Nagpur
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Where is Nagpur located in India?
Nagpur is a city in the northeastern part of Maharashtra state in western India. It is located along the Nag River, almost at the geographic center of the country. The landscape around Nagpur features low, flat-topped hills, flat tablelands, and deep, fertile black soils in the valleys of streams and rivers.
Central Nagpur's cityscape is marked by the British fort on Sitabuldi's twin hills. The city extends outwards from its center and is a cultural and educational hub with Nagpur University (1923) and other research institutes. The surrounding region rises to the Satpura Range and is known for its agriculture, especially oranges, and includes protected natural areas and tiger sanctuaries.
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What is Nagpur known for?
Nagpur, located in northeastern Maharashtra, is known for its central location in India and its fertile soil. Founded in the early 18th century, Nagpur became a trade center after the Great Indian Peninsula Railway was constructed in 1867, spurring cotton production and textile industries.
Nagpur is also known for oranges, which are shipped throughout India, and its diverse industrial complex that includes textile mills and factories producing metal goods. The city is an educational and cultural hub with the University of Nagpur, the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, the National Cotton Research Institute, and the National Institute of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning.
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Which major river flows near Nagpur?
The Wainganga and Wardha rivers flow near Nagpur, India. The Wainganga River, also known as the "Arrow of Water," flows to the east of Nagpur, while the Wardha River is to its west. Nagpur is in northeastern Maharashtra state and lies along the Nag River, nearly at the geographic center of India. The Wainganga River flows through the eastern Nagpur plain. Both the Wainganga and Wardha are tributaries of the Godavari River.
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Why is Nagpur called the 'Orange City'?
Nagpur is called the "Orange City" because the region surrounding it is especially known for its oranges, which are shipped throughout India. Nagpur is located in a region that is an undulating plateau, where sorghum and cotton are major crops in addition to oranges.
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What is the importance of Nagpur in Indian transportation and trade?
Nagpur is strategically significant for Indian transportation and trade due to its central location and connectivity. The advent of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway in 1867 spurred Nagpur's development as a trade center. It is a crucial junction for road, rail, and air routes connecting major cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, and Delhi, fostering a flourishing trade sector. Nagpur is also the center of India’s domestic air service. The city's industrial development, initially driven by cotton production, has diversified to include technology-related activities, further enhancing its economic importance.
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How does Nagpur contribute to Maharashtra's culture and economy?
Nagpur significantly contributes to Maharashtra's culture and economy. As an educational and cultural hub, it hosts Nagpur University and a large museum with local exhibits. Its strategic location as a junction for road, rail, and air routes bolsters its trade sector.
Nagpur's industry, spurred by railway construction in 1867, diversified from cotton to include technology and metal goods. The surrounding region is known for orange production, with fertile soil supporting cotton and sorghum crops, which contributes to the state's economy.
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Nagpur, city, northeastern Maharashtra state, western India. It lies along the Nag River and is situated almost at the geographic centre of the country. The landscape in and around Nagpur consists of low flat-topped hills, flat tablelands, and deep, black, fertile soils in the valleys of streams and rivers. Pop. (2001) 2,052,066; (2011) 2,405,665.
History
The city was founded in the early 18th century by Bakht Buland, a Gond raja. It became the capital of the Bhonsles of the Maratha confederacy but in 1817 came under British influence. In 1853 the city lapsed into British control and in 1861 became the capital of the Central Provinces. The advent of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway in 1867 spurred its development as a trade centre. After Indian independence, Nagpur was briefly the capital of Madhya Pradesh state, until 1956, when it was included in the newly formed Bombay state, and then in 1960 it became part of what is now Maharashtra state.
Construction of the railway spurred commerce and agricultural production, especially the growing of cotton in the region’s rich soils. Cotton production not only strengthened the area’s traditional hand-loom industry but also led to the establishment of a large textile mill and signaled the development of the city as an important industrial centre. Since that time, Nagpur’s industrial complex has diversified considerably. In the 1970s the city expanded to absorb the nearby town of Kamptee, with its factories that produce ferromanganese products, transport and farm equipment, and other metal goods from local mineral deposits (notably coal and manganese). The city, situated at the strategic junction of road, rail, and air routes from Mumbai (Bombay) to Kolkata (Calcutta) and from Chennai (Madras) to Delhi, also developed a flourishing trade sector. More recently, technology-related activities (especially software development) became more important. The end result was that Nagpur grew rapidly in size, its population doubling between 1981 and 2011.
The contemporary city
The cityscape of central Nagpur is dominated by the British fort built on the twin hills of Sitabuldi, which is a prominent landmark. The city core also has a number of other notable points of interest—e.g., the Hindu Balaji temple complex and the Buddhist Deekshabhoomi monument, northwest and southwest of the fort, respectively—and a large museum specializing in local exhibits. The city spreads out in all directions from the centre.
Nagpur is an educational and cultural centre for the region. It is the site of the University of Nagpur (1923), which has numerous affiliated colleges in the city and in other communities in the state. The city is also home to the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, the National Cotton Research Institute, and the National Institute of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning.
The surrounding region is an undulating plateau rising northward to the Satpura Range. Situated about 22 miles (35 km) northeast of the city centre are the Ramtek Hills, the site of a Hindu temple at the town of Ramtek that draws many pilgrims to its sacred annual festivals. A memorial monument for the poet Kalidasa and Sanskrit University are also in the Ramtek Hills. Interspersing the hills are two major rivers—the Wardha (west) and the Wainganga (east)—that are both tributaries of the Godavari River. The region is important agriculturally. Sorghum (jowar) and cotton are major crops. The region is especially known for its oranges, which are shipped throughout India. Also in the vicinity are several protected natural areas, including two national parks (northwest and northeast) and three tiger sanctuaries (west, northeast, and south).