Visit the City that Occupies the Heart of India: 10 Best Places to Visit in Nagpur (2020)

Nagpur was founded in 1703 and has evolved into an entirely different city since then. It is one of the significant political and commercial centres of the Vidarbha region in Maharashtra.

Nagpur has some great restaurants which serve fantastic local cuisine like "saoji" and many more. It is also famous for its greenery; you'll be surprised to find a green belt right in the middle of the city, which lets you enjoy the beauty and freshness of nature amidst the crowded city. You will also be able to take in the beauty of the surrounding hills of Sahyadris and other tourist spots once you are in Nagpur.

Since Nagpur is one of the major cities in the country, it is well connected, and as a matter of fact, it is the centre of India. Don't forget to visit the zero milestones while you are here. You can reach Nagpur by train as it runs to and from all the major cities in India. You can also take a flight to Nagpur and land at Mihan Airport. It is only 7 km from the city centre, and flights can be taken to Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Nasik, Pune, etc. from here. The city has a Hajj terminal direct to Jeddah as well. If you like to travel via bus, you can easily access buses as it has a good network with the surrounding major cities

One of the most visited places in Nagpur is the Deeksha Bhumi or the Dhamma Chakra Stupa. It is a wonder in itself that can accommodate more than 5000 people at a time. The magnificent place is made of Dhaulpur sandstones, marbles, and granites which stands at around 120 feet tall. The disciples of Ambedkar and Buddhism come over the Deeksha Bhumi on Ashoka Vijaya Dashmi to celebrate the amalgamation of Dalits to Buddhism by Doctor Ambedkar and offer their respects. Deeksha Bhumi is the place where B. R. Ambedkar was ordained to Buddhism with many of his followers; therefore, it holds a special religious place in the hearts of the people in Nagpur.

It is made over four acres of land with a two-storey hemispherical stupa, which is known to be the largest hollow stupa in the country. You can also visit the Buddha Vihara and a Bodhi Tree here. It is one place you should not miss if you are planning a trip to Nagpur. It is situated in Abhyankar Nagar and is open from 12 noon to 6 in the evening. The entry to the place is free of cost.

Another place which you should visit at least once while in Nagpur is the Umred Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary. It is also known as the home of "Jai," the largest and only male tiger in the Sanctuary. People love this place as it has beautiful places where you can take a lot of pictures and add them to your memory club.

It is not only famous for its tigers, but you can also find animals like Gaur (wild dogs). You will also be able to spot pangolins and flying squirrels, which are rare to see in other parts of the country. If you have a free day in Nagpur and want to enjoy the wildlife to the fullest, you should plan a trip to this wildlife sanctuary for sure. Your kids will love to spend a day here and will be excited beyond words if they get to see a tiger roaming right in front of them.

It is situated 58 km from Nagpur in Navegaon and is open between 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. You will have to pay a sum of Rs. 250 to enter the Umred Karhandla Sanctuary.

If you get tired of walking around the city shopping or roaming through hundreds of places Nagpur has to offer, you can always go to Ambazari Lake for a peaceful day out. It is at the Southwest boundary of Nagpur and is one of the 11 beautiful lakes in Nagpur. The Nag River procreates from this lake. It was built in 1870 during the rule of Bhonsle, and the objective of making the lake at that time was to procure water for the city.

There is a beautiful garden at the Ambazari lake, which was built in 1958 on 18 acres of land. It is preserved by the Municipal Corporation of Nagpur and is one of the best places to see in Nagpur. It has a musical wellspring and different electric rides for people of all ages. You will find many people walking in the garden during the morning hours and taking in its beauty before they start a hectic day. It is full of lush green trees and flowers, which gives it a feeling of being in a jungle safari. You will love to spend a day here with your family and friends.

The Sitabuldi Fort is the most favourite spot for the history buffs. It is situated on top of a hill and was built in 1857 by a British Officer. Currently, the fort is an office of the Territorial Army (118th infantry battalion) but is open for the public on national holidays like the 26th of January, the 1st of May (Maharashtra Day) and 15th of August. You will be able to see the trough which is made to protect the fort. There is also a memorial built for soldiers who died in the war between the Marathas and the British. A visit to the fort can be a good history lesson for your kids.

