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ORG Akashvani, ORG of India, PER Wodeyar, ORG Star TV, ORG All India Radio, ORG Gyan Vani, LOC Bangalore, LOC Government, ORG AIR, ORG Akashavani, PER Bhashyam Bhashyacharya, LOC Mysore, ORG Red FM, ORG BIG FM, ORG Radio Mirchi, PER M. Venkatakrishnaiah, ORG Mysooru Vrittanta Bodhini, LOC India, ORG Sudharma, ORG Doordarshan, LOC Vontikoppal, PER M. V. Gopalaswamy | Newspaper publishing in Mysore started in 1859 when Bhashyam Bhashyacharya began publishing a weekly newspaper in Kannada called the Mysooru Vrittanta Bodhini, the first of a number of weekly newspapers published in the following three decades. A well-known Mysore publisher during Wodeyar rule was M. Venkatakrishnaiah, known as the father of Kannada journalism, who started several news magazines. Many local newspapers are published in Mysore and carry news mostly related to the city and its surroundings, and national and regional dailies in English and Kannada are available, as in the other parts of the state. Sudharma, the only Indian daily newspaper in Sanskrit, is published in Mysore.Mysore was the location of the first private radio broadcasting station in India when Akashavani (voice from the sky) was established in the city on 10 September 1935 by M.V. Gopalaswamy, a professor of psychology, at his house in the Vontikoppal area of Mysore, using a 50-watt transmitter. The station was taken over by the princely state of Mysore in 1941 and was moved to Bangalore in 1955. In 1957, Akashvani was chosen as the official name of All India Radio (AIR), the radio broadcaster of the Government of India. The AIR station at Mysore broadcasts an FM radio channel at 100.6 MHz, and Gyan Vani broadcasts on 105.6. BIG FM, Radio Mirchi and Red FM are the three private FM channels operating in the city.Mysore started receiving television broadcasts in the early 1980s, when Doordarshan (public service broadcaster of the Indian government) started broadcasting its national channel all over India. This was the only channel available to Mysoreans until Star TV started satellite channels in 1991. Direct-to-home channels are now available in Mysore. | Mysore Media |
PER Javagal Srinath, PER Krishnaraja Wodeyar III, PER Rahul Ganapathy, LOC India, PER Wodeyar, PER Reeth Abraham, LOC Maharaja ' s College Hostel, PER Prahlad Srinath, LOC Mysore, PER Sagar Kashyap, LOC Bangalore | The Wodeyar kings of Mysore were patrons of games and sports. King Krishnaraja Wodeyar III had a passion for indoor games. He invented new board games and popularised the ganjifa card game. Malla-yuddha (traditional wrestling) has a history in Mysore dating back to the 16th century. The wrestling competition held in Mysore during the Dasara celebrations attracts wrestlers from all over India. An annual sports meeting is organised there during the Dasara season too.In 1997 Mysore and Bangalore co-hosted the city's biggest sports event ever, the National Games of India. Mysore was the venue for six sports: archery, gymnastics, equestrianism, handball, table tennis and wrestling. Cricket is by far the most popular sport in Mysore. The city has five established cricket grounds. Javagal Srinath, who represented India for several years as its frontline fast bowler, comes from Mysore. Other prominent sportsmen from the city are Prahlad Srinath, who has represented India in Davis Cup tennis tournaments; Reeth Abraham, a national champion in the heptathlon and a long jump record holder; Sagar Kashyap, the youngest Indian to officiate at the Wimbledon Championships; and Rahul Ganapathy, a national amateur golf champion. The Mysore race course hosts a racing season each year from August through October. India's first youth hostel was formed in the Maharaja's College Hostel in 1949. | Mysore Sports |
LOC Folk Lore Museum, LOC Blue Lagoon, LOC Mysore Palace, LOC Mudumalai National Park, PER Ashtanga, LOC Lalitha Mahal, LOC Regional Museum of Natural History, LOC Oriental Research Institute, LOC Ooty, LOC Sultan Bathery, LOC Melkote, LOC Chamundeshwari Temple, LOC Srirangapatna, LOC Jaganmohana Palace, LOC Mysore, LOC Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta hill, LOC KRS, LOC Chamundi Hills, LOC Ranganathaswamy Temple, PER K. Pattabhi Jois, LOC Mysore Zoo, LOC Madikeri, LOC Somanathapura, LOC Brindavan Gardens, LOC Sand Sculpture Museum, LOC Amba Vilas Palace, LOC St. Philomena ' s Church, LOC Railway Museum, LOC Talakad. B R Hills, LOC Karanji, LOC B R Hills, LOC Tamil Nadu, LOC Wesley ' s Cathedral, LOC Mandya, LOC Ranganathittu, LOC Nagarahole National Park, LOC India, LOC Krishnarajasagar Dam, LOC Kokrebellur, LOC Kukkarahalli, LOC Blue Lagoon Lake, LOC Jayalakshmi Vilas, LOC Mandya District, LOC Mandya. Bandipur National Park | Mysore is a major tourist destination in its own right and serves as a base for other tourist attractions in the vicinity. The city receives many tourists during the ten-day Dasara festival. One of the most visited monuments in India, the Amba Vilas Palace, or Mysore Palace, is the centre of the Dasara festivities. The Jaganmohana Palace, The Sand Sculpture Museum the Jayalakshmi Vilas and the Lalitha Mahal are other palaces in the city. Chamundeshwari Temple, atop the Chamundi Hills, and St. Philomena's Church, Wesley's Cathedral are notable religious places in Mysore.
The Mysore Zoo, established in 1892, the Karanji, Kukkarahalli and the Blue Lagoon Lake are popular recreational destinations. Blue Lagoon is a lake with a mini island located behind the KRS water dam, from which it is mesmerising to watch the sunset and sunrise. Mysore has the Regional Museum of Natural History, the Folk Lore Museum, the Railway Museum and the Oriental Research Institute. The city is a centre for yoga-related health tourism that attracts domestic and foreign visitors, particularly those who, for years, came to study with the late Ashtanga vinyasa yoga guru K. Pattabhi Jois.A short distance from Mysore city is the neighbouring Mandya District's Krishnarajasagar Dam and the adjoining Brindavan Gardens, where a musical fountain show is held every evening. Places of historic importance close to Mysore are Mandya District's Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangapatna. And other historical places are Somanathapura and Talakad. B R Hills, Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta hill and the hill stations of Ooty, Sultan Bathery and Madikeri are close to Mysore. Popular destinations for wildlife enthusiasts near Mysore include the Nagarahole National Park, the wildlife sanctuaries at Melkote, Mandya and B R Hills and the bird sanctuaries at Ranganathittu, Mandya and Kokrebellur, Mandya. Bandipur National Park and Mudumalai National Park in Tamil Nadu, which are sanctuaries for gaur, chital, elephants, tigers, leopards and other threatened species, lie between 60 and 100 kilometres (37 and 62 mi) to the south. Other tourist spots near Mysore include the religious locations of Nanjanagud and Bylakuppe and the waterfalls at neighbouring districts of Mandya's Shivanasamudra. | Mysore Tourism |
LOC Ohio, LOC Cincinnati, LOC New Hampshire, LOC Nashua, LOC United States | Cincinnati, Ohio, United States (2012)Nashua, New Hampshire, United States (2016) | Mysore Sister cities |
ORG University of Minnesota Press, PER Rao, LOC Bangalore, PER C. Hayavadana, PER Afried, LOC Coorg, PER Suryanath U., PER Deve Gowda, LOC Minneapolis, PER Rice, LOC Karnataka, PER B. L., LOC Hyderabad, LOC New Delhi, LOC Mysore, ORG Government Press, PER Ixigo Javare Gowda, PER Nair, ORG Jupiter books, ORG 8166, PER Raman, ORG Mysore Government Press, ORG Asian Educational Services, PER Janaki, LOC India, ORG Orient Longman, LOC US, PER Kamath | Popular Museums in Mysore—Ixigo
Javare Gowda, Deve Gowda (1998) [1998]. Village Names of Mysore District: An Analytical Study. New Delhi: Asian Educational Services. ISBN 81-206-1390-2.
Kamath, Suryanath U. (2001) [1980]. A concise history of Karnataka: from pre-historic times to the present. Bangalore: Jupiter books. LCCN 80905179. OCLC 7796041.
Nair, Janaki (2011). Mysore Modern: Rethinking the Region Under Princely Rule. Minneapolis, US: University of Minnesota Press. ISBN 978-0-8166-7383-4.
Raman, Afried (1994). Bangalore – Mysore. Hyderabad, India: Orient Longman. ISBN 0-86311-431-8. Retrieved 25 September 2007.
Rao, C. Hayavadana (1927). Mysore Gazetteer. Bangalore: Government Press, Mysore state.
Rice, B. L. (1876). Mysore and Coorg: Mysore, by districts. Mysore: Mysore Government Press. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
Rice, B. L. (2001) [1897]. Mysore Gazetteer Compiled for Government-vol 1. New Delhi: Asian Educational Services. ISBN 81-206-0977-8. | Mysore Bibliography |
ORG Bombay High Court, ORG Oxford, ORG Union Ministry of Urban Development, ORG RSS, ORG Swachh Bharat Mission, LOC India, LOC Nagpur, LOC Orange City, LOC Deekshabhoomi, LOC Maharashtra, ORG Institute for Competitiveness, ORG ABP News - Ipsos, LOC Vidarbha | Nagpur (pronunciation: [naːɡpuːɾ]) is the third largest city and the winter capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra and is the most developed city in the region of Vidarbha. It is the 13th largest city in India by population and according to an Oxford's Economics report, Nagpur is projected to be the fifth fastest growing city in the world from 2019 to 2035 with an average growth of 8.41%. It has been proposed as one of the Smart Cities in Maharashtra and is one of the top ten cities in India in Smart City Project execution.In the latest rankings of 100 developing smart cities given by the Union Ministry of Urban Development, Nagpur stood first in Maharashtra state and second in India. Known as the "Orange City", Nagpur has officially become the greenest, safest and most technologically developed city in the Maharashtra state.Nagpur is the seat of the annual winter session of the Maharashtra state assembly. It is a major commercial and political center of the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra.In addition, the city derives unique importance from being an important location for the Dalit Buddhist movement and the headquarters for the Hindu organization RSS. Nagpur is also known for the Deekshabhoomi, which is graded an A-class tourism and pilgrimage site, the largest hollow stupa among all the Buddhist stupas in the world. The regional branch of Bombay High Court is also situated within the city.According to a survey by ABP News-Ipsos, Nagpur was identified as the best city in India topping in livability, greenery, public transport, and health care indices in 2013. The city was adjudged the 20th cleanest city in India and the top mover in the western zone as per Swachh Sarvekshan 2016. It was awarded as the best city for innovation and best practice in Swachh Sarvekshan 2018. It was also declared as open defecation free in January 2018 under Swachh Bharat Mission. It is also one of the safest cities for women in India. The city also ranked 25th in Ease of Living index 2020 among 111 cities in India. It was ranked the 8th most competitive city in the country by the Institute for Competitiveness for the year 2017.It is famous for Nagpur oranges and is sometimes known as the Orange City for being a major trade center of oranges cultivated in large part of the region. It is also called the Tiger Capital of India or the Tiger Gateway of India as many tiger reserves are located in and around the city and also hosts the regional office of National Tiger Conservation Authority. The city was founded in 1702 by the Gond King Bakht Buland Shah of Deogarh and later became a part of the Maratha Empire under the royal Bhonsale dynasty. The British East India Company took over Nagpur in the 19th century and made it the capital of the Central Provinces and Berar. After the first re-organisation of states, the city lost its status as the capital. Following the informal Nagpur Pact between political leaders, it was made the second capital of Maharashtra. | Nagpur Introduction |
LOC Fanindrapura, LOC Nagpore, LOC Nagpur, PER B. R. Ambedkar, LOC Great, ORG Fanindramani, LOC Mahal, LOC Nag | Nagpur is named after the Great river Nag which flows through the city. The old Nagpur city (today called 'Mahal') is situated on north banks of the river Nag. The suffix pur means "city" in many Indian languages.One of the earlier names of Nagpur was "Fanindrapura". It derives its origin from the Marathi word fana (फण; meaning hood of a cobra). Nagpur's first newspaper was named Fanindramani, which means a jewel that is believed to be suspended over a cobra's hood. It is this jewel that lights up the darkness, hence the name of the newspaper. B. R. Ambedkar claimed that both the city and the river are named after the 'Nags' who were opponents of the Indo-Aryans. During British rule, the name of the city was spelt and pronounced as "Nagpore". | Nagpur Etymology |
PER Vindhyasakti, LOC Rastrakuta, ORG Gupta Empire, LOC Maratha Empire, LOC Drugdhamna, ORG Vakatakas, ORG Vakataka, PER Paramara, LOC Mhada, LOC Madhya Pradesh, PER Lakshmadeva, PER Allauddin Khilji, LOC Malwa, LOC Devagiri, LOC Devali, PER Prithvisena I, LOC Mughal Empire, LOC Nagpura, PER Krsna III, PER Yadavas, LOC Visaya, LOC Nandivardhana, ORG Rashtrakutas, LOC Chhindwara, LOC Yadava Kingdom, LOC Nagardhan, ORG Badami Chalukyas, ORG Tughlaq Dynasty, LOC Nagpur, LOC Deogiri, LOC Mehir, LOC Wardha, LOC Gond, LOC Deogarh, ORG Vakataka Dynasty, LOC Nagpur Kingdom | Human existence around present-day Nagpur can be traced back 3000 years to the 8th century BCE. Mehir burial sites at the Drugdhamna (near the Mhada colony) indicate that the megalithic culture existed around Nagpur and is still followed. The first reference to the name "Nagpur" is found in a 10th-century copper-plate inscription discovered at Devali in the neighbouring Wardha district. The inscription is a record of grant of a village situated in the Visaya (district) of Nagpura-Nandivardhana during the time of the Rastrakuta king Krsna III in the Saka year 862 (940 CE).Towards the end of the 3rd century, King Vindhyasakti is known to have ruled the Nagpur region. In the 4th century, the Vakataka Dynasty ruled over the Nagpur region and surrounding areas and had good relations with the Gupta Empire. The Vakataka king Prithvisena I moved his capital to Nagardhan (ancient name Nandivardhana), 38 km (24 mi) from Nagpur. After the Vakatakas, the region came under the rule of the Hindu kingdoms of the Badami Chalukyas, the Rashtrakutas. The Paramaras or Panwars of Malwa appear to have controlled the Nagpur region in the 11th century. A prashasti inscription of the Paramara king Lakshmadeva (r. c. 1086–1094) has been found at Nagpur. Subsequently, the region came under the Yadavas of Devagiri. In 1296, Allauddin Khilji invaded the Yadava Kingdom after capturing Deogiri, after which the Tughlaq Dynasty came to power in 1317.
In the 17th century, the Mughal Empire conquered the region, however during Mughal era, regional administration was carried out by the Gond kingdom of Deogarh in the Chhindwara district of the modern-day state of Madhya Pradesh. In the 18th century, Bhonsles of the Maratha Empire established the Nagpur Kingdom based in the city. | Nagpur Early and medieval history |
PER Akbar Shah, PER Parsaji, PER Bhakt Buland Shah, LOC Chhattisgarh, PER Mudhoji II Bhosale, ORG Peshwa, LOC Chanda, PER Wali Shah, PER Chand Sultan, LOC Sitabuldi, PER Raghoji II Bhosale, PER Raghoji II, PER Burhan Shah, PER Bakht Buland, PER Mudhoji, PER Raghoji III, PER Raghoji Bhosale, PER Raghoji III Bhosale, LOC Nagpur, LOC Berar, LOC Deogarh, PER Bakht Buland Shah | The king who actually founded Nagpur was Bakht Buland Shah of Deogarh. An able administrator, he incentivised large-scale immigration of Marathi Hindu cultivators to increase economic activity. After Bhakt Buland Shah, the next Raja of Deogarh was Chand Sultan, who resided principally in the country below the hills, fixing his capital at Nagpur, which he turned into a walled town. On Chand Sultan's death in 1739, Wali Shah, an illegitimate son of Bakht Buland, usurped the throne and Chand Sultan's widow invoked the aid of the Maratha leader Raghoji Bhosale of Berar in the interest of her sons Akbar Shah and Burhan Shah. The usurper was put to death and the rightful heirs placed on the throne. After 1743, a series of Maratha rulers came to power, starting with Raghoji Bhosale, who conquered the territories of Deogarh, Chanda and Chhattisgarh by 1751.Nagpur was burnt substantially in 1765 and again partially in 1811 by marauding Pindaris. However, the development of the city of Nagpur continued. In 1803 Raghoji II Bhosale joined the Peshwa against the British in the Second Anglo-Maratha War, but the British prevailed. After Raghoji II's death in 1816, his son Parsaji was deposed and murdered by Mudhoji II Bhosale. Despite the fact that he had entered into a treaty with the British in the same year, Mudhoji joined the Peshwa in the Third Anglo-Maratha War in 1817 against the British but suffered a defeat at Sitabuldi in present-day Nagpur. The fierce battle was a turning point as it laid the foundations of the downfall of the Bhosales and paved the way for the British acquisition of Nagpur city. Mudhoji was deposed after a temporary restoration to the throne, after which the British placed Raghoji III Bhosale, the grandchild of Raghoji II, on the throne. During the rule of Raghoji III (which lasted until 1840), the region was administered by a British resident. In 1853, the British took control of Nagpur after Raghoji III died without leaving an heir.
