissentions continued, Raghuji Bhonsle again intervened in 1743, and the control of Nagpur slowly passed on from the Gonds to the Marathas. It became the capital of the Bhonsles.

With the Bhonsle dynasty, came the vast class of cultivators in Vidarbha. Raghuji's successors lost some territories to the Peshwas of Pune and the Nizam of Hyderabad. In 1811 Pindaris attacked Nagpur. Bhonsles again lost to the British in 1817 and Nagpur came under British influence. In 1853 Raghuji III died without an heir to his kingdom, and the city lapsed into British control.

In 1861, Nagpur became the capital of the Central Provinces. The advent of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway (GIP) in 1867 spurred its development as a trade centre. After Indian independence, Nagpur became the capital of Madhya Bharat State (C.P. and Berar). In 1960, the Marathi majority Vidarbha region was merged with the new state of Maharashtra and Nagpur was designated the second capital of Maharashtra state, alternating with Mumbai (Bombay) as the seat of the Maharashtra state legislature.

PRIME ATTRACTIONS
Ambazari Lake
Lying 6-km west of Nagpur, the Ambazari Lake is the largest and the most beautiful lake in the city. It is one of the most beautiful and well-managed places in the city.

The Ambazari garden is a beautiful garden located just beside the lake and the Nagpur Municipal Corporation has developed it as a model garden. It was established in 1958 on an area of 20 acres of land. There are also many items over here to entertain children too.

Sitabuldi Fort
The most important landmark of Nagpur is the historic Sitabuldi Fort, located atop a hill right in the centre of the city. Built in 1857 by a British officer, this is one of the oldest attractions of the city. While passing in front of the Nagpur Railway Station via Kasturchand Park, one can notice this fort, standing on the twin hills of Sitabuldi. The fort now houses the office of the Territorial Army, and is open to the public on National holidays.

Tekdi Ganapathi Temple
Shri Ganesh Tekdi Temple is one of the ancient and most popular temples of Nagpur, located near railway station. The temple is called Tekdi Ganapati as it constructed on a hill and in Marathi Language a hill is called as a "Tekdi". It is believed to be approximately 250 years old.

It was a ordinary tin shade with a small platform when first built, but it started improving after 1970s, after the Military defense took its possession and in 1965 Late honourable defense Minister Shri Yashwantrao Chavan arranged the possession of the temple and adjoining land to temple trust. The construction of Ganesh temple was started in 1978 and completed in 1984.

Raman Science Center
Raman Science Center is situated opposite to Gandhi Sagar (which is also known as Shukrawari Talao). Although not many people are aware of this center, it is a good place, especially for school children. It has various good working models that demonstrate physical phenomena in an interesting manner.

Museum
This museum has been opened to public after quite a long gap. It houses historical artifacts, which are worth a look.

Seminary Hills
Seminary hills are named after the Seminary of St. Charles, located in a picturesque part of the city, which is quiet and relatively traffic free. There is a Deer Park, which is popular among the kids. Other places which are worth visiting are the Japanese Garden and the shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, also known as the Grotto.

Maharajbagh
Maharajbagh is one of the oldest attractions of Nagpur. Even though there are relatively few animals here but still this place is considered well for a day's outing, as it is green and pleasant.

Tadoba National Park
Tadoba National Park is a compact 120-sq-km park, perched at an altitude of 200m which is placed 100-km south of Nagpur and 45-km north of the district headquarter and industrial town of Chandrapur. A haven for wildlife enthusiasts, Tadoba is also referred to as "The Jewel of Vidarbha". Tadoba is oldest National Park in the state of Maharashtra; it is also a Project Tiger reserve, since 1993. The area around Tadoba was once highly populated by the Gond tribals. It derives its name from their local deity 'Taru', who, according to a legend, was killed in an epic fight with a tiger. He is still worshipped by the local villagers as the deity of 'Tadoba'.

Shri Vyankatesh Temple
Shri Vyankatesh Temple is located on Dharaskar Road in Itwari, Nagpur. Respected Chief venerable Swamiji Shri Dharacharyaji brought forward the idea to create Shri Vyankatesh Temple over here. The construction of the temple was started in 1963 and completed in 1968. The statue of the God Vyankatesh is unimaginably beautiful, made of black stone and is decorated with beautiful gold ornaments. Below this main idol there are three festival statues, which are purely made of gold by the skilled artist from Chennai. The main idol of God Vyankatesh had been brought from South India.

EXCURSIONS
Totladoh
Totladoh is about 75-km from Nagpur and is an ideal spot for a day's picnic. The main attraction over here is a dam. If one wishes to stay here then one can reserve rooms at the resort from Nagpur MTDC.

