Nagpur 2 Nights | 3 days in Maharashtra Itinerary

Deekshabhoomi, Futala Lake, Ambazari Lake & Garen

Published on 2021-09-30

Deekshabhoomi

Deekshabhoomi

Destination

urban

Airport

Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport

Railhead

Nagpur Junction railway station

Best time to visit

November to March

  • Nagpur was founded in 1907 by ‘Bhakt Buland Shah’ and later sheltered under the Maratha empire by the royal Bhonsale dynasty.
  • Reputed to be one of the smart cities of India. Designated ‘The Tiger Capital of India’, ‘The Orange City’ and ‘The Winter Capital’ of Maharashtra.
  • This city is famous for being a major trade centre of Oranges cultivated in large parts of the region which are also exported to other countries
  • Nagpur is also popular for its astonishing lakes. Futala lake, Khindsi lake and Gorewada lake are some of the popular attractions for tourists.
  • Nagpur takes credit for the country’s first textile mill. Central India Spinning and Weaving Company Ltd. was established by the TATA group. 
  • This city is known for over 160 trains to halt daily which makes it one of the busiest railway stations in India besides Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh. 
  • It is recommended to visit Nagpur from mid-October to mid-March because summertime is very intense (~42 - 45℃)  
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How to reach Nagpur?

  • Railhead: Nagpur headquarters Central railways and South-East Central railways are two major railway stations in distance between 9 km. These stations are well connected to all intra-state and inter-state trains.
    • The city also has an extensive metro network for intercity travel.
  • By road: Nagpur is well connected as India’s 2 major highways (NH6 & NH7) pass through the city. To support the intercity and interstate travels, Nagpur has MSRTC(Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation) buses and NMPL (Nagpur Mahanagar Parivahan Limited) buses for intercity travels.
  • The two major Bus Stations in Nagpur are as follows:
    • Nagpur Bus Sthanak (CBS-1) at Ganeshpeth: It facilitates intrastate and interstate travels like Bhopal, Hyderabad, Pune, etc.
    • Mor Bhawan (CBS-2) at Jhansi Rani Square: For intra-city travel to places like university, Hudkeshwar, Deeksha Bhoomi etc.
  • Airport: Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar international airport is located in Sonegaon. It is 10-12 km from the heart of the city, Sitabuldi. It is well connected to all the major cities in India, including Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi. 

Highlights

  • Nagpur is the home of the world’s largest hollow Buddhist Stupa, visited by thousands of Monks and Buddhists across the world, every year. 
  • A historic city, Nagpur, is almost 3000 years old. This city was a part of the Gond, Maratha and Mughal dynasties along with the British empire. 
  • Famous for its ‘Santra Barfis’, the city offers one of the best street food cultures in Vidarbha. 
  • While roaming around the city, you’ll get to shop at ‘Sita-Buldi’ local and ‘Mahal’ wholesale markets.

Itinerary

Day1: Arrival Day and local Nagpur tour.

Assuming arrival timing is at the first half of the day.

  • Sitabuldi is at the centre of the city and you may find some good options to stay in the same area.
  • Hotel options:
    • Hotel Vrandavan: 1500 - 2000/- (approx.)
    • Hotel Hardeo: 2000 - 2500/- (approx.)

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Once you have checked in and refreshed, head out for lunch in Sitabuldi itself. Some of the restaurant options are available as below:

  • Gulshan Plaza: Taste the authentic North Indian and Mughlai flavours along with delicious Paneer dishes. Both Veg and Non-Veg options are available. Biryani is highly recommended here!
  • Moti Mahal Deluxe: Famous for its north Indian and south Indian food menu, this dining place is highly recommended for Mughalai Chicken.

Deeksha Bhoomi Monument: The construction of the Stupa is remarkable as it consists of a hemispherical two-storied building with each storey capable of housing 5000 monks. Its architectural splendour and historical significance make Deekhshabhoomi a prominent pilgrim centre. It is the biggest Stupa in Asia and was constructed in the memory of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. You can take a local auto as it is hardly 3.5 km away from Sitabuldi.

  • Recommended duration: 3 hours
  • Timings: 12-6 PM
  • Entry fees: None
Deekshabhoomi
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Deekshabhoomi

Ambazari Lake & Garden: Enjoy your family or friends time with a beautiful sunset from the Lake situated at the south border of the city, 5 km away from your last stop. The Lake is known to provide water supply to the city since the Bhonsle dynasty. This spot also includes a Musical Fountain, various Electric rides, and Amusement Games ensuring a good time and beautiful captures. 