From 1853 to 1861, the Nagpur Province (which consisted of the present Nagpur region, Chhindwara, and Chhattisgarh) became part of the Central Provinces and Berar and came under the administration of a commissioner under the British central government, with Nagpur as its capital. Berar was added in 1903. The advent of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway (GIP) in 1867 spurred its development as a trade centre. Tata group started its first textile mill at Nagpur, formally known as Central India Spinning and Weaving Company Ltd. The company was popularly known as "Empress Mills" as it was inaugurated on 1 January 1877, the day queen Victoria was proclaimed Empress of India.The non-co-operation movement was launched in the Nagpur session of 1920. The city witnessed a Hindu–Muslim riot in 1923 which had profound impact on K. B. Hedgewar, who in 1925 founded the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu nationalist organisation in Mohitewada Mahal, Nagpur with an idea of creating a Hindu nation. After the 1927 Nagpur riots RSS gained further popularity in Nagpur and the organisation grew nationwide. | Nagpur Modern history |
LOC Central Provinces, LOC India, LOC Gowari, LOC Nagpur, LOC Berar, LOC Maharashtra, LOC Gujarat, PER B. R. Ambedkar, LOC Madhya Pradesh, LOC Bombay | After India gained independence in 1947, Central Provinces and Berar became a province of India. In 1950, the Central Provinces and Berar was reorganised as the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh with Nagpur as its capital. When the Indian states were reorganised along the linguistic lines in 1956, Nagpur and Berar regions were transferred to the state of Bombay, which was split into the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat in 1960. At a formal public ceremony held on 14 October 1956 in Nagpur, B. R. Ambedkar and his supporters converted to Buddhism, which started the Dalit Buddhist movement that is still active. In 1994, the city of Nagpur witnessed its most violent day in modern times: in the Gowari stampede, police fired on Gowari protestors demanding Scheduled Tribe status and caused a mass panic.Nagpur completed 300 years of establishment in the year 2002. A big celebration was organised to mark the event. | Nagpur After Indian independence |
LOC Gondwana, LOC Chandigarh, LOC Ambazari Lake, LOC India, LOC Gorewada Lake, LOC Sonegaon, LOC Gandhisagar Lakes, LOC Nagpur, LOC Pilli Nadi, LOC Telankhedi lake, LOC Deccan, LOC Chennai, LOC Indian, LOC New Delhi, LOC Kanhan River, LOC Kolkata, LOC Mumbai, LOC Nag | Nagpur is located at the exact centre of the Indian subcontinent, close to the geometric center of the quadrilateral connecting the four major metros of India, viz. Chennai, Mumbai, New Delhi and Kolkata. The city has the Zero Mile Stone locating the geographical centre of India, which was used by the British to measure all distances within the Indian subcontinent.
The city lies on the Deccan plateau of the Indian subcontinent and has a mean altitude of 310.5 meters above sea level. The underlying rock strata are covered with alluvial deposits resulting from the flood plain of the Kanhan River. In some places, these give rise to granular sandy soil. In low-lying areas, which are poorly drained, the soil is alluvial clay with poor permeability characteristics. In the eastern part of the city, crystalline metamorphic rocks such as gneiss, schist and granites are found, while in the northern part yellowish sandstones and clays of the lower Gondwana formations are found.
Nagpur city is dotted with natural and artificial lakes. The largest lake is Ambazari Lake. Other natural lakes include Gorewada Lake and Telankhedi lake. Sonegaon and Gandhisagar Lakes are artificial, created by the city's historical rulers. Nag river, Pilli Nadi, and nallas form the natural drainage pattern for the city. Nagpur is known for its greenery and was adjudged the cleanest and second greenest in India after Chandigarh in 2010. | Nagpur Topography |
LOC Nagpur | Nagpur has tropical wet and dry climate (Aw in Köppen climate classification) with dry conditions prevailing for most of the year. It receives about 163 mm of rainfall in June. The amount of rainfall is increased in July to 294 mm. Gradual decrease of rainfall has been observed from July to August (278 mm) and September (160 mm). The highest recorded daily rainfall was 304 mm on 14 July 1994. Summers are extremely hot, lasting from March to June, with May being the hottest month. Winter lasts from November to February, during which temperatures drop below 10 °C (50 °F). The highest recorded temperature in the city was 47.9 °C on 29 May 2013, while the lowest was 3.5 °C on 29 December 2018. | Nagpur Climate |
ORG National Resources Defense Council, LOC Nagpur | The average number of heat wave days occurring in Nagpur in the summer months of March, April and May is 0.5, 2.4 and 7.2 days, respectively. May is the most uncomfortable and hottest month with, for example, 20 days of heat waves being experienced in 1973, 1988 and 2010. The summer season is characterised by other severe weather activity like thunderstorms, dust storms, hailstorms and squalls. Generally, hailstorms occur during March and dust storms during March and April. These occur infrequently (1 per 10 days). Squalls occur more frequently with 0.3 per day in March and April rising to 0.8 per day in May. Due to the heat waves in the city the Indian government with the help of New York-based National Resources Defense Council has launched a heat wave program since March 2016. | Nagpur Extreme weather |
ORG Bombay High Court, LOC Nagpur South, LOC Nagpur South West, LOC Central Provinces, LOC Maharashtra State, LOC Nagpur Lok, LOC Nagpur West, LOC Nagpur East, LOC Nagpur, LOC Berar, LOC Vidhan Bhavan, ORG Nagpur Pact, LOC Nagpur North, LOC Nagpur Central, LOC Vidarbha | Nagpur was the capital of Central Provinces and Berar for 100 years. After the State Reorganisation in 1956, Nagpur and Vidarbha region become part of the new Maharashtra State. With this Nagpur lost the capital status and hence a pact was signed between leaders, the Nagpur Pact. According to the pact, one session of state legislature and the state legislative council takes place in Vidhan Bhavan, Nagpur.: 671 Usually the winter session takes place in the city exception being in 1966, 1971 and 2018 when the monsoon session took place in the city. Nagpur has a district court and its own bench of the Bombay High Court which was established on 9 January 1936. The city consists of six Vidhan Sabha constituencies namely Nagpur West, Nagpur South, Nagpur South West, Nagpur East, Nagpur North and Nagpur Central. These constituencies are part of the Nagpur Lok Sabha constituency. | Nagpur Administration |
ORG Nagpur Improvement Trust, LOC Nehru Nagar, LOC Ashi Nagar, ORG Indian Administrative Service, ORG sanitation, ORG Nagpur Municipal Corporation, ORG Nagpur Municipal Council, ORG IAS, PER Dayashankar Tiwari, ORG Municipal Council for Nagpur, LOC Hanuman Nagar, ORG Corporation, LOC Mangalwari, LOC Sataranjipura, LOC Lakkadganj, LOC Gandhi Baugh, ORG Standing Committee, LOC Dhantoli, ORG Municipal Corporation, LOC Nagpur, ORG NIT, LOC Dharampeth, LOC Laxmi Nagar, ORG NMC | The Municipal Council for Nagpur was established in 1864. At that time, the area under the jurisdiction of the Nagpur Municipal Council was 15.5 km2 and the population was 82,000. The duties entrusted to the Nagpur Municipal Council were to maintain cleanliness and arrange for street lights and water supply with government assistance. The Municipal Corporation came into existence in March 1951. Nagpur is administered by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), which is a democratically elected civic governing body. The Corporation elects a Mayor who along with a Deputy Mayor heads the organisation. The mayor carries out the activities through various committees such as the Standing Committee, health and sanitation committee, education committee, water works, public works, public health and market committee. Since January 2021, the mayor of Nagpur is Dayashankar Tiwari, The administrative head of the corporation is the Municipal Commissioner, an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer appointed by the state government. The Municipal Commissioner along with the Deputy Municipal Commissioners, carry out various activities related to engineering, health and sanitation, taxation and its recovery. Various departments such as public relations, library, health, finance, buildings, slums, roads, street lighting, traffic, establishment, gardens, public works, local audit, legal services, waterworks, education, octroi and fire services manage their specific activities. The activities of NMC are administered by its zonal offices. There are 10 zonal offices in Nagpur – Laxmi Nagar, Dharampeth, Hanuman Nagar, Dhantoli, Nehru Nagar, Gandhi Baugh, Sataranjipura, Lakkadganj, Ashi Nagar and Mangalwari. These zones are divided into 145 wards. Each ward is represented by a corporator, a majority of whom are elected in local elections. NMC has various departments including healthcare, education, and a fire brigade dedicated for each service and project of the city.Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) is a local planning authority which works with the NMC and carries out the development of the civic infrastructure and new urban areas on its behalf. NIT is headed by a chairman, an Indian Administrative Service Officer appointed by the state government. Since the 1990s the urban agglomeration had rapidly expanded beyond the city's municipal boundaries. This growth had presented challenges for the future growth of the city and its fringes in an organised manner. With a view of achieving balanced development within the region, the Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) was notified as the Special Planning Authority (SPA) for the Nagpur Metropolitan Area (NMA) and entrusted with the preparation of a Statutory Development Plan as per provisions of the MRTP Act, 1966. The notified NMA comprises areas outside the Nagpur city and includes 721 villages under 9 tehsils of the Nagpur District spreading across an area of 3,567 km2. In 1999, the government of Maharashtra declared that the Nagpur Metropolitan Area shall comprise all of Nagpur city, Nagpur Gramin (rural areas near Nagpur), Hingna, Parseoni, Mauda and Kamptee Taluka and parts of Savner, Kalmeshwar, Umred and Kuhi. The boundaries of the "Metro region" around the municipal corporation limits of the city have been defined as per the notification. In 2002, the government extended the jurisdiction of the Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) by 25 to 40 kilometres. This new area was defined under clause 1(2) of NIT Act-1936 as "Nagpur Metropolitan Area". Maharashtra State Cabinet in 2016 had paved the way for NIT to become Nagpur Metropolitan Region Development Authority (NMRDA) NMRDA was notified by the Government of Maharashtra in March 2017. NMRDA has been made on the lines of Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority. NMRDA has been mandated to monitor development in the metropolis comprising 721 villages across nine tehsils in the district. The body is headed by Metropolitan Commissioner, an Indian Administrative Service Officer appointed by the state government as was with the NIT chairman. Currently, NIT is the planning authority for developing projects around the city in land owned by it.The Maharashtra government had appointed Larsen & Toubro (L&T) as the implementation partner to convert Nagpur into the country's first large scale, integrated, smart city. The state government had also decided to develop the city complete with five hubs, from textile centres to defence sector. Nagpur was selected from Maharashtra among other cities under Government of India's Smart Cities Mission. City was selected in the third round of selection. For the implementation of the projects under Smart Cities Mission a special purpose vehicle was formed which was named Nagpur Smart and Sustainable City Development Corporation Ltd.Nagpur Police is headed by a Police Commissioner who is of the rank of Additional Director General of Police of Maharashtra Police. Nagpur Police is divided into 5 Zones, each headed by a Deputy Commissioner of Police, while traffic zones are divided into eleven zones each headed by an inspector. The State C.I.D Regional Headquarter, State Reserve Police Force and Regional Police Training School are situated at Nagpur. | Nagpur Local government |
ORG Orange City Water Private Limited, LOC Gorewada, ORG AG Enviro Infra Project Pvt Ltd, ORG Nagpur Fire Brigade, ORG Vishwaraj Infrastructure Ltd., ORG SNDL, ORG Gandhibagh, ORG Veolia Water India Pvt. Ltd, ORG Spanco Nagpur Discom Ltd., ORG Civil Lines, ORG BVG India, ORG Nagpur Municipal Corporation, ORG OCW, ORG MSEDCL, ORG India Post, ORG Mahal, ORG Kanak Resources Management Ltd., ORG MSEB, LOC Nagpur, ORG Congress Nagar, ORG Nagpur Bin Free Project, ORG NMC | Originally, all the utility services of the city were carried out by NMC departments, but from 2008 onwards privatisation had started for major utility services. The Orange City Water Private Limited (OCW), a joint venture of Veolia Water India Pvt. Ltd and Vishwaraj Infrastructure Ltd., manages the water supply for the city as well as Nagpur Municipal Corporation's water treatment plants at Gorewada, all the elevated service reservoirs, ground service reservoirs, master balancing reservoirs commonly known as water tanks. This joint venture was established in November 2011 and was awarded the contract to execute 24x7 water supply project and operational and maintenance of waterworks for 25 years. Kanak Resources Management Ltd. was awarded the contract for garbage collection in the city as per Nagpur Bin Free Project in 2009 by NMC. It was replaced by AG Enviro Infra Project Pvt Ltd and BVG India in 2019. In electricity supply, which was first managed by MSEB was then replaced by MSEDCL. After some years the distribution franchisee system was introduced to reduce the losses in the divisions and so Spanco Nagpur Discom Ltd.(SNDL) was awarded the distribution franchisee for 15 years to manage three of the four divisions from Nagpur Urban circle namely, Civil Lines, Mahal and Gandhibagh on 23 February 2011 by MSEDCL. The power distribution and maintenance for the fourth division i.e. Congress Nagar division was still managed by MSEDCL. As SNDL mounted losses it intimated MSEDCL to takeover the franchises as it was unable to maintain the franchisee areas under it. MSEDCL thus took over all the Nagpur urban circle areas as in September 2019. Nagpur Fire Brigade has nine fire stations at various locations in the city. India Post which is a governmental postal department has two head post offices and many post offices and sub-post offices at various locations in the city and are part of the logistics services in the city along with various other private operators. | Nagpur Utility services |
LOC Unani, ORG Union Government, LOC Chhattisgarh, LOC Delhi, ORG State Government, LOC Madhya Pradesh, LOC Mahal, ORG ABP News - Ipsos, LOC Immamwada, LOC Mumbai, ORG AIIMS, LOC Panchpaoli Maternity Hospital, LOC Sadar, LOC Hyderabad, ORG Central Government, ORG World Health Organization, LOC Isolation Hospital, LOC Orissa, LOC Andhra Pradesh, LOC LAD square, LOC Uttar Pradesh, LOC Kolkata, LOC Telangana, LOC Pune, ORG UNICEF, LOC Panchpaoli, LOC Indira Gandhi Rugnalaya, LOC Nagpur, LOC MIHAN, LOC Central India, ORG NMC | NMC in collaboration with Central Government, State Government, UNICEF, World Health Organization and Non-governmental organisation conducts and maintains various health schemes in the city. City health line is an initiative started by NMC dedicated to the health of citizens of Nagpur. This includes providing computerised comparative information and action in the field to local citizens. NMC runs three indoor patient hospitals including Indira Gandhi Rugnalaya at LAD square, Panchpaoli Maternity Hospital in Panchpaoli and Isolation Hospital in Immamwada. Besides, the civic body runs three big diagnostic centres at Mahal, Sadar and also at Indira Gandhi Rugnalaya. Apart from these, NMC has 57 outpatient dispensaries (OPDs), including 23 health posts sanctioned under Union Government's schemes, 15 allopathy hospitals, 12 ayurvedic hospitals, three homoeopathy hospitals, three naturopathy hospitals and one Unani hospital. In 2013, ABP News-Ipsos declared Nagpur the country's best city for health care services. The city is home to numerous hospitals, some run by the government and some private and consists of various super-specialty and multi-specialty ones. Recently various cancer speciality hospitals providing treatment until tertiary care for cancer patients have been established in the city making it a natural medical hub for nearby areas and boosting healthcare system in the city. Nagpur is a health hub for Central India and caters to a large geographical area arbitrarily bounded by Delhi in the north, Kolkata in the east, Mumbai-Pune in the west and Hyderabad in the south. People from Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana regularly come to Nagpur for their health needs. Nagpur boasts of super-specialty physicians and surgeons serving its population in both public sector government-run hospitals and well equipped private hospitals catering to all strata of society. AIIMS has also been established in MIHAN, Nagpur.According to 2005 National Family Health Survey, Nagpur has a fertility rate of 1.9 which is below the replacement level.: 46, 47 The infant mortality rate was 43 per 1,000 live births, and the mortality rate for children under five was 50 per 1,000 live births. : 47, 48 About 57% slum and 72% non-slum children have received all the mandatory vaccines which include BCG, measles and full courses of polio and DPT.: 48, 49 In Nagpur, 78 percent of poor children are anaemic, including 49 percent who have moderate to severe anaemia.: 55 About 45% of children under five years of age and 31% of women are underweight.: 54, 55 The poor people from the city mostly cite the reason of the lack of a nearby facility, poor quality of care and excessive waiting time for not visiting any government hospitals for treatment.: 61 According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4) of 2015-16 for Nagpur, households having improved drinking water source is 95.3%, households having improved sanitation facility is 77.3% and households having clean fuel for cooking is 87.6%. Health Insurance coverage among households in the city are 19.5%. Female sterilisation is more prominent than male sterilisation in Nagpur. Institutional births in the city is 97%. Children below 5 years who are anaemic are 43.50%, while women and men in the age group of 15 to 49 years who are anaemic are 45.00% and 21.20%, respectively. | Nagpur Health care |
LOC Vayusena Nagar, ORG Officers Training Academy for National Cadets Corps, LOC Maharashtra, ORG Army, ORG Gajraj, ORG National Academy of Defence Production for Group A, LOC Uttar Maharashtra, ORG Department of Post, ORG Brigade of the Guards. Guards, LOC Kamptee, ORG Army Postal Service, LOC Gujarat, LOC Sitabuldi Fort, ORG National Civil Defence College, ORG Indian Air Force, LOC India, LOC Nagpur, ORG Maintenance Command of Indian Air Force, ORG Ambajhari, ORG Indian Army, LOC Kamptee Cantonment, ORG IAF | Nagpur is an important city for the Indian armed forces. Maintenance Command of Indian Air Force has its current headquarters at Vayusena Nagar in Nagpur. It houses Mi-8 helicopters and the IAF carriers IL-76 and handles the maintenance, repair, and operations of all aircraft, helicopters and other equipment.The ordnance factory and staff college of ordnance factory Ambajhari and National Academy of Defence Production for Group A officer of ordnance factories are in the western part of the city. Sitabuldi Fort is managed by the Uttar Maharashtra and Gujarat sub area hq.of the Indian Army and citizens are allowed to visit the premises on Republic day, Maharashtra day and Independence day.The 'raison d'être' for Kamptee, the military cantonment, is still operational. Kamptee Cantonment houses the Officers Training Academy for National Cadets Corps, which is the only one of its kind. It is also the regimental centre of one of the oldest and most respected regiments in the Indian Army, the Brigade of the Guards. Guards, located at Kamptee, are the only regiment in the Indian Army which have won two PVC (Param Veer Chakra), the highest gallantry awarded to soldiers for wartime operations. There are also other military establishments and a well equipped military hospital to care for the health of the armed forces personnel. The Army Postal Service centre is also operational in the cantonment since 1948, to provide training to personnel of Department of Post who volunteer themselves for the Army. Nagpur's National Civil Defence College provides civil defence and disaster management training to pupils from all over India and abroad. Indian Air Force's IL-76 transport planes nicknamed "Gajraj" are also based in Nagpur. | Nagpur Military establishments |
LOC Nagpur | As of the 2011 census, Nagpur municipality has a population of 2,405,665. The total population constitute, 1,225,405 males and 1,180,270 females. The total children (ages 0–6) are 247,078, of whom 128,290 are boys and 118,788 are girls. Children form 10.27% of total population of Nagpur. The total number of slums number 179,952, in which 859,487 people reside. This is around 35.73% of the total population of Nagpur. The municipality has a sex ratio of 963 females per 1,000 males and child sex ratio of 926 girls per 1,000 boys. 1,984,123 people are literate, of whom 1,036,097 are male and 948,026 are female. Average literacy rate of Nagpur city are 91.92%. Men are 94.44% and women are 89.31% literate. | Nagpur Population |
LOC Deekshabhoomi, LOC Nagpur | Hinduism is the majority religion in Nagpur city with 69.46% followers. Buddhism is the second most popular religion in Nagpur city with 15.57% following it. Nagpur is famous for the Buddhist site of Deekshabhoomi. In Nagpur city, Islam is followed by 11.95%, Christianity by 1.15%, Jainism by 0.90% and Sikhism by 0.68%. Around 0.10% stated 'Other Religion' and approximately 0.20% stated 'No Particular Religion'. | Nagpur Religion |
LOC Nagpur | Marathi is the most-spoken language, spoken by 60.63% of the population. Hindi and Urdu are the second and third largest languages, spoken by 22.74% and 6.36% of the population respectively. Other languages spoken in Nagpur include Chhattisgarhi (2.29%), Sindhi (1.79%), Gujarati (1.16%) and Punjabi (0.91%). There are also small numbers of Telugu, Bengali and Gondi speakers in the city. | Nagpur Language |
ORG Baidyanath, ORG Orange City, ORG Vicco, LOC Maharashtra, LOC Koshti, LOC Mumbai, ORG Haldiram, ORG Explosives & Ammunition, ORG Koradi Thermal Power Station, ORG Reserve Bank of India, ORG Dinshaws, ORG Nagpur Orange Grower ' s Association, ORG NOGA, ORG Maharashtra Agro Industrial Development Corporation, LOC Vidarbha, LOC Pune, ORG Suruchi International, LOC India, LOC Nagpur, ORG Khaparkheda Thermal Power Station, ORG Solar Industries, ORG Actchawa | Nagpur is an emerging metropolis. Nagpur's nominal GDP was estimated to be around ₹ 1,406,860 million in 2019–20, making it the largest economic center in entire central India. Nagpur district has a per-capita GDP of ₹ 270,617 as of 2019-20 financial year, being the highest in the central India In 2004, it was ranked the fastest-growing city in India in terms of the number of households with an annual income of ₹10 million or more. Nagpur has been the main centre of commerce in the region of Vidarbha since its early days and is an important trading location. Although, Nagpur's economic importance gradually declined relative to Mumbai and Pune after the merging of Vidarbha into Maharashtra because of a period of neglect by the state government, the city's economy later recovered.