While you are at the Sitabuldi Fort, you should also see the graves of the soldiers and the prison where Mahatma Gandhi was kept. It is one place you should not miss if you are in Nagpur during the mentioned holidays. You are not allowed to bring cameras, mobile phones, and other bags inside the fort due to security reasons as well as to preserve the history of the place.

If you're a die-hard cricket fan, then here's something for you to visit - Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground in Nagpur. It has seen many legendary international matches and tons of test series over the years. You would be surprised to know that the ground is one of the largest stadiums in India area wise. It is also known as the VCA stadium.

If you want to visit the VCA, then all you have to do is to take a means of local transport from the Khapri Railway Station, which is just 2 km from the stadium.

Flowers are adored by all, and if you want to see a place that will bloom your heart, you need to visit the Japanese Rose Garden in Nagpur. It is called the Japanese Rose Garden because it was built influenced by the way people in Japan grow roses. You will fall in love with the place for its fantastic beauty. It is situated along the civil lines, which is a few kilometres from the city, and not too many people live here, which helps preserve the natural beauty of the place.

The Japanese Rose Garden has become one of the favourite places to visit in Nagpur; it is a perfect place to roam around during the morning hours and take in the fresh air. It calms and refreshes your mind and body. This garden is humanmade, and you can see beautiful placements of flowers and plants all around the garden, which enhances its beauty to the max.

It is open every day throughout the year, and the entry is free. The best time to visit the garden is during winter or between October to March as it is not very hot during these months and you will be able to enjoy the garden to the fullest.

If you like to visit temples, then you should visit the Sri Poddareshwar Ram Mandir in Nagpur. It was built in 1923 and is made of beautiful marbles and sandstone from inside out. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Ram and is one of the most religious places among Hindus in India. It was built by Late Shri Jamnadhar Poddar from the famous Poddar family of Bissau in Rajasthan. The story behind the construction of the temple is that after the death of Jamnadhar's son, he decided to dedicate his time to religious activities and to help the oppressed which encouraged him to make the temple.

The temple has beautiful idols of Lord Ram, Lakshman, Hanuman, and Mata Sita which are worshiped here. You can easily see the whole story of Ramayana through the idols made inside the temple. It also has a huge Dharamshala where people can stay free of cost for any number of days. The Dharamshala provides free food for people staying here.

The temple is situated very close to the railway station. Therefore, it is quite easy to get there and stay there for as long as you want.

Another beautiful place for the nature lovers in the Seminary Hill. It is named after the St. Charles Seminary on its crest. It is known for its beautiful view of the entire Nagpur city from the top of the hill. You will see many young couples roaming around the place and taking memorable pictures.

If you wish to enjoy nature and do not want to travel long distances for it, then you should visit the Seminary Hill. You can trek atop the hill and enjoy the lush green surroundings. There is a Bal Udyan here, which is a small play area for kids so you can enjoy nature while your kids can play till they drop. You can also visit the Lord Mata Church and the Satpura Botanical Garden while visiting the Seminary Hill. There are several good eating joints near the area where you can sit and quench your hunger after a nice walk around the place.

Once in Nagpur, make sure you visit the Zero Mile, it is the point of the geographical centre of colonial India. It has a monument of four horses and a pillar made of sandstone. Zero Mile used to be the point from where the Britishers measured all the distances in olden days.

Earlier Nagpur was considered to be the centre of India, and all the distances were measured equal from here. Now, this pillar stands tall and attracts many visitors here. The four horses made here depict four directions. You will see a good number of tourists from across the globe visiting the site and witnessing this historical monument. You can visit the Zero Mile at any time of the day.

Apart from many tourists place right in the city of Nagpur you can also visit many beautiful picnic spots near it. There are many places where you can go during the day with your family and enjoy a day full of fun and frolic. Just pack a bag of goodies and head out to these locations.