Experience the best of Nagpur

Nagpur sits on the Deccan plateau in the Vidarbha region, and a stone pillar at the Zero Mile Marker in the city once marked the centre of India for British surveyors. The city is called the Orange City for the groves of oranges grown around it. Deekshabhoomi, a large white stupa, marks where Dr B. R. Ambedkar embraced Buddhism with hundreds of thousands of followers in 1956.

Sitabuldi Fort, on twin hills, was the scene of a battle in 1817, and Ambazari and Futala lakes have gardens and evening crowds. Ramtek, about 50 kilometres north, has hilltop temples and is linked with the Sanskrit poet Kalidasa, and the tiger reserves of Pench to the north and Tadoba-Andhari to the south-east are among the best places in India to look for tigers.

Saoji cooking, a fiery meat curry of Vidarbha made with a dark spice paste, is the signature of the city, and tarri poha, flattened rice topped with a thin spicy gravy, is the breakfast; orange barfi is the local sweet. Nagpur is one of the hottest large cities in India in May and June, and winters are mild and dry.