The city is important for the banking sector as it hosts the regional office of Reserve Bank of India, which was opened on 10 September 1956. The Reserve Bank of India has two branches in Nagpur, one of which houses India's entire gold assets. Sitabuldi market in central Nagpur, known as the heart of the city, is the major commercial market area.Nagpur is home to ice-cream manufacturer Dinshaws, Indian dry food manufacturer Haldiram's, Indian ready-to-cook food manufacturer Actchawa, spice manufacturer Suruchi International, Ayurvedic products company Vicco and Baidyanath. and Explosives & Ammunition company Solar Industries.For centuries, Nagpur has been famous for its orange gardens in the country, hence the name "Orange City". Orange cultivation has been expanding and it is the biggest marketplace for oranges in the country. The Maharashtra Agro Industrial Development Corporation has its multi fruit processing division called Nagpur Orange Grower's Association (NOGA) which has an installed capacity of 4,950 MT of fruits per annum. Orange is also exported to various regions in the country as well to other countries. Nagpur is also famous for the cotton and silk which is woven by its large Koshti population of handloom weavers which are around 5,000.Nagpur and the Vidarbha region have a very prominent power sector as compared to the rest of Maharashtra. Koradi Thermal Power Station and Khaparkheda Thermal Power Station are two major thermal power stations located near Nagpur and operated by MSPGCL. NTPC has a super thermal power plant called Mauda Super Thermal Power Station in Mauda around 40 km from Nagpur and Vidarbha Industries Power Limited (a subsidiary of Reliance Power) is situated at Butibori
The Multi-modal International Hub Airport at Nagpur (MIHAN) is an ongoing project for the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, Nagpur. The government of Maharashtra formed a special purpose entity, Maharashtra Airport Development Company, for the development of MIHAN.
Prominent Information Technology companies such as TCS, Tech Mahindra, HCL, GlobalLogic, Persistent Systems, Infosys and Hexaware are located at various IT parks in Nagpur . Tata Advanced Systems, erstwhile TAL Manufacturing Solutions, has its facility in the SEZ for manufacturing structural components for Boeing and Airbus. Air India Engineering Services Limited and AAR-Indamer have their MRO Facility in the SEZ. Dassault Reliance Aerospace Limited (DRAL) and Thales Reliance Defence System also have their manufacturing facilities in MIHAN. Pharmaceutical company Lupin also has its facility in the SEZ.Apart from MIHAN SEZ the city has three prominent MIDC areas nearby. The Butibori industrial area is one of the largest in Asia in terms of area. The estate's largest unit is Indo Rama Synthetics, which manufactures synthetic polyester yarn. Other units in Butibori include the power transmission company Gammon India Limited (T & D), Gammon India Ltd. (Infra), KEC, Calderys India, Unitech Power Transmissions Limited, ACC Nihon Castings Ltd and Electrolux. CEAT Tyres has its tyre manufacturing plant in Butibori The Hingna industrial estate on the western fringes of the city is made up of around 900 small and medium industrial units. The major ones among them are the tractor manufacturing plant of Mahindra and Mahindra, casting units of NECO Ltd., Candico), Bharat Containers making aluminium aerosol cans Pix Transmissions, and Sanvijay Rolling & Engineering Ltd. (SREL). Kalmeshwar MIDC has 164 industrial plots. JSW Steel, KTM Textile, ESAB India Ltd, ZIM Pharma Ltd, Metlok Pvt. Ltd., Unijuels life sciences, Chemfield Pharmaceuticals Private Ltd., Minex Injection Product Private Ltd., Minex Metallurgical Co.Ltd. and Porohit Textile are a few big names.
Owing to rich natural resources in the region, mining is a major activity. Several government organisations related to the mining industry are based in Nagpur, which includes Western Coalfields Limited (one of the eight fully owned subsidiaries of Coal India Limited), MOIL and Indian Bureau of Mines. | Nagpur Economy |
ORG CBSE, ORG CMAT, ORG Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, ORG N. K. P. Salve Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, ORG Kavikulaguru Kalidas Sanskrit University, ORG Central Board for Secondary Education, ORG Nagpur University, ORG IB, ORG The International Baccalaureate, ORG Government, ORG Government Medical College, ORG Government Dental College, PER Stephen Hislop, ORG College of Agriculture, ORG CET, ORG CLAT, ORG GMCH, ORG Nagpur, ORG Maharashtra National Law University, LOC Main, ORG Indira Gandhi Government Medical College, ORG Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, ORG Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, ORG Morris, ORG JEE, ORG GMAT, ORG ICSE, ORG CAT, ORG Indian Certificate of Secondary Education, ORG MHT, ORG All India Institute of Medical Sciences, ORG Vasantrao Naik Government Institute of Arts and Social Sciences, ORG NEET, ORG GATE, LOC Nagpur, ORG Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, ORG Hislop College, ORG MBBS, LOC Central India, ORG Government Ayurvedic College, ORG NMC | Nagpur is a major education hub in Central India.There are two types of schools in the city. NMC (Government) run schools and private schools run by trusts. These schools follow the 10+2+3/4 plan (15 years of schooling leading to the first degree), the first ten years constituting school education consisting of four years primary level, three years of upper primary level and three years of high school level with a public examination at the end of tenth class and 12th class constituting the Secondary and Higher Secondary Board Examination, respectively. This is followed by either a general degree course in a chosen field of study or a professional degree course, such as law, engineering and medicine. These schools are governed by either of the following boards: Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE), Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) and The International Baccalaureate (IB).
Admission to professional graduation colleges in Nagpur is through MHT-CET, JEE (Main), CAT, CLAT, GATE, CMAT, GMAT and NEET.
Nagpur has four state universities: Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (founded in 1923 as Nagpur University, one of the oldest in the country and having more than 600 affiliated colleges), Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Kavikulaguru Kalidas Sanskrit University and Maharashtra National Law University.
Hislop College established in 1883 is one of the oldest college in Nagpur, named after Scottish missionary Stephen Hislop (1817–1863), who was a noted evangelist, educationist and geologist. Vasantrao Naik Government Institute of Arts and Social Sciences (established in 1885 as Morris college) is an old college in the city. College of Agriculture is another old college in the city, founded in 1906 by the then British Government. It is one of the first five agriculture colleges in the country.
Nagpur has four government medical colleges: Government Medical College, Indira Gandhi Government Medical College, Nagpur, Government Dental College and Government Ayurvedic College, and also a private MBBS institute, N. K. P. Salve Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center. Medical colleges in the city are affiliated to Maharashtra University of Health Sciences. All India Institute of Medical Sciences has been established in 2018 and it has started its classes from GMCH campus temporarily until its own campus gets constructed.
Most engineering colleges in the city are affiliated with Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University. Laxminarayan Institute of Technology (established 1942) is a chemical engineering and technology institute located in Nagpur and managed directly by Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University. Government Polytechnic, Nagpur (established 1914) is one of the oldest polytechnic in India. Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, located in the city, is the only NIT in Maharashtra. Indian Institute of Information Technology has been established as a PPP with TCS and Ceinsys (erstwhile ADCC Infocad) as industry partners in 2016. Other prominent engineering colleges in the city include G. H. Raisoni College of Engineering Nagpur, Shri Ramdeobaba College of Engineering and Management, Kavikulguru Institute of Technology and Science, KDK College of Engineering, Yeshwantrao Chavan College of Engineering and Government College of Engineering, Cummins College Of Engineering For Women, Nagpur.Nagpur has two major management institutes, Indian Institute of Management established in 2015 and Institute of Management Technology, private management college, established in 2004. IIM, Nagpur initially started batches at VNIT Campus since the construction of the IIM building was ongoing at MIHAN. Former President Ramnath Kovind inaugurated the permanent campus of IIM Nagpur on 8 May 2022. Symbiosis International University has its campus in the city which contains two of its institute namely Symbiosis Institute of Business Management and Symbiosis Law School. G.S. College of Commerce and Economics, established in 1945, is the first commerce institute in the region to get autonomous status.Nagpur also has other centrally funded institutes like National Power Training Institute, Central Institute for Cotton Research, Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, Central Power Research Institute, National Academy of Direct Taxes, National Civil Defence College, National Research Centre for Citrus, Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation, and National Environmental Engineering Research Institute.
Government Chitrakala Mahavidyalaya is also a premier institute in the city. Nagpur also has an IGNOU and YCMOU regional centre. | Nagpur Education |
ORG Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, PER Senasaheb Subha Chhatrapati Raghuji Bapusaheb Bhonsle III, ORG Government of, LOC Mominpura, ORG South -, ORG Vidarbha Rashtrabhasha Prachar Samiti, ORG Pune Film Foundation, LOC Maharashtra, ORG Saptak, LOC Hansapuri, LOC Central, LOC Jhajjar, LOC Nagpur Central Museum, LOC Masjid, PER Mohammad Saaduddin, PER Ghulam Ali, ORG Nagpur Municipal Corporation, LOC Yeshwant Stadium, ORG Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation, ORG Jhajjar Bagh, PER Kotwal, ORG Zone Cultural Centre, ORG Aadim Samvidhan Sanrakshan Samiti, LOC Vidarbha, PER Subedar, LOC India, ORG RTMNU, LOC Aina - e Mahal, LOC Nagpur, ORG Vidarbha Sahitya Sangh, PER Mohammad Saladuddin, ORG Sahitya, ORG Vidarbha | The city contains people from other Indian states as well as people belonging to the world's major faiths, and yet is known for staying calm during communal conflicts in India. Nagpur plays host to cultural events throughout the year. Cultural and literary societies in Nagpur include Vidarbha Sahitya Sangh (for development of Marathi), Vidarbha Rashtrabhasha Prachar Samiti (promotion and spreading Hindi) and Vidarbha Hindi Sahitya Sammelan (for promoting Hindi). Marathi Sahitya Sammelan, the conference on Marathi Literature were held twice in Nagpur city. Nagpur also hosts the annual Orange City Literature festival since 2019 and Vidarbha Literary Fest since 2020, featuring local and international authors. Nagpur is the head office of Aadim Samvidhan Sanrakshan Samiti (working for the rights of scheduled tribes).
The South-Central Zone Cultural Centre also sponsors cultural events in Nagpur city, such as the Orange City Craft Mela and Folk Dance Festival, Vidarbha which is noted for its numerous folk-dances such as the human tiger. Newspapers are published from Nagpur in Marathi, English and Hindi. In addition, the Government of Maharashtra organises a week-long Kalidas Festival, a series of music and dance performances, by national level artists. Nagpur Municipal Corporation in partnership with Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation organises Nagpur Mohotsav at Yeshwant Stadium, in which many distinguish artists participate. The Nagpur Municipal Corporation also organises the Orange City International Film Festival (OCIFF) annually, in association with Saptak, Pune Film Foundation, Vidarbha Sahitya Sangh, and Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU).The Nagpur Central Museum (est. 1863) maintains collections are mainly for Vidarbha region.
Three brothers Ghulam Ali (Kotwal), Mohammad Saaduddin (Subedar) and Mohammad Saladuddin (Minister and Kotwal) from Jhajjar are remembered as great scholars of Urdu and Persian during the reign of Maharaja Senasaheb Subha Chhatrapati Raghuji Bapusaheb Bhonsle III. They founded 'Jhajjar Bagh' at Hansapuri (Now Mominpura). In this location, they built their residence 'Aina-e Mahal', a well and a Masjid (now Masjid Ahle Hadith). 'Jhajjar Bagh' also known as 'Subedar ka Bada' was located where nowadays Mohammad Ali Road at Mominpura, Jamia Masjid, Mohammad Ali Sarai and Furqania Madrasa are located.The state government has approved a new safari park of international standards besides Gorewada Lake. In 2013 NMC erected the gigantic Namantar Shahid Smarak in memory of Namantar Andolan martyrs.The Orange City LGBTQ Pride March is also held annually in Nagpur, along with the Nagpur LGBT Queer Carnival during the pride month | Nagpur Cultural events and literature |
LOC Jama Masjid, LOC 1008 Shantinath Digamber Bhagwan, LOC Sri Poddareshwar Ram Mandir, LOC Dussera, LOC Mominpura, LOC Tajpur, LOC Bohri Jamatkhana, PER Ambedkar, LOC Dussehra, LOC Ladpura, LOC Diwali, LOC Dhamma Chakra Pravartan Din, LOC Tekdi Ganesh Mandir, LOC Kirana oli Jain, LOC Deekshabhoomi, LOC Durga Puja, LOC Itwari, LOC Sengan Jain, ORG Maharashtra Government, LOC Ganesh Chaturthi, LOC Shri Mahalaxmi Devi temple, LOC Holi, LOC Koradi, LOC Mahavir Jayanti, PER Tajuddin Muhammad Badruddin, LOC Tajabad, LOC Parwarpura Jain, LOC Swayambhu, LOC Guru Nanak Jayanti, LOC India, LOC Nagpur, LOC Moharram, LOC Durga puja, LOC Eid E Milad, LOC Vijayadashami, LOC Juna oli | Deekshabhoomi, the largest hollow stupa or the largest dome shaped monument and an important place of the Buddhist movement is, located in Nagpur. Every year on the day of Vijayadashami, i.e. Dussehra, followers of Ambedkar visit Deekshabhoomi to mark the conversion ceremony of Ambedkar and his followers in Nagpur into Buddhism that took place on 14 October 1956. It has been given 'A' grade tourist place status by Maharashtra Government in March 2016. 14 April, which is the birthdate of Ambedkar, is celebrated as Ambedkar Jayanti.
Jainism has a good presence in Nagpur. There are nearly 30 Jain temples. The old ones are Sengan Jain temple Ladpura, Parwarpura Jain temple, Kirana oli Jain temple, and Juna oli Jain temple. In west Nagpur Shri 1008 Shantinath Digamber Bhagwan temple is situated.
The most famous temple in Nagpur is Tekdi Ganesh Mandir, and is said to be one of the Swayambhu ("self-manifested") temples in the city. Sri Poddareshwar Ram Mandir and Shri Mahalaxmi Devi temple of Koradi are important Hindu temples.Religious events are observed in the city throughout the year. Ram Navami is celebrated in Nagpur with shobha yatra with a procession of floats depicting events from the Ramayana. Processions are also held on important festivals of other religions such as Dhamma Chakra Pravartan Din, Vijayadashami, Eid E Milad, Guru Nanak Jayanti, Mahavir Jayanti, Durga puja, Ganesh Chaturthi and Moharram. Like the rest of India, Nagpurkars celebrate major Hindu festivals like Diwali, Holi and Dussera with enthusiasm. Celebrations lasting for several days are held on Ganesh Chaturthi and Durga Puja festivals in virtually every small locality in the city.
The city also contains a sizeable Muslim population, and famous places of worship for Muslims include the Jama Masjid-Mominpura and Bohri Jamatkhana-Itwari. The most famous shrine (dargah) of Tajuddin Muhammad Badruddin is at Tajabad. Annual Urs is celebrated in great enthusiasm and unity on 26th of Muharram. Nagpur Is also called as Tajpur as the holy shirine of Sufi Saint Baba Tajuddin.
