Day trips in Nagpur
- 01
Bor Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve
A compact tiger reserve around the Bor reservoir in Wardha district, an easy day trip from Nagpur. Good for a first jeep safari when you do not want a long drive.
- Time needed
- Half-day to full day
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- April and May are recommended for sightings; winter is cooler for comfort
- Tickets
- Safari permits are booked online through the official Maharashtra eco-tourism portal, with separate daily quotas for the Bordharan and Adegaon gates. Fees are not listed here; confirm them on the portal. Tourism is closed on Mondays.
- 02
Pench National Park (Maharashtra side)
The Maharashtra portion of Pench Tiger Reserve, in Nagpur district, with jeep and canter safaris from the Sillari and Khursapar gates. It is the nearest major tiger forest to Nagpur.
- Time needed
- Full day; 1 night is more relaxed
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- November to February for comfort; March to June for water-hole sightings but heat up to about 42 C; core gates are closed in the monsoon
- Tickets
- Safari permits are booked in advance online through the official forest department portals, and the same photo ID must be carried on the day. Permits cover entry only; a vehicle and guide are arranged separately. Fees are not listed here, so check the official site.
- 03
Ramtek Hill Temples and Fort
A hill town about 40 to 50 km north-east of Nagpur, with a fortified temple complex of the 1700s on a site used for worship since the 5th century. It is Nagpur's classic day trip.
- Time needed
- Half to full day including travel
- Walking
- Demanding
- Best time
- Winter mornings; avoid Rama Navami and Kartika Purnima for quiet
- Tickets
- Temple entry is free, though some sites may have small charges. Footwear is removed at temples and dress should be modest. Confirm vehicle access and any entry rules locally.
- 04
Umred Pauni Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary
A 189 sq km sanctuary across Nagpur and Bhandara districts, with the Karhandla gate roughly an hour from Nagpur. Known for tiger sightings that have made it a popular short safari.
- Time needed
- Half-day to full day
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- October to June; summer is hot but good for water-hole sightings
- Tickets
- Private vehicles are not allowed inside; safaris use authorised gypsies with local guides. Fees and booking details are not published here, so check with the forest department or an authorised operator. Karhandla and Gothangaon gates have been reported closed on Mondays and Pauni on Tuesdays.
Museums in Nagpur
- 05
Central Museum (Ajab Bangla)
Nagpur's oldest museum, founded in 1863 and known locally as Ajab Bangla, with galleries on natural history, sculpture, arms, tribal art, paintings and the region's past.
- Time needed
- 1.5 to 2 hours
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning; any season, good as a break from heat or rain
- Tickets
- A modest entry fee is typically charged; tourism listings give 10 am to 5 pm and a Monday closure, but confirm current timings and fees with the museum before you go.
- 06
Raman Science Centre and Planetarium
A hands-on science centre opposite Gandhi Sagar lake, with interactive galleries, a planetarium and 3D shows. It is the easiest rainy-day choice for families with children.
- Time needed
- 2 to 3 hours
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Weekday mornings; any season, especially during monsoon or summer heat
- Tickets
- Separate tickets are typically sold for the galleries and the shows, and prices and timings change; check the official site or ask at the counter. Weekends and school holidays are crowded.
Temples in Nagpur
- 07
Dragon Palace Temple, Kamptee
A calm Buddhist temple complex at Kamptee, north-east of Nagpur, built in 1999 with Japanese support. Its gardens and sandalwood Buddha make it a quiet half-day trip from the city.
- Time needed
- 1 to 2 hours, plus travel
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Mornings from November to February; avoid the midday heat
- Tickets
- Check locally for entry rules and timings; published listings give no hours. Dress modestly, remove footwear where asked, and ask before photographing prayer or meditation.
- 08
Shri Ganesh Mandir Tekdi
A well-loved Ganesh temple on a small hill beside the railway station and Sitabuldi. Devotees treat the swayambhu idol as especially powerful, and Wednesdays are busiest.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes to 1 hour
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Weekday mornings; avoid festival days and Wednesday evenings if you want quiet
- Tickets
- Entry is free. Remove footwear before entering, dress modestly, and check current rules on photography and phone use inside. Crowds and queue times vary by day.
Landmarks in Nagpur
- 09
Futala Lake
A 60-acre lake in western Nagpur, ringed by forest on three sides and a landscaped beach on the fourth, popular for evening walks, tanga rides and street snacks.
- Time needed
- 1 to 2 hours
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Late afternoon to evening, November to February
- Tickets
- Entry to the lakeside is usually free. Rides and food are paid for locally. Check whether the musical fountain is operating, since regular shows had not resumed at the last report.
- 10
Zero Mile Stone
A small sandstone pillar from the British survey era, marking the point used to measure distances across the subcontinent. It is a short, free stop that explains why Nagpur calls itself the centre of India.
- Time needed
- 10 to 20 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Early morning or late afternoon; any season outside the hottest hours
- Tickets
- No ticket is normally charged for viewing the monument. Check whether any surrounding park areas are open on the day, as they are managed separately.
Forts in Nagpur
- 11
Nagardhan Fort
A square, bastioned fort near Ramtek, rebuilt by the Bhonsles of Nagpur in the 18th century on a site that was once a Vakataka capital. Quiet, uncrowded and easy to pair with a Ramtek day.
- Time needed
- 45 to 75 minutes
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Early morning in winter (November to February); avoid the midday heat from March to June
- Tickets
- The fort is a protected monument and the official tourism listing gives opening hours of 9 am to 5 pm. Entry fees are not published there; confirm the current fee and hours at the gate or with your driver before relying on them.
- 12
Sitabuldi Fort
A British-era fort on twin hills above central Nagpur, linked to the 1817 Battle of Sitabuldi. It is an active army site and opens to the public only on a few days a year.
- Time needed
- 1 to 2 hours on an open day
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- One of the public open days; January and August are the more comfortable of those
- Tickets
- Public access is limited to specific dates, reported as 26 January, 1 May and 15 August, because the fort is owned and used by the Indian Army. Carry photo ID, expect security checks and confirm current rules before travelling.
Gardens and parks in Nagpur
- 13
Ambazari Lake and Garden
Nagpur's largest lake, dating to 1870, with an 18-acre garden beside it that locals use for morning walks and evening strolls. The Nag River rises here.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Early morning or late afternoon, November to February
- Tickets
- The garden is run by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation; a small entry fee may apply, but confirm locally. Opening hours vary through the year, so check before you go.
Places of worship in Nagpur
- 14
Deekshabhoomi
A large white stupa on South Ambazari Road marking the place where B. R. Ambedkar and several hundred thousand followers embraced Buddhism in October 1956. It is Nagpur's most significant pilgrimage site.
- Time needed
- 1 to 1.5 hours
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Weekday mornings from November to February; avoid the weeks around Ashoka Vijaya Dashami (usually October)
- Tickets
- No entry ticket is usually charged, but confirm current rules locally. Dress modestly and expect to leave footwear at the designated stands before approaching the stupa. Photography rules inside the hall can change, so follow the signs or ask a volunteer.
