Best Places To Visit Near Nagpur - Weekend Getaways

Nagpur is the hub of orange orchards of the country. Also known as the city of oranges for its humungous production of the fruit, Nagpur is one of the biggest cities of Maharashtra after Mumbai. But the recreational spots and tourist places in the city are numbered. So what do you do when you have explored the whole city, corner to corner? Where do you go on weekends? Well, here’s a small compilation of the best places to visit near Nagpur, especially for weekend trips.

Take a break from Nagpur’s city life and drive into the Waki Woods one weekend. Located around 33 km from the city, here there are rivers and treks, boating and villages, picnics and bird watching hikes waiting for you. A beautiful nature trip, best taken during monsoons and winters, Waki Woods also offers village walks and homestays after you are done with your eco-tourism. Also, do visit the Waki Taj Darbar while here.

One of the most renowned Tiger Reserves of the country, this is also the inspiration for Rudyard Kipling’s ‘The Jungle Book.’ Kanha National Park is 260 km from Nagpur and perfect for a summer or winter safari. You get to see animals like sloth bear, Indian Leopard and the Royal Bengal Tiger here. You can easily book a jungle safari in buffer zones named Khapa, Khatia and Sijhora.

An area filled with fun, nature and adventure, Khekranala houses a lake and a dam. People come here for trekking and camping activities from nearby areas, including Nagpur. As Khekranala is only 56 km away from Nagpur, it is highly coveted for day trips and monsoon treks. Family picnics by the lake are also ideal, especially during late monsoon, when the weather is soft and mellow. You can also visit the Shiva Temple that is carved naturally into the cave nearby.

Another destination that is only 56 km from Nagpur, Ramtek is a religious little town. Believed by many to be a stopover by Ram, Laxman and Sita on their way into the forest for exile, Ramtek is coveted by both — pilgrims as well as myth lovers. There are also many edifices back from the Vakataka reign between 2nd-4th Century. Between lakes and hillocks, temples and natural carvings, Ramtek pleases you with its rawness. Places to visit include Kapur Bawli, Ram-Laxman temple, Shantinath Atishaya Khestra, Khindsi lake, Sur river and Ramtek Dham.

A rather interesting set of rock shelters, Bhimbetka is rich with history of mankind. Dating back to the prehistoric era, these rock shelters were excavated back in 1957 by Dr. Vishnu Wakanakar. There are around 500 caves in lush green woods which are ripe with paintings done by the prehistoric man, some as old as 30,000 years. 12 of these caves are open to the public. Bhimbetka is 312 km away from Nagpur and you can visit Bhojpur and Hoshangabad aside from the rock caves.

Another national park near Nagpur, Pench is located in Seoni, Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh. A 100 km from Nagpur, Pench National Park is home to the Royal Bengal Tiger along with antelopes, gaurs, bears, sloth bears and wild boars. Jungle safaris are highly recommended during summer and winter seasons. There are also coveted elephant safaris, bird watching walks and photo-walks in some areas of the park.

40 km from Nagpur, the small hill town of Adasa is known for its Ganpati temple. You will have to trek around a 100 m to reach the shrine, but every step is beautiful, and worth it. From the top of the hill, you get a bird’s eyes view of the landscape. The Adasa Ganapati Temple, also known as Ashtavinayak Ganapati Temple, is the major attraction here. Later, you can also explore the settlement around the temple.

The Tadoba National Park is one of India’s oldest and largest, housing more than 40 tigers. Nature enthusiasts and wildlife lovers flock here for safaris and they get to enjoy some exotic flora and fauna including the barking deer, gaurs, sambars, sloths, leopards, flying squirrels and a host of birds. Tadoba is 146 km from Nagpur and must be visited during late winters.

Bhedaghat is an archeological town in Madhya Pradesh, perched on the side of Narmada. Blessed with marble rocks and hillocks, the dramatic beauty of Bhedaghat is especially enhanced on full moon nights. Camping trips here are indeed pretty amazing. Dinosaur eggs were found on these ghats, making them a milestone in the history of mankind. You can enjoy boat rides on Narmada, visit the Durga Temple — Chaunsath Yogini, picnic by the Dhuandhar Falls and take photos near the marble rocks. Bhedaghat is 280 km from Nagpur.