The St. Francis De Sales Cathedral is located in Sadar as well as the All Saints Cathedral church. There are many south Indian temples in Nagpur like Sarveshwara Devalayam, where all south Indian festivals are celebrated like Sitarama Kalyanam, Radha Kalyanam Dhanurmasa celebration with Andal Kalyanam, Balaji temple in seminary hills where every year Bramhotsavam to Lord Balaji and Lord Kartikeya is celebrated here. There are 2 Ayyapa temples, one at Ayyapa Nagar and the other at Harihara Nagar, Raghvendraswami Mutt, Murugananda Swami Temple at Mohan Nagar, Nimishamba Devi temple Subramanyiam devastanam at Sitabuldi and many more such south Indian temples are here in Nagpur as there is quite a good populations of south Indians in Nagpur.
Marbat Festival is a unique festival for Nagpur and is organised every year a day after the bullock festival of 'Pola'. The tradition of taking out the Marbat processions of 'kali' (black) and 'pivli' (yellow) Marbats (idols), started in 1880 in the eastern part of the city. A number of 'badgyas' (mascots), representing contemporary symbols of evil, comprise another feature of the annual processions. This festival dates back to the 19th century when the Bhonsla dynasty ruled.There is a Parsi Zoroastrian Agiary (Dar-e-Meher) in Nagpur, where the Parsi New Year is celebrated by the Parsi community in Nagpur. | Nagpur Religious places and festivals |
LOC Nagpur, ORG Royal House of the Bhonsales | The tradition of painting in Nagpur was patronised by the Royal House of the Bhonsales as well as common people. Illustrated manuscripts, including of the Bhagavat, Jnaaneshwari, Shakuntala, and Geeta, and the folk patachitras related to some festivals are available besides murals. The community of artists was called chitaris (painters), and this community has today turned to sculpt.
Textile was once an important industry in Nagpur. Good quality cotton was produced in abundant quantities thanks to a suitable soil and climate. With the introduction of the railways, cotton sales and goods transport flourished. Besides cotton textiles, silk and wool weaving was also practised in the district. Silk sarees and pagota, patka, dhoti, and borders were woven with the silk thread. | Nagpur Arts and crafts |
LOC Nagpur, LOC Mominpura, LOC Maharashtra, LOC Santra, LOC Vidharbha, PER Sanjeev Kapoor | The Vidharbha region has its own distinctive cuisine known as the Varhadi cuisine or Saoji cuisine. Saoji or Savji cuisine was the main cuisine of the Savji community. This traditional food is famous for its spicy taste. The special spices used in the gravy include black pepper, dry coriander, bay leaves, grey cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and ample use of poppy seeds. Non-vegetarian food especially chicken and mutton are commonly eaten in Saoji establishments in Nagpur. There are numerous Savji bhojanalays in Nagpur which are so popular in Maharashtra that the renowned Indian chef Sanjeev Kapoor once featured Savji mutton on one of his TV shows and the recipe is listed on his website. Nagpur is also famous for its oranges, which have some typical qualities have recently begun to attract international attention. Numerous beverages are made out of the oranges. Santra Barfi is also a famous dish, arising from orange which is produced locally in Nagpur. Mominpura is a majority Muslim area of the city and it is famous for its Mughal dishes and Biryani. The city is also famous for rare black chickens called Kadaknath Chicken which are cooked in varhadi style.Nagpur is also famous for tarri poha, a variety of flattened rice, and has many food joints; each having their own way of preparing and serving it. Samosas are also famous in Nagpur and is available at many restaurants and food spots. Another famous food is Patodi and Kadhi. | Nagpur Cuisine |
LOC India, LOC Tadoba National Park, LOC NH44, LOC Umred Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary, LOC Nagpur, LOC Jabalpur, LOC Tiger, LOC Melghat Tiger Reserve, LOC Bor Wildlife Sanctuary, ORG Pench Tiger Reserve, LOC Kanha Tiger Reserve, LOC Gorewada, LOC Seminary Hills, LOC Navegaon National Park | Nagpur is surrounded by many tiger reserves and acts as a gateway, hence called Tiger capital of India. Tiger reserves such as Pench Tiger Reserve is situated around 100 km from the city and can be reached through NH44 in Nagpur Jabalpur road. Tadoba National Park is situated south of the city and is around 141 km from the city. Umred Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary, Bor Wildlife Sanctuary, Navegaon National Park, Melghat Tiger Reserve and Kanha Tiger Reserve are the other tiger reserves which are located at a radius of 200 km from the city. The city has its own reserved forest area at Seminary Hills and Gorewada. | Nagpur Tiger reserves |
ORG MoEFCC, LOC Satpuda Botanical Garden, LOC Zilpi Lake, LOC Children ' s Traffic Park, ORG Central Zoo Authority, LOC Sonegaon, LOC Ambazari Garden, LOC Sitabuldi, LOC Sakkardara Lake, LOC Futala Lake, LOC Ambazari Lake, LOC Gorewada Lake, LOC Japanese Garden, ORG Essel Group, LOC Gorewada Zoo, LOC Telankhedi Garden, LOC Maharajbagh, ORG Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra, LOC Shukrawari Lake, LOC Khindsi Lake | Maharajbagh zoo is an existing zoo which is located in the heart of the city near Sitabuldi and consists of a variety of animals. The zoo is going through fund crunches and does not have a proper plan for which the Central Zoo Authority had derecognised the zoo in November 2018. Its recognition has since been extended under the directions from MoEFCC. Gorewada Zoo is an upcoming international zoo project which is being set up beside Gorewada Lake It is being jointly developed by Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra and Essel Group.The city consist of various natural and man made lakes. Khindsi Lake, Ambazari Lake and Gorewada Lake are the natural lakes of the city while Futala Lake, Shukrawari Lake, Sakkardara Lake, Zilpi Lake and Sonegaon lake are the man made lakes. Futala Lake is being redeveloped and the world'd second largest Lighting and Musical fountain is constructed in the lake. It will be available for a public show on tickets. The city also has various gardens which consist of Ambazari Garden, Telankhedi Garden, Satpuda Botanical Garden, Japanese Garden and Children's Traffic Park. | Nagpur Zoos, Gardens and Lakes |
LOC Divyang Park, ORG of Social justice and Empowerment, LOC Maharashtra, PER Virendra Kumar, ORG Divyangjans, ORG Union | Virendra Kumar, Union Minister of Social justice and Empowerment 26 August 2022 announced that the central government with the help of the state government will create Maharashtra's First ever "Divyang Park" and the procedure in this endeavor has started. This park will be peculiar and will have different types of facilities for Divyangjans such as textiles pathways, smell, and touch gardens, sensory gardens, Skill training facilities, sports, rehabilitation facilities, and infotainment. | Nagpur Divyang Park |
LOC Dragon Palace, LOC Savner, LOC Ramtek, LOC Dragon Palace Temple, LOC Gurudwara Guru Nanak Darbar, LOC Swayambhu temple, LOC Ramtek Fort Temple, LOC Adasa Ganpati Temple, LOC Deekshabhoomi, LOC Balaji Temple, PER Lord Ganesha, LOC Sai Baba Mandir, LOC Nagpur Railway Station, LOC Shri Shantinath Digambar Jain Mandir, LOC All Saints Cathedral, LOC Kamptee, LOC Koradi, LOC Telankhedi Hanuman Temple, LOC Shri Poddareshwar Ram Temple, PER B. R. Ambedkar, LOC Baba Tajjuddin Dargah, LOC Vidarbha, LOC India, LOC Nagpur, LOC Shree Ganesh Mandir Tekdi, PER Ram Nath Kovind, LOC Wardha, LOC Koradi Temple, LOC Swaminarayan Temple | Nagpur boasts many religious structures that hold importance for differing religious beliefs. Deekshabhoomi and Dragon Palace are important religious places for Buddhists across India and the world. Deekshabhoomi is the place where B. R. Ambedkar with millions of his followers embraced Buddhism in the year 1956. Dragon Palace Temple is situated at Kamptee which is around 15 km (9.3 mi) from the city. It also has a state of the art Vipassana centre which was inaugurated by President of India Ram Nath Kovind on 22 September 2017. Other prominent religious structures include Ramtek Fort Temple at Ramtek which is a temple built inside a fort and is 55 km (34 mi) away from Nagpur, Adasa Ganpati Temple located near Savner is one of the eight Ashta Vinayaks in Vidarbha, Baba Tajjuddin Dargah, Shri Shantinath Digambar Jain Mandir at Ramtek, Shree Ganesh Mandir Tekdi, located near Nagpur Railway Station and one of the Swayambhu temple of Lord Ganesha, Sai Baba Mandir at Wardha road, Telankhedi Hanuman Temple, Swaminarayan Temple, Koradi Temple, located at Koradi, Shri Poddareshwar Ram Temple, Balaji Temple, All Saints Cathedral and Gurudwara Guru Nanak Darbar. | Nagpur Religious places |
LOC Dwarka River Farms, LOC Fun N Food Village, LOC High Land Park, LOC Amusement Park, LOC Nagpur Central Museum, LOC Science on a Sphere, LOC Narrow Gauge Rail Museum, LOC Fun Planet, LOC Central India, LOC Raman Science Centre | The city also has some museums which are Nagpur Central Museum and Narrow Gauge Rail Museum. Raman Science Centre is a premium Science Centre of Central India, that has of late become a must see feature on the city's tourist landscape with many scientific experimental edutainment installations which also has a planetarium and a unique facility called the Science on a Sphere inside. Amusement parks such as Fun N Food Village, High Land Park, Fun Planet and Dwarka River Farms and Amusement Park are located in the city. | Nagpur Museums |
ORG IFFC, ORG Western India Football Association, ORG Deccan Chargers, LOC Wardha Road, ORG BCCI, LOC Maharashtra, ORG Board of Control for Cricket, ORG Vidarbha Hockey Association, ORG Lokmat Group, ORG NDFA, LOC Vidarbha Hockey Association Stadium, LOC Yeshwant Stadium, LOC Wardha road, ORG Vidarbha Cricket Association, ORG Mohali, LOC Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, ORG Hockey India, ORG Nagpur District Football Association, LOC Vidarbha, LOC Jamtha, ORG VCA, LOC Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground, LOC India, LOC Nagpur, LOC Civil Lines, ORG Kings XI Punjab, ORG Vidarbha, ORG Indian Friends Football Club | Nagpur is a big center for cricket in Vidarbha owing to the presence of the Vidarbha Cricket Association. Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) is the governing body of cricket activities in the Vidarbha region in Maharashtra. It is affiliated to the Board of Control for Cricket in India. Nagpur is one of the few Indian cities that has more than one international cricket stadium, the older one being the Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground situated in Civil Lines, and the new one, the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, inaugurated in 2008 is situated in Jamtha, Wardha Road on the outskirts of the city.Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium has been built on Wardha road with a seating capacity of 45,000 people at a cost of ₹75 crore (US$9.4 million). It is one of the fifteen test cricket venues in the country. Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground has been the venue for the 1987 Reliance World Cup and 1996 Wills World Cup. Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium has been the venue for the 2011 Cricket World Cup and 2016 ICC World Twenty20. The stadium also hosts certain matches of the Indian Premier League and had been the home city for the now defunct Deccan Chargers in the 2010 season and was also the home city for Kings XI Punjab along with Mohali in the 2016 season. Vidarbha Cricket Association also has a cricket academy at the main centre in Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground and three more centres. It also has its own cricket teams which play in various formats as mandated by BCCI. The Vidarbha cricket team had won the Ranji Trophy and Irani Cup consecutively in 2017-18 and 2018-19 season.
Vidarbha Hockey Association is a body governing field hockey in the Vidarbha Region and is affiliated to Hockey India as an associate member. Vidarbha Hockey Association Stadium is the hockey ground owned and managed by Vidarbha Hockey Association.
Nagpur District Football Association(NDFA) is the district governing body for football in Nagpur, Maharashtra and is affiliated with the Western India Football Association, the state sports governing body. The Nagpur District Football Association is a district level football body and conducts various matches among the schools and clubs. It has its own league. NDFA Elite division Champions League, another football tournament, was held at Nagpur annually since 2010 until 2014 by Lokmat Group in Yeshwant Stadium. Indian Friends Football Club(IFFC), Rabbani, Rahul CLub and Young Muslim Football Club (YMFC) are renowned football clubs in the city. Other clubs include, Rabbani Club, Rahul Club, City Police, South East Central Railway, Qidwai Club, SRPF, New Globe and City Club. Nagpur FC has its own Football Academy in Dhanwate National College, Congress Nagar. Slum Soccer is a social initiative started by Vijay Barse for young runaways and former drug addicts to rehabilitate them through football.Badminton tournaments in the city are organised by Nagpur District Badminton Association (NDBA) which is affiliated to Maharashtra Badminton Association which in turn is a member of Badminton Association of India. Nagpur District Table Tennis Association organises table tennis tournaments at district level and is affiliated to Maharashtra Table Tennis Association. The city also has a divisional sports complex which consist of Indoor stadium and other gymnastic facilities.The city's major indoor arena is Vivekananda Nagar Indoor Sports Complex located near Mankapur. The arena hosts several political events, concerts and sports events like badminton, basketball, lawn tennis.
The city also has various running events, for general public, organised by various institutions. | Nagpur Sports |
ORG Lord Buddha TV, ORG Loksatta, ORG Divya Marathi, ORG Dis, ORG My FM, ORG DD Sahyadri, ORG Awaaz India TV, LOC Maharashtra, ORG Mirchi Love FM, ORG Airtel, ORG All India Radio, ORG Big FM, ORG Employment News, ORG Gyan Vani, ORG BCN, ORG Nava RashtraSakal, ORG Tarun Bharat, PER Gopal Krishna Gokhale, ORG The Times of India, ORG Punya Nagari, ORG Red FM, ORG Maharashtra Times, ORG Sakal, ORG DD Free Dish, ORG Radio Mirchi, ORG 6, ORG In Cable, ORG Nagpur Today News, ORG The Economic Times, ORG Radio City, ORG DD National, ORG GTPL, ORG Diamond Cable Network, ORG UCN, ORG Lokmat Samachar, ORG Government of India, ORG The Indian Express, LOC Nagpur, ORG asNava Bharat, ORG Dainik Bhaskar, LOC Civil Lines, ORG Doordarshan, ORG Hitavada, ORG Vividh Bharati, LOC Central India, ORG DD News | The Hitavada is the largest selling broadsheet English daily newspaper of Central India. It was founded in 1911 by freedom fighter Gopal Krishna Gokhale in Nagpur. Other English dailies circulated in the city include The Times of India, The Indian Express, The Economic Times and Marathi dailies circulated in city include Nava RashtraSakal. Lokmat'newspaper in Nagpur,'Tarun Bharat, Deshonatti, Maharashtra Times, Punya Nagari, Lokshahi is Marathi news channel in Maharashtra, Sakal, Nagpur-news.in, Nagpur Today News, Divya Marathi and Loksatta are other Marathi dailies available. Hindi newspapers such asNava Bharat, Dainik Bhaskar and Lokmat Samachar are also circulated. Employment News, which is published weekly, is also circulated in Hindi, English and Urdu.All India Radio is the oldest radio broadcaster in the city and has its office in the Civil Lines area. Vividh Bharati, the entertainment radio station, and Gyan Vani, the educational radio station, are the FM radio stations of All India Radio and are available in the frequency 100.6 FM & 107.8 FM, respectively. Other private FM broadcasting channels with their frequencies include Radio City at 91.1 FM, Red FM at 93.5 FM, My FM at 94.3 FM, Radio Mirchi at 98.3 FM, Mirchi Love FM at 91.9 FM and Big FM at 92.7 FM.Television broadcasting in Nagpur began on 15 August 1982 with the launch of Doordarshan, the Government of India's public service broadcaster. It transmits DD National and DD News, which are free-to-air terrestrial television channels and one regional satellite channel called DD Sahyadri. Private satellite channels started in the 1990s.: 6 Lord Buddha TV and Awaaz India TV are Free-to-air television which are based in the city and are available in various cable operators and DTH platforms Satellite TV channels are accessible via cable subscription, direct-broadcast satellite services or internet-based television. Cable TV operators or multi system operators in the city include UCN, GTPL, In Cable, BCN and Diamond Cable Network. All the DTH operators in the country are available in the city viz. Airtel digital TV, DD Free Dish, Dish TV, Sun Direct, D2h and Tata Play.The city also has its own Regional DTH operator UCN which serves the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra headquartered in the city itself.Broadband Internet service is available in the city and is provided by various Internet service providers. Wi-Fi is available in major educational institutions and certain areas in the city, including government institutions under Smart City plan by NSSCDCL. As of 2023, 3G services in the city are provided by BSNL, Airtel and Vodafone Idea Limited while 4G services in the city are provided by Airtel, Jio, Vodafone Idea Limited and BSNL. and 5G services in the city are provided by Airtel and Jio | Nagpur Media |
LOC Itwari Railway Station, LOC South, ORG Indian Railways, LOC Itwari, LOC Motibagh, LOC Lucknow, LOC Bombay, LOC Calcutta, LOC Ajni, LOC Northern, LOC North Eastern, PER Frank, LOC Godhani, LOC Bhusaval, LOC Garib, LOC Ajni Railway Station, LOC Kalamna, LOC India, LOC Nagpur, ORG East Central Railway Zone, ORG Central Railway | Railways started in Nagpur way back in 1867 when portion of Bombay-Bhusaval-Nagpur line was opened for traffic and train service from Nagpur to Calcutta was started in 1881. Today, a total of 254 trains stop at Nagpur railway station. These include passenger, express, mail, Duronto, Rajdhani, Garib Rath trains. Of these 65 are daily trains and 22 terminate/originate from Nagpur. Almost 1.6 lakh passengers board/leave Nagpur Railway Station Nagpur railway station, one of the oldest and busiest Stations of India was inaugurated in its present from on 15 January 1925 by the then Governor Sir Frank. Apart from the Nagpur railway station, Ajni Railway Station and Itwari Railway Station are the important stations of the city. Other railway stations in the city include Ajni, Motibagh, Kalamna, Itwari and Godhani. Nagpur-Ajni rail route which is just three km (1.9 mi) long, is the shortest train run in Indian Railways primarily meant for crew to travel from Nagpur station to the workshop at Ajni.The city is the divisional headquarters for the Central Railway and South East Central Railway Zone of Indian Railways. Nagpur is a city with two divisional headquarters, a rare distinction it shares with Lucknow, which has headquarters for two different divisions in Northern Railway zone and North Eastern Railway zone. | Nagpur Rail |
ORG Nagpur Metro, ORG Nagpur Metro Rail Corporation Ltd., PER Narendra Modi, PER Devendra Fadnavis, ORG Nagpur Improvement Trust, PER Nitin Gadkari, LOC Maharashtra, ORG Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited | The Nagpur Metro project was announced by the state government of Maharashtra with the expenses of INR 4,400 Cr and 3,800 Cr for its first phase which consists of two corridors – north–south corridor and east–west corridor of 39.4 km (24.5 mi).The site inspection began in March 2012 with initiatives from Nagpur Improvement Trust. The project is executed by a SPV called Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (erstwhile Nagpur Metro Rail Corporation Ltd.). In July 2015, the project was approved by the government of Maharashtra. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated operations on Nagpur Metro on 7 March 2019 via video conferencing along with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Cabinet Minister Nitin Gadkari.On 15 August 2022, Nagpur Metro made the record for single-day ridership of 90,758 passengers. | Nagpur Nagpur Metro Rail |
LOC Nagpur, LOC Bhandara, LOC Narkhed, LOC Wardha, LOC Ramtek | The Nagpur broad-gauge Metro is a commuter rail project planned Nagpur and extending up to adjacent districts of Wardha and Bhandara. The project is estimated to cost INR 418 Cr and consists of four routes, each originating from Nagpur and terminating at Narkhed, Ramtek, Wardha and Bhandara. | Nagpur Nagpur broad-gauge Metro Rail |
LOC National, LOC Sri Lanka, LOC Savner, LOC Solapur, ORG MSRTC, LOC Kharagpur, ORG Aapli Bus, ORG NHAI, LOC Dhule, LOC Mumbai, LOC Asian, LOC Matara, LOC NH, LOC Latur, LOC Tuljapur, LOC Sitabuldi, ORG Nagpur Municipal Corporation, LOC Ganeshpeth, LOC Narsinghpur, ORG Nagpur, LOC Bamanbore, LOC Yavatmal, LOC Sangli, LOC Gujarat, LOC Aurangabad, LOC Butibori, LOC Chhindwara, ORG Sthanak, LOC Kolkata, LOC Vidarbha, ORG Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation, LOC India, LOC Nanded, LOC Nagpur, LOC Jhansi Rani Square, LOC Kolhapur, LOC Srinagar, LOC MorBhawan, LOC Kanyakumari, LOC Wardha, LOC Agra | Nagpur is a major junction for roadways as India's two major national highways, Srinagar-Kanyakumari (National Highway 44) and Mumbai-Kolkata (National Highway 53 pass through the city. National Highway 47 connects Nagpur to Bamanbore in Gujarat. Nagpur is at the junction of two Asian Highways namely AH43 Agra to Matara, Sri Lanka and AH46 connecting Kharagpur, India to Dhule, India. The highway to Mumbai via Aurangabad, a shorter route, was re-built on the national highway basis. This highway significantly reduces the distance travelled by NH 6 and NH 3 between two cities. In 2009, NHAI announced the extension of the existing NH 204 to Nagpur via Kolhapur-Sangli- Solapur-Tuljapur-Latur-Nanded-Yavatmal-Wardha and connecting it to the NH-7 at Butibori near Nagpur. The entire NH 204 highway has been included in the national highway mega projects for upgradation to 4-lanes, which is now completed. One more national highway NH-547 Savner-Chhindwara-Narsinghpur has connected with NH 47 at Savner near Nagpur providing another optional connectivity with the northern part of India.
Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) runs cheaper transport service for intercity, interstate, and intrastate travel. It has two bus stations in Nagpur: Nagpur Bus Sthanak (CBS-1) at Ganeshpeth and MorBhawan (CBS-2) at Jhansi Rani Square, Sitabuldi. It operates 1600 daily services from CBS-1 to long and short distances within the state and to places in other surrounding states. It also operates 750 daily services from CBS-2 to short distances within Vidarbha.
The Nagpur Municipal Corporation through its bus operators (three red and one green) plies 487 buses, by which over 1.60 lakh people commute. The city bus operation is named as Aapli Bus (your bus). The operators consist of diesel, ethanol and CNG run buses. A total of 5,500 trips of 123 routes are covered by city buses. A common mobility card, called MAHA-CARD, has also been issued which will help people commute with buses and the metro rail. A Green bus project featuring India's first ethanol-powered buses was established in August 2014.Nagpur is connected directly with Shirdi with the help of Mumbai–Nagpur Expressway, since December 2021. After the expressway gets fully completed by December 2023, Nagpur will be directly connected with the state capital, Mumbai. Other expressways which will link Nagpur in the coming years are Nagpur–Goa Expressway, Nagpur–Hyderabad–Bengaluru Expressway and Hyderabad–Nagpur–Indore Expressway.
Other local transport include Autorickshaws and private taxi operators under Ola Cabs and Uber cabs. | Nagpur Road |
LOC Indore, ORG Qatar Airways, LOC Delhi, ORG Airports Authority of India, LOC Mumbai, LOC Bangalore, ORG Star Air, LOC Sharjah, LOC Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, LOC Lucknow, LOC Hyderabad, ORG IndiGo, ORG Go First, LOC NAG, ORG Air Arabia, ORG Air India, LOC Doha, ORG INDRA, LOC Nagpur Airport, ORG VANP, LOC Belagavi, LOC Chennai, LOC Kolkata, LOC Pune, ORG ATC, LOC India, ORG Mihan India Private Limited, LOC Nagpur, LOC Ahmedabad, ORG MIPL, LOC Sonegaon Airport | Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport (IATA: NAG, ICAO: VANP) is operated by Mihan India Private Limited (MIPL) and owned by Airports Authority of India.Nagpur's Air Traffic Control (ATC) is the busiest in India, with more than 300 flights flying over the city every day in 2004. In October 2005, Nagpur's Sonegaon Airport was declared an international airport and was renamed Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport.Nagpur is well connected by direct flights to Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Kolkata, Bangalore, Pune, Chennai, Indore, Ahmedabad and Belagavi operated by Air India, IndiGo, Go First and Star Air. Air Arabia operates a 4 times a week to and fro flight between Nagpur and Sharjah and Qatar Airways operates a daily direct flight to and from Doha.The Nagpur Airport has received Special Achievement Award 2012–2013 from Airports Authority of India. Nagpur became the first airport in India to commission the INDRA system and also has ADS-B system. No other airport in the country had commissioned INDRA yet. Nagpur Airport became the first airport in the country to receive an ISO 27000 certificate. In fact, Nagpur is not only the first in India but also the first in world to be certified for Air navigation service provider (ANSP). There are seven airports in the world which have ISO 27000, but none of them have it for ANSP.The government of India has identified Nagpur Airport as one of the safe airports for diverted flights and emergency landing. In fact, many flights have used the airport during emergencies. This is because all international and domestic airlines had already been informed by the government to go to Nagpur during emergencies. The availability of excellent fire fighting equipment, air traffic control equipment with latest radar, along with availability of good hospitals and hotels in the city, made the airport a good choice during emergencies.Nagpur Airport has an annual capacity of 10 lakh passengers, but it handles more passengers than its capacity. Airport expansion and improvement of service is in the cards and privatisation of the airport has been proposed by the government. | Nagpur Air transport |
LOC Jinan, LOC Shandong, LOC China | Jinan, Shandong, China | Nagpur Sister cities |
LOC Himalayas, LOC India, LOC Nainital, LOC Kumaon, ORG High Court, LOC Dehradun, LOC Raj Bhavan, LOC New Delhi, LOC Naina Peak, LOC Deopatha, LOC Ayarpatha, LOC Naintāl, LOC Uttarakhand, LOC United Provinces, LOC Jagbeer | Nainital (Kumaoni: Naintāl; pronounced [nɛnːtaːl]) is a city and headquarters of Nainital district of Kumaon division, Uttarakhand, India. It is the judicial capital of Uttarakhand, the High Court of the state being located there and is the headquarters of an eponymous district. It also houses the Governor of Uttarakhand, who resides in the Raj Bhavan. Nainital was the summer capital of the United Provinces.
Nainital is located in the Kumaon foothills of the Jagbeer Himalayas at a distance of 285 km (177 mi) from the state capital Dehradun and 345 km (214 mi) from New Delhi, the capital of India. Situated at an altitude of 1,938 metres (6,358 ft) above sea level, the city is set in a valley containing an eye-shaped lake, approximately two miles in circumference, and surrounded by mountains, of which the highest are Naina Peak (2,615 m (8,579 ft)) on the north, Deopatha (2,438 m (7,999 ft)) on the west, and Ayarpatha (2,278 m (7,474 ft)) on the south. From the tops of the higher peaks, "magnificent views can be obtained of the vast plain to the south, or of the mass of tangled ridges lying north, bound by the great snowy range which forms the central axis of the Himalayas." The hill station attracts tourists round the year. | Nainital Introduction |
LOC Himalayas, LOC Handibandi, LOC India, LOC Devpata, LOC Nainital, LOC Kumaon, LOC Ayarpata, LOC Chini, LOC Naina Peak, LOC Nainital Lake, LOC Sher ka Danda, LOC Balia Nala, LOC Alma, LOC New Delhi, LOC Dehradun, LOC Lariya Kanta, LOC Pashandevi | The town of Nainital covers a total area of 11.73 km2 (4.53 sq mi), and is located at 29.38°N 79.45°E / 29.38; 79.45, at an average elevation of 2,084 metres (6,837 ft) above sea level. The slopes of the nearby mountains are most populated, with an altitude ranging from 1,940–2,100 m (6,360–6,890 ft). The highest point nearby is the Naina Peak, with an height of 2,619 m (8,593 ft). The town is located in the Kumaon foothills of the outer Himalayas at a distance of 285 km (177 mi) from the state capital Dehradun and 345 km (214 mi) from New Delhi, the capital of India.
The town is set in a valley around the Nainital Lake - an eye-shaped lake, which is located at an altitude of 1,940 m (6,350 ft) from sea level. The lake is 1,433 m (1,567 yd) long and 463 m (506 yd) wide, and is approximately two miles in circumference. The bed of the lake is at a depth of 85 m (93 yd) near Pashandevi, the deepest point of the lake. The lake is deduced to have been formed tectonically. Balia Nala, which is the main stream feeding the lake is along a fault line and the subsequent streams align parallel to major joints and faults. 26 major drains feed the lake including the 3 perennial drains.
Nainital is surrounded by the mountains of Ayarpata (2,344 m (7,689 ft)), Devpata (2,435 m (7,989 ft)), Handibandi (2,180 m (7,153 ft)), Chini, (2,612 m (8,568 ft)), Alma (2,430 m (7,980 ft)), Lariya Kanta (2,482 m (8,144 ft)) and Sher ka Danda (2,398 m (7,869 ft)). | Nainital Topography |
LOC Nainital, LOC Tal, LOC Alma, LOC Krol | The Krol group of rocks, comprising slates, marls, sandstones, limestones and dolomites with a few small dykes intrusives, is the dominant geological formation of Nainital's surroundings, although, Nodules, laminae and stringers of phosphatic material, followed upward by the purple-green shales intercalated with muddy fine-grained sandstone and siltstone; recognised as the Tal Formation; are also prevalent. The region has a complex geological framework; the rocks are fragile and newly formed. The town is completely located in the catchment area of the Nainital lake, which has highly folded and faulted rocks due to polyphase deformation.
Landslides are a frequent occurrence in the hill slopes surrounding the lake, which are steep. The slopes are highly vulnerable to landslides and mass movement due to various geological and human factors. The first known landslip occurred in Nainital in 1866 on Alma hill, and in 1879 there was a larger one at the same spot. The greatest landslide in Nainital occurred on 18 September 1880, on the slope which rising from the north of the flats ends at Alma peak, and resulted in 151 people being buried under the debris. Another heavy landslip occurred on 17 August 1898 outside the Nainital valley. | Nainital Geology |
LOC Nainital | Nainital experiences a subtropical highland climate (Cwb) according to Köppen–Geiger climate classification system as the town's climate is influenced by the elevation. The town is a bit dry during winter and very wet during summer due to South Asian monsoon system. The lowest precipitation total occurs in November with total 7.9 millimetres (0.31 in), while the highest precipitation total occurs in July with total 725 millimetres (28.5 in). Like most places in temperate region, Nainital has relatively cool summer. The hottest month is July with temperature ranging from 16.4 °C (61.5 °F) to 23.5 °C (74.3 °F), while the coldest month is January with temperature ranging from 1.7 °C (35.1 °F) to 10.7 °C (51.3 °F). The highest temperature ever recorded in Nainital was 30 °C (86 °F) recorded on 18 June 1972, while the lowest temperature was −5.6 °C (21.9 °F) recorded on 17 January 1953.The winter season in Nainital commences by mid-November and lasts till mid-March. The temperature gradually declines from the month of November onwards and January is the coldest month. Frost and mist are common features in the months of December and January. Occasionally widespread rainfall also occurs due to western disturbance, with snow occurring on peaks higher than 2000m. The winter rainfall is sometimes associated with cyclonic activities. The temperature, however, shows an increasing trend by the end of February or the first half of March. By mid-March, there is a progressive rise in temperature, which indicates the onset of the summer season. While days get slightly warmer; the nights continue to be cool. There is a constant increase in temperature during May and early June when the highest temperature is recorded. The months of March and April are also associated with the occurrence of hailstorms, which brings a short spell of cold.
The onset of the summer in the hills is relatively earlier than the plains and is also very lengthy and humid. The mean temperature in July and August goes down and humidity rises abruptly during this season. The monsoon usually begins by mid-May when the rain strikes and continue until mid-October. Nainital, due to its proximity to the outermost high ranges of the Himalaya, receives high annual rainfall. Generally, by mid-September, the monsoon gets weakened and rain occurs generally after long intervals. With the retreat of the monsoon, the winds blow in a reverse direction. The weather during the post-monsoon months is characterized by bright skies. It is in fact a transition between the rains and the winters and with reduced rainfall, the monthly temperature records a progressive decline till mid-January. | Nainital Climate |
LOC Nainital | The areas around Nainital (in the middle Himalayan ranges up to 2,000 m (6,600 ft), a temperate zone), is rich in flora (typical temperate climate plants) and fauna. The trees and bushes grown in the region (lake's basin) with their botanical and common Indian names (in parenthesis) are : Quercus leucotrichophora Oak (Banj), Aesculus indica (Pangar or Horse chestnuts), Juglans regia (Akhrot or walnut), Populus ciliata (Hill Pipal, a sacred tree), Fraxinus micrantha (Ash tree or Angu), Platanus orientalis (Chinar), Rubus lasiocarpus (Hisalu), Rosa moschata (Kunj or Musk rose), Berberis asiatica (Kilmora), Cupressus torulosa (Surai or Himalayan cypress), Rhododendron arboreum (Buruns), Cedrus deodara (Deodar), Salix acmophylla (Weeping Willow), and Pinus (Pine).Several species of medicinal flora and horticulture plants have also been found in the lake. The Aquatic Macrophytic vegetation include Potamogeton pectinatus, Potamogeton crispus, Polygonum glabrum, Polygonum amphibium and Polygonum hydropiper (Water pepper). The fishes found in the lake are generally carps Mahseer, and the mirror carp which breed several times during one spawning season during May to September. Two species of Mahaseer fish viz., Tor tor: The red finned mahseer and the Tor putitora: The yellow finned mahseer, a food fish which grows to varying sizes from 20 to 60 cm (7.87 to 23.62 inches) are found. Three species of Hill Trout are found in the lake: the Schizothorax sinuatus, Schizothorax richardsoni and Schizothorax plagiostornus. The imported fish bred in the lake is Mirror carp or Cyprinus carpio. Gambusia affinis also called Mosquitofish has been introduced in the lake as a biocontrol measure to control Mosquito larvae. | Nainital Flora and fauna |
LOC Nainital, LOC Uttarakhand | As of the 2011 Indian census, Nainital had a population of 41,377. Males constitute 52.3% of the population and females 47.7%, which gives the town a sex ratio of 911 women per every 1000 men, which is less than the Uttarakhand state average of 963 women per every 1000 men. The population density was 3527.45 people per square km. There were 9,329 housing units in the town at an average density of 795.31 households per square km. 9.54% of the population is under 6 years of age. In 2011, Nainital had an average literacy rate of 92.93%, higher than the Uttarakhand state average of 78.82% - around 96.09% males and 89.47% females in the town are literate.A special Census taken in September 1880, at the height of the tourism season, returned a total population of 10,054 for the town. However, the official Census in February 1881 returned the population, then at its lowest, at 6,576. The population slightly rose in the following decade, rising to 8,455 in 1891. After dropping to 7,609 in 1901, it remained steady in the coming two decades; 10,270 in 1911 and 11,230 in 1921. The population took another drop, when the 1931 and 1941 censuses returned a population of 9,741 and 9,539 respectively, but has seen a continuous rise since then, with subsequent census reports returning a population of 12350 in 1951, 14495 in 1961, 23986 in 1971, 24835 in 1981, 29837 in 1991, 38630 in 2001, and 41377 in 2011.
Hinduism is the largest religion in Nainital, with 85.61% of residents identifying as Hindus in the 2011 Census. The town's religious profile is highly diverse, Nainital has a significant number of people from Muslim, Sikh and Christian communities. Islam is second most popular religion in town of Nainital with approximately 11.91% following it. Christianity is followed by 0.92%, Jainism by 0.01%, Sikhism by 0.75% and Buddhism by 0.77%. Approximately 0.02% of the population were either atheists or followed 'no particular religion'. Nainital in 1880 had a population of 10,054, which consisted of 6,862 Hindus, 1,748 Muslims, 1,348 Europeans, 34 Eurasians, 57 Native Christians and 5 ‘others’. Kumaonis form the major part of the town's population along with people from all over India.
