Nagpur - City of Oranges

Nagpur, known as the city of oranges, is the third largest city in the western Indian state of Maharashtra after Mumbai and Pune. Nagpur is one of the major industrial cities of Maharashtra. Nagpur is important geographically as it lies practically at the centre of India with the country's geographical centre being situated here. Nagpur is well-known throughout India as a trade centre for high-quality oranges grown in the surrounding region and hence the city is also known as Santra Nagari.

HISTORY OF NAGPUR
Gond prince of Deogad kingdom, Bhakt Buland, founded Nagpur in the early 18th century in the Chhindwara district. He tried to change the life of Nagpur as his new capital after seeing the advantage of civilized life of Delhi. His successor Chand Sultan too continued the work of Bhakt Buland. Disputes regarding succession arose with the death of Chand Sultan in 1739.

Maratha governor of Berar, Raghuji Bhonsle, tried to restore his elder son to the throne, and the control of Nagpur slowly passed on from the Gonds to the Marathas. Later Nagpur became the capital of the Bhonsles. Bhonsles lost to the British and Nagpur came under British influence in 1817. Raghuji III died without leaving any heir in 1853. As a result, the city came under the full control of British under Lord Dalhousie's Doctrine of Lapse.

Nagpur became the capital of the Central Provinces of India in 1861. With the advent of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway (GIP) in 1867, its development spurred 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 Bombay as the seat of the Maharashtra state legislature.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS OF NAGPUR
Gavilgad Fort: It is located near the hill station of Chikhaldara in Amravati district. The Hindu rulers originally constructed Gavilgad fort. It is located at a height of about 370 ft above sea level (MSL). Historians believe that it is 200-300 years old, although the fort's history is not known till date.

Magnificent Forts of Balapur: The forts of Balapur are named after goddess Baladevi. Balapur has turned into a seat of pilgrimage and a tourist spot over the years. It is located between the two rivers of Mana and Mhais. This place is at a distance of 6 km from the railway station.

Lonar Lake: Lonar Lake is the third largest natural salt-water lake in the world. The lake has also a dam of 1800 m. It comes after Bosmatvi Lake in Ghana, which has a diameter of 10000 m and New Cubec in Canada with a Dai of 3500 m.

Vidarbha Pandhari Kundinpur: It is located on the banks of Wardha River in Tiwsa Tehsil of Nagpur. It is about 120 km from Nagpur. There organize an annual ten-day fair during Karthik Purnima that attracts not less than 50000 devotees.

Markandeya Temple: It is located in Chamorshi Tehsil in Gadchiroli district. The shortest route is via Milswali-Sakhri, which is about 183km. Markandi can be also reached by taking Nagpur - Chandrapur - Mul Road.

Naranala Fort: Narnala Fort is located in Akola district in Maharashtra. The fort is still in a good condition. The fort is located amidst forest. The fort is well maintained and is worth giving a shot. Neglect of the Archaeological Survey Department is visible in this fort. The fort has a fortress wall and beautiful bastions. Akola is well connected by road with the important and big cities of Maharashtra. Hotels are available in Akola.

PLACES TO SEE NEAR NAGPUR
Adasa: Adasa is located at a distance of 45 km from Nagpur. This small village has a plethora of ancient and magnificent temples. There is also a Ganapati Temple here, which is worth to be visited. The idol of the Lord is a single stone, set up to facilitate easy worship for the devotees. This place is easily accessible from Nagpur with many buses are plying from Nagpur, Kamleshwar and Saoner.

Kanha: It is located at 275 kms from city. It is situated in the pristine forest of Central Indian State of Madhya Pradesh. It is on e of the best place in India, to observe the tiger's activity.

Khekranala: Khekranala is situated at a distance of 55 km from Nagpur. There is a beautiful dam at this place. The location of the site is so greenery and peaceful, as it is in the range forest of Khapra. Dense foliage covers the water reservoir.

Markanda: Markanda is a cluster of nearly 24 temples, which resembles the architecture of the Khajuraho temples. This small town is located on the left bank of Vainganga River, which is famous as a religious site. The place derives its name from Sage Markandeya.

Dhapewada: Dhapewada Lake is 8 km from Ramtek and 60 km from Nagpur. This place has a small temple of Vithoba lies peacefully on the banks of the Chandrabhaga River. It has a variety of water sports to offer as well. This place is known to be the Pandharpur of Vidarbha. Khindsey Lake is another beautiful water body set amidst the green stretch of the Ramtek hill. This place is an ideal picnic spot.