  • Recommended duration: 2 hours
  • Timings: 12-6 PM
  • Entry fees: None

Evening snack at Bajaj Nagar: 

  • PlanB Burger cafe: Serves one of the delicious Burgers, Fries and Coffee in the city.
  • Bawarchi: Known for their multiple snack options, enjoy food quality and ambience. Recommended - Jain Thali and Misal Pav.
  • Anandam: Explore any snack of your choice. The restaurant serves delicious Rava Dosa and Chole Kulcha with their unique spice mix. 

Evening shopping stroll in Sitabuldi: At the heart of the city, you would find the busiest street in Nagpur. Open shops vendors of Clothes, Footwear and Copper Jewellery craftsmen sell their products besides the streets. Wander around this street for local brands and handcrafted items. 

Dinner options near Sitabuldi: 

  • New Singh’s Barbeque & Curry: It is a one-stop destination for a healthy & hearty meal for both Veg and No-Veg lovers. Their Chicken tukda is highly recommended.
  • Brindavan Ice & Spice: Known for their authentic south Indian flavours, the restaurant is the destination, if you are craving a dosa.
  • Maheshwari Rasoi: This place is famous for its Veg authentic dishes, also known for Maharashtrian and Rajasthani Thali. Sevbhaji is a popular dish to try.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Night view of Nagpur City
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Night view of Nagpur City

Day2: Sightseeing In Outskirts Of Nagpur

Start your day a bit early (7:30 AM) and have a yummy breakfast.

  • Breakfast options in 2 km of radius:
    • Priti Corner, Shankar Nagar: A must visit, this breakfast point offers Vidarbha Poha, Samosas & Kachoris with their homemade Chutneys.
    • Dosa Plaza, Ravi Nagar: This place serves 104 types of Dosa in Nagpur. Easy to locate and a delicious choice for Dosa lovers.
    • Corridor Seven cafe, Sitabuldi: Owned by India’s first Aeropress Champion at the Indian-International Coffee Festival, this place is ideal for Coffee and Egg dishes. 

Swaminarayan Temple, Middle Ring Road, Wathoda: Known for its beautiful Sompuri architecture. Nagpur’s Swaminarayan temple is the largest among over 1000 temples built by Swaminarayan Sanstha across the world. Explore the temple's beauty, gardens and state-of-the-art craftsmanship. It is appx 8 Km from the heart of the city.

  • Timings: 6 AM to 12 PM & 4 PM to 8:30 PM
  • Entry fee: None

Waki Woods: Waki offers campsites in the forest area enabling you to connect with nature appx 30 KM away from the heart of the city to Saoner road. The luscious greens provide you with a plethora of activities, other than a scintillating natural landscape for a picnic day out.

  • Life in these 'Woods' is a perfect mix of modernity and nature, as you will find fully furnished tents with facilities like electricity and phones.
  • These woods even offer trekking ventures to the visitors. Enriched by nature’s beauty with the Kolar river, Waki Woods are a must to visit. 

Lunch options near Waki Woods: 

  • Zunka Bhakr by local vendors: Home cooked, traditional Maharashtrian spicy flavours. Enjoy this Chickpea recipe with Jowar or Bajra Chapatis. 
  • Waki Woods Dhaba: It serves basic yet flavourful veg and Non-veg dishes, Dhaba style Chicken and Dal Tadka are recommended.
  • After enjoying your quality time in nature, you are recommended to leave for the city around 4:00 PM to reach Nagpur till evening.

Futala Lake: Also known as ‘Telenkhedi lake’ it has a history of 200 years. It was built by Bhosle kings and is a major tourist attraction. It is spread around 60 acres covered by forest on the other three sides. Enjoy its beautiful sunset. The lake is also famous for its nighttime coloured fountains. 

You may explore a variety of eateries near Futala lake as below:

  • Butter and Cheese Corn
  • Spicy Chaat Papdi
  • Coffee and Mint beverages
  • Street Chinese
    • Location: Western Nagpur, Vayusena Nagar, Nagpur
    • Entry fee: Free.

Dinner options: 

Overnight Stay at your hotel.

Day3: Local Tour and Return

Freshen up and start your day early at 7:30 am

  • Breakfast options at Sitabuldi:
    • "Tapri" Breakfast: Nagpur is known for its early morning breakfast stalls. Enjoy the flavours of Tarri-Poha and fresh Dhokla & Samosa at the stalls. 
    • Santosh Pakodewala: This local food chain in Nagpur is popular for their ‘Moog Pakoras’ they also serve Bread Pakora, Dhokla & Samosa. 
    • Bean Box Cafe, Mount Road, Sadar: Get your morning Coffee/Tea with a variety of Veg and Non-Veg breakfast options. Also, known for their desserts, we recommend Red Velvet Pastries here. 