A person from Nainital is called Naintālwāl in Kumaoni. Wāl is the Kumaoni term for resident. | Nainital Demographics |
Hindi is the official language, while Sanskrit is the additional official language of the town.Kumaoni is the native language and is the most spoken language in the town. Hindi and English also serve as lingua franca between locals and tourists/outsiders. | Nainital Languages |
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PER Shiva, PER Vishnu, PER Sati, PER Nain, PER Shakti, LOC Sudarshana Chakra, LOC Naini Mata Temple, LOC Naini Lake, LOC Nain - tal, PER Goddess, LOC Naina Devi Temple | It is believed that the Naini Lake is one of the 51 Shakti Peeths, based on the story of the death of the goddess Sati. Out of grief and sorrow, Shiva carried Sati's body, reminiscing about their moments as a couple, and roamed around the universe with it. Vishnu had cut her body into 52 body parts, using his Sudarshana Chakra, which fell on Earth to become sacred sites where all the people can pay homage to the Goddess. The spot where Sati's right eye (or Nain) fell, came to be called Nain-tal or lake of the eye. The goddess Shakti is worshiped at the Naina Devi Temple, known by locals as Naini Mata Temple on the north shore of the present day lake. | Nainital Mythology |
LOC Bhimtal, LOC Kingdom, PER Katyuri, LOC Ramgarh, PER Chand, PER Balo Kalyan Chand, LOC Koshi, LOC Nainital, LOC Kumaon, PER Trilok Chand, LOC Suyal, PER Udyan Chand, LOC Kota, LOC Khasia, ORG Khasiya, PER Khasiya, PER Kirat Chand, PER Katyuris | Nainital has historically been a part of the Kumaon region. After the fall of Katyuri Dynasty in 10th century, Kumaon was divided into several small princely states, and the region around Nainital was under various branches of a Khasiya family. The first dynasty to achieve consolidated dominance over Kumaon after the Katyuris was the Chand dynasty, but it took many centuries and Nainital and its surroundings were one of the last areas to be absorbed. Trilok Chand had built a fort at Bhimtal in the thirteenth century, But at that time, Nainital itself was not under the Chand rule, and was situated near the western border of the Kingdom. During the reign of Udyan Chand, the western boundary of the Chand kingdom extended to the Koshi and Suyal rivers, but Ramgarh and Kota were still under the former Khasia rule. Kirat Chand, who ruled from 1488 to 1503 was finally able to establish authority over Nainital and the surrounding region. The Khasia chiefs made an attempt to regain their independence in 1560, when they enjoyed a brief moment of success under the leadership of a Khasiya of Ramgarh, but were later subdued with ruthlessness by Balo Kalyan Chand. | Nainital Early History |
LOC Naini Tal, LOC Anyar -, PER P. Barron, LOC Alma Hill, LOC Shahjahanpur, LOC Deopatta, LOC Cottage, ORG Belvedere, LOC Victoria, LOC Nainital, LOC Pilgrim Lodge, LOC China, LOC Alma, ORG Ashdale, ORG Bengal Artillery, LOC Kumaon Hills, PER Madden, LOC Anyarpatta Aashish, LOC Himalayas, LOC St. John, LOC Kumaoni, LOC Wilderness, LOC United Provinces | The Kumaon Hills came under British rule after the Anglo-Nepalese War (1814–16). The hill station town of Naini Tal was founded only in 1841, with the construction of the first European house (Pilgrim Lodge) by P. Barron, a sugar trader from Shahjahanpur. In his memoir, he wrote: "It is by far the best site I have witnessed in the course of a 1,500 miles (2,400 km) trek in the Himalayas." In 1846, when a Captain Madden of the Bengal Artillery visited Naini Tal, he recorded that "houses were rapidly springing up in most parts of the settlement: some towards the crest of the military ranges were nearly 7,500 ft (2,300 m) above sea level: the rugged and woody Anyarpatta
Aashish
(Anyar-patt – in Kumaoni means – complete blackout. The reason for this nomenclature by the locals was because there were minimal sun rays due to its location and dense forests) was being gradually planted and that the favourite sites were on the undulating tract of forest land which stretched back from the head of the lake to the base of China and Deopatta (Camel's Hump). The church, St. John(1846) in the Wilderness, was one of the earliest buildings in Nainital, followed by Belvedere, Alma lodge, Ashdale Cottage(1860)..." Soon, the town became a health resort favoured by British soldiers and by colonial officials and their families trying to escape the heat of the plains. Later, the town became the summer residence of the governor of the United Provinces.
On 18 September 1880 a landslide ('the landslip of 1880') occurred at the north end of the town, burying 151 people. The first known landslide had occurred in 1866(old Victoria hotel was destroyed), and in 1869 there was a larger one at the same spot, Alma Hill, but "the great slip" occurred on "Saturday 18 September 1880.""During Friday(17th) and Saturday(18th), 33 inches of rain fell, of which 20 inches (510 mm) to 25 in (640 mm) fell during the 40 hours preceding Saturday evening, and the downpour still lasted and continued till the evening of the next day. This heavy fall made the whole hillside one mass of semi-fluid matter, and required little to set in motion. The motive power was a shock of a minor earthquake, which was felt on that day itself by competent observers in the Bhabar below and Nainital itself. On the site of the Slip was the Victoria Hotel and its offices, and below it was the Hindu temple of "naina devi" and the Assembly Rooms, both by the side of the lake, and Bell's shop, which was close to the temple. Initial slip started around 10 am of 18 September, taking away western wing of the Victoria Hotel and portion of the hotel's out-houses. Tragically, most of the people were not moved much further away from the spot of the morning slip. At quarter to two the major landslip occurred and within few seconds all the buildings mentioned above were destroyed and made into an unrecognizable heap of rubble and much of it was swept into the lake."The number of dead and missing were 108 Indian and 43 Europeans, along with numerous people who narrowly escaped. (See poem by Hannah Battersby on the page Literary references to Nainital.) The Assembly Rooms and the Naina Devi Temple were destroyed in the disaster. A recreation area known as 'The Flats' was later built on the site and a new temple was erected. To prevent further disasters, storm water drains were constructed and building bylaws were made stricter. | Nainital Founding and the landslip of 1880 |
LOC Nainital | The municipal board of Nainital had its origin in 1845, when the provisions of the Act I of 1842 were sanctioned by the government in the town, which then applied to approximately two thirds of the total population.: 90 | Nainital Civic Administration |
PER Ajay Bhatt, LOC Nainital - Udhamsingh Nagar, LOC Nainital, ORG Congress, ORG BJP, PER Harish Rawat, LOC Uttarakhand, ORG Lok Sabha, ORG Indian Parliament | Nainital town is represented in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian Parliament, by a representative elected from the Nainital-Udhamsingh Nagar Constituency. Ajay Bhatt (politician), from BJP, is the current Member of Parliament from Nainital-Udhamsingh Nagar. He won the 2019 Indian general elections by 3,39,096 votes against Harish Rawat from the Congress, who was also the former chief minister of the state. Prior to the delimitation of the Loksabha Constituencies of Uttarakhand in 2008, the town was a part of the Nainital Lok Sabha constituency. Generally considered a Congress Stronghold, the Congress has registered a victory from Nainital eight times since 1951. While the BJP has won this seat three times, several other political parties have also managed three victories. | Nainital Politics |
ORG Birla Vidya Mandir, ORG All Saints ' College, ORG St. Mary ' s Convent High School, LOC Nainital, ORG St. Joseph ' s College, ORG Diocesan Girls ' High School, ORG Diocesan Boys ' School, ORG Ramnee, ORG Halett War School, ORG High Court, ORG SEM, LOC Uttarakhand, ORG Philander Smith, ORG Sherwood College | In the latter half of the 19th century a number of "European" schools for boys and girls were founded in Nainital. During the Victorian and Edwardian eras, students in these schools consisted largely of children of the British colonial officials or soldiers. The Diocesan Girls' High School, now known as All Saints' College, was established in 1869, near where the High Court of Uttarakhand stands today. By 1906, there were over half a dozen such schools, including the Diocesan Boys' School (later renamed Sherwood College) and the Philander Smith's college (later renamed Halett War School, currently Birla Vidya Mandir).
St. Joseph's College, Nainital (popularly known as SEM), a day-boarding and residential school built by Irish brothers. in 1888, celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2013. Another important school for girls, St. Mary's Convent High School, Nainital (popularly known as Ramnee), was established in 1878, and celebrated its 125th anniversary in year 2003. | Nainital Education |
LOC Bajpur, LOC National Highway 87, LOC Nainital, LOC National Highway 109, LOC State Highway 13, LOC Haldwani | Nainital can be reached by the National Highway 109 (previously National Highway 87) from Haldwani, 40 km (25 mi) away, or by State Highway 13 from Bajpur, 60 km (37 mi) away. | Nainital Roadways |
ORG Air Heritage, ORG Deccan Charters, LOC Pantnagar, LOC Nainital, ORG Alliance Air, LOC Delhi, LOC Rudrapur, LOC Pithoragarh, LOC Dehradun | The nearest airport is in Pantnagar near Rudrapur, about 71 km (44 mi) from Nainital. Alliance Air, Air Heritage and Deccan Charters are the three carriers, that connect the airport to Delhi, Dehradun and Pithoragarh. | Nainital Airways |
LOC Kathgodam, LOC Haldwani | The closest major railway station is Kathgodam, on the outskirts of Haldwani, which is connected with almost all major cities of the country. | Nainital Railways |
LOC Hanumangarhi, LOC Nainital, LOC Kumaon, LOC Himalaya Darshan & Echo Zone, LOC Pt. G. B. Pant High Altitude Zoo, LOC Naina Peak, LOC Nainital Lake | A popular hill station, Nainital has numerous tourist spots including Nainital Lake, Naina Peak 8622ft, Himalaya Darshan & Echo Zone, Hanumangarhi and Pt. G.B. Pant High Altitude Zoo, Nainital. Nainital is Kumaon's most well known hill station, and its premier tourist destination | Nainital Tourism |
ORG Nainital Yacht Club, ORG Boat House Club, LOC India | The Nainital Yacht Club, situated along the lake, is run by the Boat House Club. It is the highest yacht club in India and among the highest clubs in the world. It was founded in 1910 by the British and, till 1970, was only open to members. Today, tourists can pay for a sailing session on the yachts. | Nainital Nainital Yacht Club |
LOC Jama Masjid, LOC Nainital, LOC Mallital, LOC Mecca | The Jama Masjid of Nainital is located in Mallital area of Nainital is a mosque which was built in 1882 during the British Era for Muslims around Nainital. Over the main entrance one can see Arabic inscriptions. The most notable feature is the mihrab where a niche shows the direction towards Mecca. | Nainital Jama Masjid |
LOC Naini, PER Naina Devi | Temple of Naina Devi is located at the upper end of Naini lake. This temple is dedicated to the goddess of the town Naina Devi. Its complex becomes the location of the Nanda Devi Mela festival which held every year on Nandashtami during September. | Nainital Naina Devi Temple |
LOC St. John in the Wilderness, PER St. John the Baptist, LOC Nainital | St. John in the Wilderness is one of the oldest and finest churches in Nainital. The Church is dedicated to St. John the Baptist. This Anglican Church was built in 1846 and is one of the earliest buildings erected in Nainital. | Nainital St John Wilderness Church |
LOC Nainital, LOC Mall Road | The Mall Road is a shopping area in Nainital. It has many shops, restaurants and road side sellers. Tourists can buy a souvenir and have a good food here. | Nainital The Mall Road |
LOC Eco Cave Gardens, LOC Mall Road | Eco Cave Gardens is a cluster of naturally formed rocky caves. It is close to the Mall Road. It has 6 caves formed in the shape of animals. Tourists can visit the caves from 9.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. every day of the week. | Nainital Eco Cave Gardens |
LOC Nainital, LOC Himalayas, LOC Naina Peak | Naina Peak is a sightseeing place situated at an altitude of 2611 meters. It gives a view of the Himalayas range and a birdseye view of Nainital. | Nainital Naina Peak |
LOC ARIES Observatory Library, LOC Nainital, LOC Durga Lal Shah Municipal Public Library, ORG Uttarakhand Academy of Administration, Library and Documentation Center, LOC Mall, LOC Kumaon University Library, LOC Mallital | There are a number of libraries in the Nainital area. Among them are the Durga Lal Shah Municipal Public Library on the Mall, founded in 1934, the Uttarakhand Academy of Administration, Library and Documentation Center, Mallital, the ARIES Observatory Library, and the Kumaon University Library, Nainital. | Nainital Libraries |
LOC National, PER Rajendra K. Pachauri, ORG Planning Commission of India, PER Ram Kapoor, PER Narayan Dutt Tiwari, PER Ismay, PER Lalit Modi, ORG Army, PER Danny Denzongpa, PER Eric Maturin, PER Amitabh Bachchan, PER Billy Arjan Singh, PER Sukirti Kandpal, ORG Sherwood, ORG NATO, LOC Bangalore, ORG Park, LOC Gurney House, LOC Birla Vidya Mandir, PER Shivani, LOC Nainital, LOC Karnataka, PER Sam Manekshaw, PER Orde Charles Wingate, LOC Burma, ORG Sherwood College, PER Sudhir Kakar, ORG IPL, ORG Birla Vidya Mandir, LOC Andhra Pradesh, PER Jim Corbett, PER Manish Pandey, PER Dalip Tahil, PER Nirmal Pandey, LOC College, LOC Uttar Pradesh, PER Krishna Chandra Pant, PER Govind Ballabh Pant, PER Percy Hobart, PER Anup Jalota, ORG Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, PER Som Nath Sharma, PER Hamida Saiduzzafar, ORG Indian Premier League, PER Hastings Ismay, PER Sonam Bajwa, PER Kabir Bedi, LOC India, LOC British India, PER B K Goyal, ORG St. Joseph ' s College, PER Naseeruddin Shah, LOC Uttarakhand, PER Elsie Inglis | Amitabh Bachchan, Bollywood actor. Educated at Sherwood College.
Sonam Bajwa, Indian actress.
Kabir Bedi, Bollywood actor. Educated at Sherwood College.
Jim Corbett, hunter of man-eating tigers, author, conservationist and namesake of Jim Corbett National Park. Educated at St. Joseph's College and lived in Gurney House.
Danny Denzongpa, Bollywood actor studied in Birla Vidya Mandir
B K Goyal, cardiologist, educated at Birla Vidya Mandir
Percy Hobart, British major general and military engineer
Elsie Inglis, physician and social reformer
Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay, first secretary general of NATO
Anup Jalota, singer
Sukirti Kandpal, TV actress
Sudhir Kakar, renowned psychoanalyst
Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, Indian Army Chief of Staff during Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. Educated at Sherwood College.
Eric Maturin, British actor
Lalit Modi, Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman. Educated at St. Joseph's College.
Rajendra K. Pachauri, chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Manish Pandey, cricketer who plays for Karnataka and Bangalore
Nirmal Pandey, Bollywood actor and singer
Ram Kapoor, TV actor. Educated at Sherwood College.
Govind Ballabh Pant, statesman and leader of India's independence movement, first Indian Premier of British India, the first Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and the third Home Minister of India
Krishna Chandra Pant, former Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission of India. Educated at St. Joseph's College.
Hamida Saiduzzafar, ophthalmologist
Naseeruddin Shah, Bollywood actor. Educated at St. Joseph's College.
Major Som Nath Sharma, India's first Param Vir Chakra award winner. Educated at Sherwood College.
Shivani, Hindi poet
Billy Arjan Singh, Tiger conservationist of India, Educated in Nainital.
Dalip Tahil, Bollywood actor. Educated at Sherwood College.
Narayan Dutt Tiwari, Indian leader and politician, former Governor of Andhra Pradesh, former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, and former Finance Minister of India.