Nagardhan: Nagardhan too has a fort, which is believed to be constructed by the Bhonsles. Gifted with an abundance of wild life, Nagzira has a wildlife sanctuary resting in natural domains that are a harmonious combination of lush greens and water bodies. Gaur, sambar and deer can be seen here.

Nawegaon Dam: Nawegaon Dam is the most popular forest resort of Vidarbha. The resort provides different adventure sports. Kolu Patel Kohli built this dam at the start of the 18th century. A placed lake adorns the hub of the hill ranges. There are also watchtowers to catch the wildlife in action. There is a deer park near the dam as well called Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, along with three fascinating gardens and children's park.

Ramtek: Ram temple, which is more than 600 years old and Jain Temple, which has some beautiful carvings and sculpture are the main attractions of Ramtek. Ramtek is at a distance of 50 km from Nagpur. Lord Rama, Sita and Laxman were believed to be visited this place. Kalidas composed Meghdoot in this place.

Pavnar: Strategically located on the verge of the Dham River, Pavnar is of extreme historical importance. Its name derived from a Rajput ruler Pawan. It forms one of the most prehistoric colonies in the district. Gandhi Kuti and Paramdham Ashram of Vinobaji are the attractions of this place.

NAGPUR SHOPPING
Nagpur being a major city of Maharashtra has quite wide ranges of shopping places. Street shops are there at major streets for fashionable items as well as the show rooms for the deeper pockets. 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.

Nagpur is famous for its world-class oranges. It is claimed to be one of the most remunerative potential foreign exchange earning crops of not only of this region but also as one of the horticultural crops after mango and banana at national level in India. Orange products like jam, jelly, marmalade and fruit squash can also be purchased in cheapest rates with best quality. Oranges are cultivated in 80000 hectares in the entire Vidarbha region with a total production of nearly 5 lakh tons. Nagpur orange in Nagpur district is cultivated in 20, 965 hectares area.

Nagpur is flourishing on trades like cotton/handloom textiles, wood, tobacco, machine tools and plastics. Moreover Nagpur is the home for largest automakers Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., Ashok Leyland Ltd., reputed steel makers Nagpur Engg. Co. Ltd (NECO), Sunflag Iron Steel Co. Ltd., Nippon Denro Ispat Ltd., largest paper maker Ballarpur Paper Mills, finest textile maker Raymond Ltd. (India), largest cement makers Associated Cement Companies Ltd., Ambuja Cements ltd., L & T Cement (Larsen & Tubro Ltd.), Birla Cement works (Manikgarh Cement Ltd.),

FAIR AND FESTIVALS OF NAGPUR
Marbat: Marbat is celebrated only in the Nagpur region, especially in the Nagpur city. People prepare statues of evil forces and take out procession in this festival. These statues are burnt at the end, and assumed that all evil forces are burnt. It is believed that the city would be free from all types of evils after it.

Ramjanam: This festival is organized on the birthday of Ramchandra. Ramjanam is celebrated with great enthusiasm and brotherhood in Nagpur. A rath yatra is taken out from the Ram Mandir to major parts of the city. Rath yatra is the procession of God Shri Ramchandraji on chariot. The rath yatra wraps up at the same location where it started.

To welcome Ram Chandraji, nearly 2,00,000 people gathers on both sides of the streets. Procession starts with the youngsters on skating wearing traditional dresses. Tribal dances are also performed in front of the chariot. Wearing masks of different Gods, like Ganesh and Hanuman, young boys and girls march ahead of chariot.

HOW TO REACH NAGPUR
By Air: Nagpur is connected with domestic flights with the cities of Mumbai, Calcutta, Delhi Hyderabad, Pune, Bhubaneswar and Raipur. Nagpur's Sonegaon airport is nearly 8 km south of the city.

By Rail: Electrified broad gauge railway track connects Nagpur to all four major cities and villages of India with Nagpur. Nagpur railway station is an important rail junction on the Central and Southeastern lines.

By Road: Bombay Calcutta NH-6 and Kanyakumari Varanasi NH-7 pass through the city. This city is well connected by road with major cities and villages in and out the state of Maharashtra.