Nagpur itinerary

Plan 01

1 day in Nagpur

1. 01

   Day 1: Deekshabhoomi, the museum and a lake evening

   Start at Deekshabhoomi in the morning when it is cool and quiet, and spend about ninety minutes on the stupa, the Bodhi tree and the grounds. Drive to Zero Mile Stone for a quick look, then visit the Central Museum, known as Ajab Bangla, for the middle of the day, checking its closed day first. Have lunch and rest. In the late afternoon, go to Futala Lake or Ambazari Lake for an easy walk, and finish with a Saoji meal if you like spicy food or something milder if not.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Deekshabhoomi	1 to 1.5 hours	Easy	Weekday mornings from November to February; avoid the weeks around Ashoka Vijaya Dashami (usually October)
   Zero Mile Stone	10 to 20 minutes	Easy	Early morning or late afternoon; any season outside the hottest hours
   Central Museum (Ajab Bangla)	1.5 to 2 hours	Easy	Morning; any season, good as a break from heat or rain
   Futala Lake	1 to 2 hours	Easy	Late afternoon to evening, November to February

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

Plan 02

2 days in Nagpur

1. 01

   Day 1: Pilgrimage and the old city

   Begin at Deekshabhoomi, then drive to Shri Ganesh Mandir Tekdi near the station, choosing a weekday if you want quiet. See the Zero Mile Stone, then spend the late morning at the Central Museum. After lunch and a rest, visit Itwari and Sarafa Oli in the old city in the late afternoon, keeping it short.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Deekshabhoomi	1 to 1.5 hours	Easy	Weekday mornings from November to February; avoid the weeks around Ashoka Vijaya Dashami (usually October)
   Shri Ganesh Mandir Tekdi	45 minutes to 1 hour	Moderate	Weekday mornings; avoid festival days and Wednesday evenings if you want quiet
   Zero Mile Stone	10 to 20 minutes	Easy	Early morning or late afternoon; any season outside the hottest hours
   Central Museum (Ajab Bangla)	1.5 to 2 hours	Easy	Morning; any season, good as a break from heat or rain
   Itwari and Sarafa Oli	1 to 2 hours	Moderate	Weekday mornings; November to February

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Shri Ganesh Mandir Tekdi: The temple stands on a small hill, so there is a stepped climb from the road. Handrails help, and you can rest on the way, but the final approach and queues can be tiring. Visit outside peak days and take a stick if you need one.

   With parents at Itwari and Sarafa Oli: The lanes are narrow, crowded and sometimes uneven, with traffic and little seating. Older visitors should go early, stay within a short stretch and be ready to retreat to a shop for a rest.

2. 02

   Day 2: Ramtek or the lakes

   Leave early for Ramtek, about 40 to 50 km away, and take a vehicle up toward the fort so older travellers avoid the full stair climb. See the hill temples, Ambala Lake and, if time allows, the Kalidasa memorial. Return for a late lunch and rest, then spend the evening at Futala Lake with street snacks, or at the Raman Science Centre if you are travelling with children.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Futala Lake	1 to 2 hours	Easy	Late afternoon to evening, November to February

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

Plan 03

3 days in Nagpur

1. 01

   Day 1: Deekshabhoomi and the central sights

   Start with Deekshabhoomi, then the Zero Mile Stone and the Central Museum. Have a long lunch and rest, then visit Shri Ganesh Mandir Tekdi in the late afternoon. If it is a public access day (26 January, 1 May or 15 August), include Sitabuldi Fort.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Deekshabhoomi	1 to 1.5 hours	Easy	Weekday mornings from November to February; avoid the weeks around Ashoka Vijaya Dashami (usually October)
   Zero Mile Stone	10 to 20 minutes	Easy	Early morning or late afternoon; any season outside the hottest hours
   Central Museum (Ajab Bangla)	1.5 to 2 hours	Easy	Morning; any season, good as a break from heat or rain
   Shri Ganesh Mandir Tekdi	45 minutes to 1 hour	Moderate	Weekday mornings; avoid festival days and Wednesday evenings if you want quiet
   Sitabuldi Fort	1 to 2 hours on an open day	Moderate	One of the public open days; January and August are the more comfortable of those

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Shri Ganesh Mandir Tekdi: The temple stands on a small hill, so there is a stepped climb from the road. Handrails help, and you can rest on the way, but the final approach and queues can be tiring. Visit outside peak days and take a stick if you need one.

   With parents at Sitabuldi Fort: The fort stands on hills, so expect slopes and steps on an open day, with crowds and queues for security checks. Older visitors should go early, wear sturdy footwear and be prepared to turn back at the lower levels.

2. 02

   Day 2: Ramtek

   Make a full morning of Ramtek, starting early, with the hill temples and Ambala Lake. Return for lunch and rest, and keep the evening free or visit Futala Lake for a short stroll.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Futala Lake	1 to 2 hours	Easy	Late afternoon to evening, November to February

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

3. 03

   Day 3: Dragon Palace, the science centre and Itwari

   Drive to Dragon Palace Temple at Kamptee in the morning for a quiet hour in the gardens. After lunch, choose between the Raman Science Centre for families and Itwari's jewellery lanes for shoppers. End the day with a Saoji dinner or a walk at Ambazari Lake.

Read before you go

Guides for the stops on these routes

Pacing

Pacing a Nagpur trip for parents and children

• Plan outdoor sights for the first three hours after sunrise, especially from March to June, and rest from midday to late afternoon.
• Take a car and driver for Ramtek and Dragon Palace; public transport is slow and there is no state bus to the Ramtek fort area.
• Choose a vehicle route up Ramtek hill, and skip the stair climb if knees or breathing are a concern.
• Ganesh Tekdi and Sitabuldi involve hills and steps; go early and use handrails.
• Saoji food is very spicy; ask for mild dishes and carry bottled water.
• Avoid Deekshabhoomi around Dhammachakra Pravartan Din and Ramtek on festival days unless you want very large crowds.

Nagpur with elderly parents: the full guide →