Orde Charles Wingate, British general and commander of the Chindits in Burma during World War II | Nainital Notable people |
LOC Nainital, LOC Nainital Hotel, LOC Uttrakhand | Hotel Suman Paradise, Nainital Hotel in Nainital. Uttrakhand. | Nainital Notable Hotels in Nainital |
PER Xuanzang, ORG Nalanda mahavihara, LOC Nalanda, LOC India, LOC Pataliputra, PER Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khalji, ORG Government of India, ORG Nalanda University, LOC Shantideva, LOC China, LOC Magadha, LOC Rajagriha, LOC Patna, PER Bakhtiyar Khilj, PER Yijing, LOC Nālandā, LOC Bihar, LOC Rajgir | Nalanda (Nālandā, pronounced [naːlən̪d̪aː]) was a renowned mahavihara (Buddhist monastic university) in ancient Magadha (modern-day Bihar), India. Considered by historians to be the world's first residential university and among the greatest centers of learning in the ancient world, it was located near the city of Rajagriha (now Rajgir) and about 90 kilometres (56 mi) southeast of Pataliputra (now Patna). Operating from 427 until 1197 CE, Nalanda played a vital role in promoting the patronage of arts and academics during the 5th and 6th century CE, a period that has since been described as the "Golden Age of India" by scholars. Before it was destroyed and burned much of its facilities at the beginning of the twelfth century by the Islamic invader Bakhtiyar Khilj, Nalanda held over 9 million texts.Nalanda was established during the Gupta Empire era, and was supported by numerous Indian and Javanese patrons – both Buddhists and non-Buddhists. Over some 750 years, its faculty included some of the most revered scholars of Mahayana Buddhism. Nalanda mahavihara taught six major Buddhist schools and philosophies such as Yogachara and Sarvastivada as well as subjects such as grammar, medicine, logic and mathematics. The university was also a major source of the 657 Sanskrit texts carried by pilgrim Xuanzang and the 400 Sanskrit texts carried by Yijing to China in the 7th century, which influenced East Asian Buddhism. Many of the texts composed at Nalanda played an important role in the development of Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism including the Mahavairocana Tantra and the Bodhisattvacaryāvatāra of Shantideva. It was sacked and destroyed by the troops of Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khalji, partly restored thereafter, and continued to exist till about 1400 CE. Today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.In 2010, the Government of India passed a resolution to revive the famous university, and a contemporary institute, Nalanda University, was established at Rajgir. It has been listed as an "Institute of National Importance" by the Government of India. | Nalanda Introduction |
LOC Gidhi, LOC 120, LOC NH 31, LOC Indrapushkarani, LOC Nalanda, LOC India, LOC Bihar, ORG Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, LOC Bodh Gaya, LOC Indrapuskarani, LOC Patna, LOC Panashokar, LOC Rajgir, LOC Bargaon | Nalanda is about 16 kilometres (10 mi) north of the city of Rajgir and about 90 kilometres (56 mi) southeast of Patna, connected via NH 31, 20 and 120 to India's highway network. It is about 80 kilometres (50 mi) northeast of Bodh Gaya – another important Buddhist site in Bihar. The Nalanda archaeological site is spread over a large area to the northwest of Bargaon (Nalanda) village, and is between the historical manmade lakes Gidhi, Panashokar and Indrapuskarani. On the south bank of the Indrapushkarani lake is the Nava Nalanda Mahavihara – a university founded in its memory. | Nalanda Location |
PER Xuanzang, PER Nalanda, LOC Nalanda, PER Hiranand Sastri, PER Taranatha, LOC Nālandā, LOC नालन्दा, LOC Nalendra | According to the early 7th-century Tang dynasty Chinese pilgrim, Xuanzang, the local tradition explains that the name Nālandā (Hindi/Magahi: नालन्दा) came from a nāga (serpent deity in Indian religions) whose name was Nalanda. He offers an alternate meaning "charity without intermission", from "na-alam-da"; however, this split does not mean this. Hiranand Sastri, an archaeologist who headed the excavation of the ruins, attributes the name to the abundance of nālas (lotus-stalks) in the area and believes that Nalanda would then represent the giver of lotus-stalks.In some Tibetan sources, including the 17th-century work of Taranatha, Nalanda is referred to as Nalendra, and is likely synonymous with Nala, Nalaka, Nalakagrama found in Tibetan literature. | Nalanda Etymology |
LOC Juafardih, LOC Nalanda, LOC India, PER Mahavira, PER Scharfe, LOC Nalakagrama, PER Shariputra, PER Mahavastu, LOC Nalaka, PER Maha, LOC Magadha, LOC Rajagriha, LOC Pavarika, PER Ashoka, LOC Rajgir, PER Buddha | The history of Nalanda in the 1st-millennium BCE is linked to the nearby city of Rajagriha (modern Rajgir) – the capital of Magadha and on the trade routes of ancient India. Early Buddhist texts state that Buddha visited a town near Rajagriha called Nalanda on his preregrinations. He delivered lectures in a nearby mango grove named Pavarika and one of his two chief disciples, Shariputra, was born in the area and later attained nirvana there. These Buddhist texts were written down centuries after the death of the Buddha, are not consistent in either the name or the relative location. For example, texts such as the Mahasudassana Jataka states that Nalaka or Nalakagrama is about a yojana (10 miles) from Rajagriha, while texts such as Mahavastu call the place Nalanda-gramaka and place it half a yojana away. A Buddhist text Nikayasamgraha does state that emperor Ashoka established a vihara (monastery) at Nalanda. However, archaeological excavations so far have not yielded any monuments from Ashoka period or from another 600 years after his death.Chapter 2.7 of the Jaina text Sutrakritanga states that Nalanda is a "suburb" of capital Rajagriha, has numerous buildings, and this is where Mahavira (6th/5th century BCE) spent fourteen varshas – a term that refers to a traditional retreat during monsoons for the monks in Indian religions. This is corroborated in the Kalpasutra, another cherished text in Jainism. However, other than the mention of Nalanda, Jaina texts do not provide further details, nor were they written down for nearly a millennium after Mahavira's death. Like the Buddhist texts, this has raised questions about reliability and whether the current Nalanda is same as the one in Jaina texts. According to Scharfe, though the Buddhist and Jaina texts generate problems with place identification, it is "virtually certain" that the modern Nalanda is near or the site these texts are referring to.Archaeological excavations at sites near Nalanda, such as the Juafardih site about 3 kilometers away, have yielded black ware and other items. These have been carbon dated to about 1200 BCE. This suggests that the region around Nalanda in Magadha had a human settlement centuries before the birth of the Mahavira and the Buddha. | Nalanda Early history of the city of Nalanda (1200 BCE–300 CE) |
LOC Nalanda, LOC China, PER Faxian, LOC India | When Faxian, a Chinese Buddhist pilgrim monk, visited the city of Nalanda, there probably was no university yet. Faxian had come to India to acquire Buddhist texts, and spent 10 years in India in the early fifth century, visiting major Buddhist pilgrimage sites including the Nalanda area. He also wrote a travelogue, which inspired other Chinese and Korean Buddhists to visit India over the centuries; in it he mentions many Buddhist monasteries and monuments across India. However, he makes no mention of any monastery or university at Nalanda even though he was looking for Sanskrit texts and took a large number of them from other parts of India back to China. Combined with a lack of any archaeological discoveries of pre-400 CE monuments in Nalanda, the silence in Faxian's memoir suggests that Nalanda monastery-university did not exist around 400 CE. | Nalanda Faxian visit (399–412 CE) |
PER Scharfe, PER Gupta, LOC Taxila, PER Lakshmi, PER Shivalinga, PER Kumaragupta I, PER Xuanzang, PER Vikramashila, PER Andrea Pinkney, PER Shakraditya, PER Durga, LOC Nalanda, PER Baladitya, PER Vajra, PER Budhagupta, PER Hartmut Scharfe, PER Śakrāditya, PER Tathagatagupta, PER Ganesha | Nalanda's dateable history begins in the 5th century. A seal discovered at the site identifies a monarch named Shakraditya (Śakrāditya) as its founder and attributes the foundation of a sangharama (monastery) at the site to him. This is corroborated by the Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang travelogue. The tradition of formalized Vedic learning "helped to inspire the formation of large teachings centres," such as Nalanda, Taxila, and Vikramashila.In the Indian tradition and texts, kings were called by many epithets and names. Scholars such as Andrea Pinkney and Hartmut Scharfe conclude that Shakraditya is same as Kumaragupta I. He was one of the kings in the Hindu dynasty of the Guptas. Further, numismatic evidence discovered at Nalanda corroborate that Kumaragupta I was the founder patron of the Nalanda monastery-university.
His successors, Budhagupta, Tathagatagupta, Baladitya, and Vajra, later extended and expanded the institution by building additional monasteries and temples. Nalanda, thus flourished through the 5th and 6th centuries under the Guptas. These Gupta-era contributions to Nalanda are corroborated by the numerous Buddhist and Hindu seals, artwork, iconography and inscriptions discovered at Nalanda, which are in the Gupta-style and Gupta-era scripts. During this period, the Gupta kings were not the only patrons of Nalanda. They reflect a broad and religiously diverse community of supporters. It is remarkable, states Scharfe, that "many donors were not Buddhists; the emblems on their seals show Lakshmi, Ganesha, Shivalinga and Durga". | Nalanda Foundation (5th century) |
PER Xuanzang, LOC Shiva, LOC Surya, LOC Nalanda, LOC Kanyakubja, LOC Buddha, PER Yijing, PER Harsha, LOC Nalanda Mahavihara, PER Asher, LOC Kannauj, PER Śīlāditya | After the decline of the Guptas, the most notable patron of the Nalanda Mahavihara was Harsha (known as Śīlāditya in some Buddhist records). He was a seventh-century emperor with a capital at Kannauj (Kanyakubja). According to Xuanzang, Harsha was a third generation Hindu king from the Vaishya caste, who built majestic Buddhist viharas, as well as three temples – Buddha, Surya and Shiva, all of the same size. He states (c. 637 CE), "a long succession of kings" had built up Nalanda till "the whole is truly marvellous to behold".In accordance with the ancient Indian traditions of supporting temples and monasteries, inscriptions found at Nalanda suggest that it received gifts, including grants of villages by kings to support its work. Harsha himself granted 100 villages and directed 200 households from each of these villages to supply the institution's monks with requisite daily supplies such as of rice, butter, and milk. This supported over 1,500 faculty and 10,000 student monks at Nalanda. These numbers, however, may be exaggerated. They are inconsistent with the much lower numbers (over 3000) given by Yijing, another Chinese pilgrim who visited Nalanda a few decades later. According to Asher, while the excavated Nalanda site is large and the number of viharas so far found are impressive, they simply cannot support 10,000 or more student monks. The total number of known rooms and their small size is such that either the number of monks must have been far less than Xuanzang's claims or the Nalanda site was many times larger than numerous excavations have so far discovered and what Xuanzang describes. | Nalanda Post-Gupta dynasty (550–600 CE) |
PER Xuanzang, LOC Nalanda, LOC India, ORG Mahavihara, PER Shilabhadra, LOC China, LOC Sangharama, ORG Yogachara, PER Mokshadeva | Xuanzang travelled around India between 630 and 643 CE, visiting Nalanda in 637 and 642, spending a total of around two years at the monastery. He was warmly welcomed in Nalanda where he received the Indian name of Mokshadeva and studied under the guidance of Shilabhadra, the venerable head of the institution at the time. He believed that the aim of his arduous overland journey to India had been achieved as in Shilabhadra he had at last found an incomparable teacher to instruct him in Yogachara, a school of thought that had then only partially been transmitted to China. Besides Buddhist studies, the monk also attended courses in grammar, logic, and Sanskrit, and later also lectured at the Mahavihara.In the detailed account of his stay at Nalanda, the pilgrim describes the view out of the window of his quarters thus,
Moreover, the whole establishment is surrounded by a brick wall, which encloses the entire convent from without. One gate opens into the great college, from which are separated eight other halls standing in the middle (of the Sangharama). The richly adorned towers, and the fairy-like turrets, like pointed hill-tops are congregated together. The observatories seem to be lost in the vapours (of the morning), and the upper rooms tower above the clouds.
Xuanzang returned to China with 657 Sanskrit texts and 150 relics carried by 20 horses in 520 cases. He translated 74 of the texts himself. | Nalanda Xuanzang's visit (630–643 CE) |
PER Xuanzang, LOC Sri Lanka, LOC Nalanda, LOC India, PER Faxian, LOC China, LOC Korea, PER Yijing, LOC Nalanda Mahavihara, LOC Southeast Asia | In the thirty years following Xuanzang's return, no fewer than eleven travellers from China and Korea are known to have visited Nalanda, including the monk Yijing. Unlike Faxian and Xuanzang, Yijing followed the sea route around Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka. He arrived in 673 CE, and stayed in India for fourteen years, ten of which he spent at the Nalanda Mahavihara. When he returned to China in 695, he had with him 400 Sanskrit texts and 300 grains of Buddha relics which were subsequently translated in China.Unlike Xuanzang, who also described the geography and culture of seventh-century India, Yijing's account primarily concentrates on the practice of Buddhism in India and detailed descriptions of the customs, rules, and regulations of the monks at the monastery. In his chronicle, Yijing notes that revenues from 200 villages (as opposed to 100 in Xuanzang's time) had been assigned toward the maintenance of Nalanda. He described there being eight vihara with as many as 300 cells. According to him, Nalanda monastery has numerous daily Nikaya procedures and rules for the monks. He gives many examples. In one subsection he explains that the monastery has ten great pools. The morning begins with the ghanta (bell) being rung. Monks take their bathing sheets and go to one of these pools. They bathe with their underwear on, then get out slowly to avoid disturbing anyone else. They wipe their bodies, then wrap this 5 foot long and 1.5 foot wide sheet around the waist, change their clothes with this wrap in place. Then rinse, wring and dry the sheet. The entire procedure, says Yijing, is explained in the Buddhist Nikaya procedures. The day must begin with bathing, but bathing after meals is forbidden. The Nalanda Nikaya has many such daily procedures and rituals set out for the monks to follow. | Nalanda Yijing's visit (673–700 CE) |
LOC Bengal, PER Hyon - gak, PER Kyom - ik, LOC Magadha, LOC Bihar, ORG Silla, PER Xuanzang, LOC Prajnavarman, LOC Nepal, PER Hyon - jo, PER Yingji, PER Sambhota, LOC Nalanda, ORG 신라, PER Hye - ryun, LOC Tibet, LOC India, LOC Korea, LOC Sikkim, PER Thonmi Sambhota | In addition to Chinese pilgrims, Buddhist pilgrims from Korea also visited India about the same time as Xuanzang and Yingji. The Chinese travelogues about India became known in the 19th century and have been well published. After mid-20th century, the Korean pilgrim journeys have come to light. For example, monks such as Kyom-ik began visiting Indian monasteries by the mid-6th century. They too carried Indian texts and translated them, producing 72 chuan of translated texts. In the mid-7th century, the Silla (Korean: 신라) monk Hyon-jo visited and stayed at several Indian monasteries, including three years at Nalanda, his visit corroborated by Yingji. He sent his students Hye-ryun and Hyon-gak to Nalanda for studies, the latter died at Nalanda. They adopted Indian names to interact with the fellow students; for example, Hye-ryun was known as Prajnavarman and it is this name that is found in the records. According to Korean records, monks visited India through the ninth century – despite arduous travel challenges – to study at various monasteries, and Nalanda was the most revered.In and after the 7th century, Tibetan monks such as Thonmi Sambhota came to Nalanda and other Indian monasteries to study, not only Buddhism, but Sanskrit language, grammar and other subjects. Sambhota is credited with applying the principles of Sanskrit and its grammar to remodel Tibetan language and its script. It was after Sambhota's first return from Nalanda that the Tibetan king adopted Buddhism and committed to making it the religion of his people. Tibetan monks lived closer to Nepal, Sikkim and eastern India, with simpler travel itineraries than the Koreans and others. Tibetans continued to visit Magadha during the Pala era, and beyond through the 14th century, thereby participated in the crucible of ideas at Nalanda and other monasteries in Bihar and Bengal. However, after the 8th century, it was the esoteric mandala and deities-driven Vajrayana Buddhism that increasingly dominated the exchange. After the Islamic conquest, the destruction and the demise of Nalanda, other monasteries and Buddhist culture from the plains of Bihar and Bengal, the brand memory of "Nalanda" remained the most revered in Tibet. In 1351, Tibetans committed to recreating a monastery in the heart of Tibet, staffing it with monk-scholars from diverse Buddhist schools, and name it the "Nalanda monastery" in the honor of the ancient Nalanda, according to the Blue Annals (Tibetan: དེབ་ཐེར་སྔོན་པོ). This institution emerged north of Lhasa in 1436 through the efforts of Rongtön Mawé Sengge, then expanded in the 15th century. It is now called the Tibetan Nalanda, to distinguish it from this site. | Nalanda Korean and Tibetan pilgrims (650–1400 CE) |
LOC Sumatra, PER Xuanzang, PER Shailendra King, LOC Suvarnadvipa, LOC Somapura, LOC Nalanda, LOC India, PER Dharmapala, LOC Vikramashila, ORG Palas, PER Gopala, LOC Jagaddala, PER Balaputradeva, LOC Indonesia, PER Viradeva, LOC Odantapura, PER Devapala | The Palas established themselves in eastern regions of India in mid-8th century and reigned until the last quarter of the 12th century. They were a Buddhist dynasty. However, under the Palas, the traditional Mahayana Buddhism of Nalanda that inspired East Asian pilgrims such as Xuanzang was superseded by the then newly emerging Vajrayana tradition, a Tantra-imbibed, eros- and deity-inclusive esoteric version of Buddhism. Nalanda continued to get support from the Palas, but they subscribed to Vajrayana Buddhism and they were prolific builders of new monasteries on Vajrayana mandala ideas such as those at Jagaddala, Odantapura, Somapura, and Vikramashila. Odantapura was founded by Gopala, the progenitor of the royal line, only 9.7 kilometres (6 mi) from Nalanda. These competing monasteries, some just a few kilometers away from Nalanda likely drew away a number of learned monks from Nalanda.Inscriptions, literary evidence, seals, and ruined artwork excavated at the Nalanda site suggest that Nalanda remained active and continued to thrive under the Palas. Kings Dharmapala and Devapala were active patrons. A number of 9th-century metallic statues containing references to Devapala have been found in its ruins as well as two notable inscriptions. The first, a copper plate inscription unearthed at Nalanda, details an endowment by the Shailendra King, Balaputradeva of Suvarnadvipa (Sumatra in modern-day Indonesia). This Srivijayan king, "attracted by the manifold excellences of Nalanda" had built a monastery there and had requested Devapala to grant the revenue of five villages for its upkeep, a request which was granted. The Ghosrawan inscription is the other inscription from Devapala's time and it mentions that he received and patronised a learned Vedic scholar named Viradeva who was later elected the head of Nalanda.Inscriptions issued between the 9th and 12th centuries attest gifts and support to Nalanda for the upkeep of the monastery, maintenance of the monks, copying of palm leaf manuscripts (necessary for preservation given the Indian tropical climate). One inscription also mentions the destruction of a Nalanda library of manuscripts by fire, and support for its restoration. Another 10th-century inscription quotes Bhadracari of the Sautrantikas tradition, attesting the activity of diverse schools of Buddhism at Nalanda. Another Nalanda inscription from the 11th century mentions a gift of "revolving bookcase".While the Palas continued to patronize Nalanda liberally, the fame and influence of Nalanda helped the Palas. The Srivijaya kingdom of southeast Asia maintained a direct contact with Nalanda and the Palas, thus influencing the 9th to 12th century art in Sumatra, Java, southern Thailand and regions that actively traded with the Srivijaya kingdom. The influence extended to the Indonesian Shailendra dynasty. The Indonesian bronzes and votive tablets from this period show the creativity of its people, yet the iconographic themes overlap with those found at Nalanda and nearby region. Monks from Indonesia, Myanmar and other parts of southeast Asia came to Nalanda during the Pala rule. | Nalanda Pala dynasty (750–1200 CE) |
LOC Odantapura Vihar, PER Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khalji, PER Damien Keown, LOC Bihar, PER Charles Prebish, LOC Bihar Sharif, PER Peter Harvey, PER Minhaj - i - Siraj, ORG Ghurid, LOC Vihara, PER Bakhtiyar Khalji, PER Donald Mitchell, LOC Vihar, LOC Nalanda, LOC Tibet, PER Muhammad - i - Bakht - yar, PER Samsamuddin, PER Steven Darian, PER Muhammad - i Bakhtiyar Khalji, PER Stephen Berkwitz | The troops of the Ghurid dynasty general Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khalji destroyed and began the demise of Nalanda and other monasteries near it, such as the Odantapura Vihar (now called Bihar Sharif) about 6 miles away from Nalanda. This destruction is corroborated by three sources, which are congruent but contain uncertainties that raise some questions as well a minor dispute about the exact date. The first evidence is from a Muslim historian. The second are the records found in Tibet of Buddhist monks from the 13th century onwards. The third evidence is archaeological, where layers of charcoal deposits were discovered covering ruins, remains of the Nalanda libraries, and other damaged artworks. Buddhist studies scholars and historians such as Peter Harvey, Charles Prebish, Damien Keown, Donald Mitchell, Steven Darian, Stephen Berkwitz and others attribute Nalanda's destruction to Bakhtiyar Khalji.The first evidence is from the Persian historian, Minhaj-i-Siraj who in his Tabaqat-i Nasiri writes of a loot and massacre near Bihar Sharif:
Muhammad-i-Bakht-yar, by the force of his intrepidity, threw himself into the postern of the gateway of the place, and they captured the fortress, and acquired great booty. The greater number of the inhabitants of that place were Brahmans, and the whole of those Brahmans had their heads shaven; and they were all slain. There were a great number of books there; and, when all these books came under the observation of the Musalmans, they summoned a number of Hindus that they might give them information respecting the import of those books; but the whole of the Hindus had been killed. On becoming acquainted [with the contents of those books], it was found that the whole of that fortress and city was a college, and in the Hindustani tongue, they call a college [مدرسه] Vihar.