Ambakhori
Ambakhori is another tourist spot 80-km from Nagpur, which is at its best in winter. One has to carry food, as there is no restaurant situated over here. Water falls and forests are the main attractions of this scenic spot.

Pench
The Pench National Park on the border of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra has been known through the ages for its rich flora and fauna. Named after the river that flows nearby, Pench was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1983. Located around 70-km from Nagpur, this park is the 25th Tiger Reserve in the country and takes pride in its tigers and other wildlife. The total area under the Pench Tiger Reserve comes to about 758-km, out of which a core area of 299-sq-km is the National Park and 464-km the buffer area.

Waki Woods
Waki woods located just 30-km away from Nagpur on Saoner Road near Waki Dargha is considered as an ideal place for trekking lovers. There is a resort, which offers bird watching and wide range of activities like boating, archery, riding. Facilities provided by this resort include furnished-tented accommodation, electricity, water, and telephone.

Sewagram It is an important village in Wardha district, 88-km from Nagpur. Its original name was Shegaon but when Gandhi made it headquarter for his social service work its name was changed to Sewagram. There is also Gandhi Ashram and Gyan Mandir located over here.

Ramtek
Ramtek is one of the important pilgrim centers of Maharashtra located about 57-km from Nagpur. It is believed that Lord Rama along with his consort Sita graced this place and hence it was named Ramtek. There is a temple dedicated to Lord Rama, Sita and Laxman on the top of the hill. This land has been mentioned as Ramgiri, in "Meghdootam", which is one of the fascinating works of Sanskrit poet Kalidas.

Paunar
Paunar is situated 3-km away from Sevagram, where there is an ashram of Acharya Vinoba Bhave, who played an active role in the "Bhoo-Daan Movement". He walked the length and breadth of India persuading the rich landlords to donate their land to the poor land-less laborers.

Navegoan National Park
The Navegaon National Park located in Navegoan. The Park is spread over an area of 135-sq-km. A picturesque lake with crystal clear water, stretching over an area of 11 sq. kms is set in the midst of hill ranges and can be approached through a series of winding trails. Strategically located, watchtowers enable the visitor to Navegaon to catch a glimpse of the region's varied wildlife. It consists of a Deer Park, an aviary and three beautifully landscaped gardens.

HOW TO GET THERE
Nagpur is a growing agglomeration situated at the junction of rail, road, and air routes from Mumbai, Delhi, Calcutta, and Chennai, and it is also the second capital of Maharashtra State.

Air: The Sonegaon Airport is 8-km south of Nagpur City. It has regular flights connecting Mumbai, Kolkatta, Delhi, Hyderabad, Pune, Bhubaneswar, and Raipur.

Rail: Electrified broad gauge railway track connects Nagpur to all four major metros. Destinations connected included Mumbai, Delhi Calcutta, Chennai, Kolhapur, Pune, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Jammu, Amritsar, Lucknow, Varanasi, Bhubaneshwar, Trivendrum, Cochin, Gorakhpur, Visakhapatnam, Bangalore, Mangalore, Patna, and Indore.

Road: It is very easy to access Nagpur by road as all major highways NH-7 (Varanasi - Kanyakumari) and NH-6 (Mumbai - Sambalpur - Calcutta) pass through the city.

WHERE TO STAY
Being one of the major cities in Maharashtra Nagpur is excellently equipped with accommodation facilities for the tourists. The options vary from posh luxurious hotels to budget hotels. The few noteworthy exceptions are the lodge style budget hotels around the city bus stand chowk.

OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION
Hospitals: Gandhi Children's 521340
Avanti Inst. of Cardiology 522408 / 552509
Public Health Division 533886
Civil Surgeon Office 725421
Indira Gandhi Medical College 725274

Banks:
State Bank of India
230, East Wardhaman Nagar, C. A. Road

State Bank of India Plot No.148, Thapar Enclave Kalpana Building Ramdaspeth

Union Bank of India

Shopping Centers:
Sitabuldi, WHC Road, Dharampeth Road, Residency Road (Sadar) are famous for Shopping. Poonam Chambers in Chhindwara Road is a Shopping mall for branded clothes and Non Branded Clothes, Shoes, Super Bazaar, Gifts and Cards, Jewellry Shops, Furniture, Snacks and Fast Food, and Music.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Temperature Range (Deg °c) Maximum Minimum
Summer: 48° C 33º C
Winter: 27° C 6° C to 7° C
Latitude: 210.07
Longitude: 790.07
Clothing: Light cotton
STD Code: 0712/ 06758
Population: 1,624,752 (1991 Celsius)
Climate: Tropical
Rainfall: 1205 mm (average)

NEARBY CITIES
Totladoh: 75-km
Ambakhori: 80-km
Sewagram: 88-km
Paunar: 91-km
Ramtek: 57-km
Wardha: 74-km
Amaravati: 155-km