Gorewada Lake: Northwest corner of Nagpur, appx 7 km from the heart of the city. The lake was developed by the water work department for a better water supply to the city. A must-visit for winters as the flocks of migratory birds visit Nagpur from November - February.  A bird watcher’s paradise, the place will help you to relax and connect with nature. 

  • Timings: All day
  • Recommended hours: Morning hours
  • Entry fee: Free

Nagpur Central Museum: Locally known as Ajab Bangla Museum. Established in 1863, it is one of the oldest museums in India & Maharashtra. The museum showcases Dinosaurs' Fossils, King era Coins, Sculptures, Ancient inscriptions, Old Age Weapons, Tribal Artifacts from prehistoric to modern times. The museum shows the history of Nagpur and also Antiquities from the Chalcolithic sites of Sarasvati–Indus excavations.

  • Timings: 10 AM - 5 PM
  • Entry fee: Rs 10

Lunch options near Ganeshpeth: 

  • Dwarkamai Restaurant: A multi-cuisine restaurant, Dwarkamai caters simple flavours with Marathi tadka. It is a Pure-Veg restaurant. 
  • Noorjahan Biryani Restaurant: Popular for its Biryani and custom made Ice-creams. Enjoy your last meal in the city with one of the best Biryani in town.

Shopping options in the Mahal area:

  • Mahal-Itwari Market: Walk the streets of Itwari for the best Sari collections and good quality Incense Sticks and Dry Fruits.
  • Sarafa Bazar: New Itwari road. Highly recommended for Metal Jewellery especially Copper, Wholesale Cloth shops, Old Books and Footwear shops. These markets are the wholesale and retail providers of the city for almost everything. 

Head back to the hotel as per your travel arrangements. Avoid the evening traffic before 4:30 PM.

Things to buy or popular shopping locations

  • Nagpur Oranges: Available best at the Cotton Market area. Best time to find it is in the monsoon season, July to September.
  • Haldiram sweets: Haldiram’s Santra Barfi is highly recommended. It is the freshest you can ever get! Shops are available across the city, including the outlets in Sitabuldi.
  • Handcrafts: Famous for Kolhapuri, famous Bidri ware to Cotton Sarees and Cholis. Bargain well for the best price. Shop them from Sitabuldi open market.
  • Antique currency: Buy them from Numismatic Art Gallery. This place is known for coin collection from Chandragupta Maurya Era to the British times. 

Suggestions and Recommendations

  • If you have time, try to cover Surabardi Dam and Reservoir. Its huge Shiv-Pravati & Ganesha idols are beautifully designed and hard to miss!
  • It’s better to travel in Nagpur via metro or three-wheeler as compared to online cab services.  
  • If your vacation is extended, here are some of the must-visit locations in and around the city.
    • Pench National Park: It is approx 75 KM from the heart of the city. Experience morning wildlife safari. It is also famous for Boat riding and glimpses of authentic Tribal life.  
    • Lata Mangeshkar Musical Garden: It is situated approx 10 km from Sitabuldi. This is an amphitheatre, which can accommodate nearly 2500 people at once. Popular for its soothing musical fountains and tunes across the garden.
    • Maharajbagh zoo: This place is located in the city itself. The zoo is newly renovated and offers a picnic spot for tourists. You may spend your quality time with family and explore new creatures added in this Botanical Garden.
    • Kunwara Bhivsen Gond Devsthan, Ramtek: Distance is around 50 km away from Sitabuldi. A village on the banks of the Pench river. Explore the fascinating remains of an old fort and up the hill pathway. Visit the temple dedicated to Bhivsen while enjoying the cold breeze and calm.
    • Chikhaldara: This place is around 230 km away from the city. A locally preferred summer retreat, Chikaldhara offers solitude to be one with nature. Chikaldhara is a hill station and is the only coffee-growing region in the state. Chilkaldhara has local food and coffee shops, offering typical Vidarbha meals for tourists. 
  • If you are a foodie you can also visit:
    • Chatori Street: Located in Ramdaspeth, It’s an outdoor food courtyard serving delicious pav-bhaji, Tawa Pulao, Creamy sandwiches and shakes. We recommend potato fried tornados here!
    • LAD square pani puri: These pani puri stalls are famous for their big sized pani puris and papdi chaat. 

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