This record of Minhaj-i-Siraj is not an eyewitness account, but it is an account of Samsamuddin who was with Muhammad-i Bakhtiyar Khalji, and Minhaj-i-Siraj merely summarizes it. The above abridged quote refers to an attack on a Buddhist monastery (the "Bihar" or Vihara) and its monks (the shaved Brahmans). Minhaj-i-Siraj record dates it to 1193 CE, prefaces the above quoted sentences with "Khalji had already been busy a year or two in this region" before this attack, and mentions the sack of a college-monastery in the context of an Islamic conquest of Bihar Sharif region, but he does not explicitly state it was Nalanda. It could have been one of several monasteries near Nalanda. However, considering that these two Mahaviharas were only a few kilometres apart and little qualms about the massacre of clean shaven residents there, it is very likely that Minhaj-i-Siraj summary is not an extensive record and both befell a similar fate. The other great Mahaviharas of the age such as Vikramshila and later, Jagaddala, also met their ends at the hands of the Turks at around the same time.The Tibetan records are the second source of the events at Nalanda in the late 12th century and much of the 13th century. These were the decades of widespread systematic destruction of monasteries in this region, and historical records in Tibet affirm that monks from Nalanda and nearby monasteries such as the Vikramashila monastery who "survived the slaughter, fled to Tibet", according to Scharfe. Among the Tibetan records, the most useful is the biography of the Tibetan monk-pilgrim, Dharmasvamin discovered in 1936 and in bsdus-yig style, Tibetan script. It is useful because Dharmasvamin met the fleeing monks and famous scholars during his studies from about mid 1200s to 1226, he had learnt Indian languages and Sanskrit, he walked to and stayed in Nepal starting in 1226 and visited Bihar about 1234, including spending one monsoon season in Nalanda. He described the condition in the decades after the sack of Nalanda and other Buddhist monasteries in Magadha-region of India. His account states that the destruction of Nalanda was not an accident or misunderstanding but a part of the widespread destruction of Buddhist monasteries and monuments including a destruction of Bodhgaya. The vast manuscript libraries of Magadha had been mostly lost. Other Tibetan monks and he had shifted to Nepal, as the place to study, copy and move manuscripts to Tibet. According to his account, the Turushka-Qarluq (Turk) conquest extended from about 1193 to 1205, the destruction was systematic with "Turushka soldiers razing a monastery to the ground and throwing the stones into Ganges river", states Roerich. The fear of persecution was strong in the 1230s, and his colleagues dissuaded him from going to Magadha. According to George Roerich, "his [Chag lo-tsa-ba Chos-rje-dpal, Dharmasvamin] account conveys something of the anxiety of [the Buddhist community of] those days."Chapter 10 of Dharmasvamin's biography describes Nalanda in c. 1235 CE. Dharmasvamin found it "largely damaged and deserted". Despite the perils, some had re-gathered and resumed the scholastic activities in Nalanda, but at a vastly smaller scale and with donations from a wealthy Brahmin layperson named Jayadeva. His account states:
There resided a venerable and learned monk who was more than ninety years old, the Guru and Mahapandita Rahulasribhadra. Raja Buddhasena of Magadha honored this Guru and four other Panditas, and about seventy venerable ones (monks).
While he stayed there for six months under the tutelage of Rahula Shribhadra, Dharmasvamin makes no mention of the legendary library of Nalanda which possibly did not survive the initial wave of Turkic attacks. He also states that some structures had survived, with "eighty small viharas, built of bricks and many left undamaged" but "there was absolutely no one to look after them". He recites the arrest of their patron and lay-supporter Jayadeva by Muslim soldiers who threaten to kill him for honoring (supporting) the monks of Nalanda. Jayadeva sends them a message that the Turushka soldiers are sure to kill "Guru [Rahulasribhadra] and his disciples" and they should "flee!".Dharmasvamin also provides an eyewitness account of an attack on the derelict Mahavihara by the Muslim soldiers stationed at nearby Odantapura (now Bihar Sharif) which had been turned into a military headquarters. Only the Tibetan and his nonagenarian instructor stayed behind and hid themselves while the rest of the monks fled. Another Tibetan source is that of Lama Taranatha, but this is from the late 16th century, and it is unclear what its sources were. The Taranatha account about Buddhism in India repeats the legendary accounts of Nalanda from the Buddha and Ashoka periods found in Xuanzang and other sources, then shifts to centuries of the 2nd-millennium. It describes Islamic raids in 12th-century India, states that whole of Magadha fell to the Turushka (Turks, a common term for Muslims in historic Indic and Tibetan texts). Their armies, asserts Taranatha, destroyed Odantapuri as well as Vikramashila. Given the hundreds of years of gap between the events and Taranatha's account, and no clear chain of sources within the Tibetan tradition of record keeping, its reliability is questionable.The third evidence is the discovery of thick layer of ashes and charcoal discovered during the archaeological excavations on the uppermost strata, inscribed artwork and soil, and this layer was found over many buildings separated by some distance. This suggests that Nalanda's destruction was accompanied with a widespread fire after the mid-12th century. This corroborates Dharmasvamin account of the destruction.Tibetan texts such as the 18th-century work named Pag sam jon zang and 16th/17th-century Taranatha's account include fictional Tibetan legends. These include stories such as a king Cingalaraja had brought "all Hindus and Turuskas [Muslims]" up to Delhi under his control, and converted from Brahmanism to Buddhism under the influence of his queen, and he restoring the monasteries. Others state that a southern king built thousands of monasteries and temples again, Muslim robbers murdered this king, thereafter Nalanda was repaired by Mudita Bhadra and a minister named Kukutasiddha erected a temple there. One describes the tale of two angry Tirthika (Brahmanical) monks, who gain magical powers by tantric siddha, spread ashes that erupt a fire that destroyed one of Nalanda's three libraries – Ratnodadhi, but magical water poured out of a manuscript that prevented damage and learned Buddhist monks rewrote the texts that were damaged. However, there is no evidence for the existence of such a king (or sultan), minister, Muslim robbers, thousands of Buddhist monuments built in India between the 13th and 19th century, or of any significant Nalanda repairs in or after the 13th century.Johan Elverskog – a scholar of religious studies and history, states that it is incorrect to say Nalanda's end was sudden and complete by about 1202, because it continued to have some students well into the 13th century. Elverskog, relying on Arthur Waley's 1932 paper, states that this is confirmed by the fact a monk ordained in 13th-century Nalanda traveled to the court of Khubilai Khan. He adds that it is wrong to say that Buddhism ended in India around the 13th or 14th century or earlier, because "[Buddha] Dharma survived in India at least until the 17th-century". | Nalanda Destruction under Bakhtiyar Khalji (c. 1200 CE) |
PER Vibhūticandra, PER Tropu Lotsawa, PER Dānaśīla, LOC Nalanda Monastery, LOC Kashmir, PER Jīvagupta, LOC Tsethang, PER Kālacakra, PER Kālacandra, PER Sugataśrī, PER Shakyashri Bhadra, LOC Nalanda, PER Jayadatta, PER Sri Asoka, PER Maitreya, PER Mahābodhi, LOC Tibet, LOC East Asia, PER Dhyānabhadra, PER Dalai Lama, PER Khro - phu Lo - tsa - ba Byams - pa dpal, PER Nagarjuna, PER Surapala | The last throne-holder of Nalanda, Shakyashri Bhadra of Kashmir, fled to Tibet in 1204 at the invitation of the Tibetan translator Tropu Lotsawa (Khro-phu Lo-tsa-ba Byams-pa dpal). Some of the surviving Nalanda books were taken by fleeing monks to Tibet. He took with him several Indian masters: Sugataśrī, (an expert in Madhyamaka and Prajñāpāramitā); Jayadatta (Vinaya); Vibhūticandra (grammar and Abhidharma), Dānaśīla (logic), Saṅghaśrī (Candavyākaraṇa), Jīvagupta (books of Maitreya), Mahābodhi,(Bodhicaryāvatāra); and Kālacandra (Kālacakra).Tibetan Buddhist tradition is regarded to be a continuation of the Nalanda tradition. The Dalai Lama states:
Tibetan Buddhism is not an invention of the Tibetans. Rather, it is quite clear that it derives from the pure lineage of the tradition of the Nalanda Monastery. The master Nagarjuna hailed from this institution, as did many other important philosophers and logicians...
The Dalai Lama refers to himself as a follower of the lineage of the seventeen Nalanda masters.An Astasahasrika Prajnaparamita Sutra manuscript preserved at the Tsethang monastery has superbly painted and well preserved wooden covers and 139 leaves. According to its colophon it was donated by the mother of the great pandita Sri Asoka in the second year of the reign of King Surapala, at the very end of the 11th century.
Nalanda still continued to operate into the 14th century as the Indian monk, Dhyānabhadra was said to have been a monk at Nalanda prior to his travels in East Asia. | Nalanda Impact of its destruction and influence on Tibetan Buddhist Tradition |
LOC Bargaon, PER Chandra, LOC Nalanda, ORG Archaeological Survey of India, PER Markham Kittoe, PER Ghosh, PER Sastri, PER Alexander Cunningham, PER Francis Buchanan - Hamilton, PER Kuraishi, PER Page, ORG ASI, PER Spooner | After its decline, Nalanda was largely forgotten until Francis Buchanan-Hamilton surveyed the site in 1811–1812 after locals in the vicinity drew his attention to some Buddhist and Brahmanical images and ruins in the area. He, however, did not associate the mounds of earth and debris with famed Nalanda. That link was established by Major Markham Kittoe in 1847. Alexander Cunningham and the newly formed Archaeological Survey of India conducted an official survey in 1861–1862. Systematic excavation of the ruins by the ASI did not begin until 1915 and ended in 1937. The first four excavations were led by Spooner between 1915 and 1919. The next two were led by Sastri in 1920 and 1921. The next seven seasons of archaeological excavations through 1928 were led by Page. These efforts were not merely digging, observation and cataloging of discoveries, they included conservation, restoration and changes to the site such as drainage to prevent damage to unearthed floors. After 1928, Kuraishi led two seasons of excavations, Chandra led the next four. The last season was led by Ghosh, but the excavations were abbreviated in 1937 for financial reasons and budget cuts. Chandra and final ASI team leaders noted that the "long row of monasteries extend further into the modern village of Bargaon" and the "extent of entire monastic establishment can only be determined by future excavations". | Nalanda Under the East India Company and British Empire (1800–1947) |
ORG Government of Bihar, ORG Nalanda University, LOC Japan, PER Rajendra Prasad, LOC Bihar, LOC New Nalanda Mahavihara, LOC China, LOC Nalanda, LOC Australia, LOC Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, LOC Vietnam, ORG Nalanda International University, LOC India, ORG Government of India, LOC Singapore, LOC New Zealand, LOC Malaysia, LOC Rajgir, ORG Parliament, LOC Asia | Post independence, the second round of excavation and restoration took place between 1974 and 1982. In 1951, the Nava Nalanda Mahavihara (New Nalanda Mahavihara), a modern centre for Pali and Buddhism in the spirit of the ancient institution, was founded by the Government of Bihar near Nalanda's ruins at the suggestion of Rajendra Prasad, India's first president. It was deemed to be a university in 2006.1 September 2014 saw the commencement of the first academic year of a modern Nalanda University, with 15 students, in nearby Rajgir. Nalanda University (also known as Nalanda International University) is an international and research-intensive university located in the historical city of Rajgir in Bihar, India. It was established by an Act of Parliament to emulate the famous ancient university of Nalanda, which functioned between the 5th and 13th centuries. The idea to resurrect Nalanda University was endorsed in 2007 at the East Asia Summit, represented mostly by Asian countries including China, Singapore, Japan, Malaysia and Vietnam, apart from Australia and New Zealand, and as such, the university is seen as one of the flagship projects of the Government of India. It has been designated as an "Institution of National Importance" by the Parliament, and began its first academic session on 1 September 2014. Initially set up with temporary facilities in Rajgir, a modern campus spanning over 160 hectares (400 acres) is expected to be finished by 2020. This campus, upon completion, will be the largest of its kind in India, and one of the largest in Asia. | Nalanda Post–independence (Post-1947) |
LOC Nalanda, LOC China, LOC Korea, LOC Japan, LOC Persia, LOC Nalanda Mahavihara, LOC Tibet, LOC Turkey, LOC Indonesia | While its excavated ruins today only occupy an area of around 488 metres (1,600 ft) by 244 metres (800 ft) or roughly 12 hectares, Nalanda Mahavihara occupied a far greater area in medieval times. The subjects taught at Nalanda covered every field of learning, and it attracted pupils and scholars from Korea, Japan, China, Tibet, Indonesia, Persia and Turkey. | Nalanda The Mahavihara |
LOC Delhi Sultanate, LOC Taxila, PER Yijing, ORG Mamluk dynasty, LOC Kannauj, PER Shailendra, PER Xuanzang, PER Vincent Smith, LOC China, PER Bakhtiyar Khalji, LOC Nalanda Archaeological Museum, LOC Nalanda, ORG Archaeological Survey of India, LOC Mahavihara, PER Harsha, LOC Tibet, LOC Central Asia, LOC India, ORG Vikramashila, LOC Pala Empire, LOC Korea, LOC Indonesia, LOC Asia | At its peak the school attracted scholars and students from near and far, with some travelling from Tibet, China, Korea, and Central Asia. The highly formalised methods of Buddhist studies helped the establishment of large teaching institutions such as Taxila, Nalanda, and Vikramashila, which are often characterised as India's early universities. Archaeological evidence also notes contact with the Shailendra dynasty of Indonesia, one of whose kings built a monastery in the complex. Nalanda flourished under the patronage of the Gupta Empire in the 5th and 6th centuries, and later under Harsha, the emperor of Kannauj. The liberal cultural traditions inherited from the Gupta age resulted in a period of growth and prosperity until the ninth century CE. The subsequent centuries were a time of gradual decline, a period during which the tantric developments of Buddhism became most pronounced in eastern India under the Pala Empire.Much of our knowledge of Nalanda comes from the writings of pilgrim monks from Asia, such as Xuanzang and Yijing, who travelled to the Mahavihara in the 7th century CE. Vincent Smith remarked that "a detailed history of Nalanda would be a history of Mahayanist Buddhism." Many of the names listed by Xuanzang in his travelogue as alumni of Nalanda are the names of those who developed the overall philosophy of Mahayana. All students at Nalanda studied Mahayana, as well as the texts of the eighteen (Hinayana) sects of Buddhism. Their curriculum also included other subjects, such as the Vedas, logic, Sanskrit grammar, medicine, and Samkhya.Nalanda was destroyed three times but was rebuilt only twice. It was ransacked and destroyed by an army of the Mamluk dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate under Bakhtiyar Khalji in c. 1202 CE. While some sources note that the Mahavihara continued to function in a makeshift fashion after this attack, it was eventually abandoned altogether and forgotten until the 19th century, when the site was surveyed and preliminary excavations were conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India. Systematic excavations commenced in 1915, which unearthed eleven monasteries and six brick temples neatly arranged on grounds 12 hectares (30 acres) in area. A trove of sculptures, coins, seals, and inscriptions have also been discovered in the ruins, many of which are on display in the Nalanda Archaeological Museum, situated nearby. Nalanda is now a notable tourist destination, and a part of the Buddhist tourism circuit.
On 25 November 2010, the Indian government, through an Act of Parliament, 'resurrected' the ancient university through the Nalanda University Bill, with which they chose to create a new and unrelated Nalanda University relatively nearby. It has been designated as an "International University of National Importance," and has accordingly been subject to intense government oversight, with both of its past chancellors explicitly citing Government actions for them leaving their post and courses being shut down due to members of the ruling party disapproving of them. | Nalanda The university |
LOC Ratnodadhi, LOC Nalanda, LOC Mahavihara, LOC Sea of Jewels, LOC Dharmaganja, LOC Ratnaranjaka, PER Panini, PER Yijing, LOC Ocean of Jewels, LOC Ratnasagara | It is evident from the large numbers of texts that Yijing carried back with him after his 10-year residence at Nalanda, that the Mahavihara must have featured a well-equipped library. Traditional Tibetan sources mention the existence of a great library at Nalanda named Dharmaganja (Piety Mart) which comprised three large multi-storeyed buildings, the Ratnasagara (Ocean of Jewels), the Ratnodadhi (Sea of Jewels), and the Ratnaranjaka (Jewel-adorned). Ratnodadhi was nine storeys high and housed the most sacred manuscripts including the Prajnyaparamita Sutra and the Guhyasamaja.The exact number of volumes in the Nalanda library is not known, but it is estimated to have been in the hundreds of thousands. When a Buddhist scholar at Nalanda died, his manuscripts were added to the library collection. The library not only collected religious manuscripts but also had texts on such subjects as grammar, logic, literature, astrology, astronomy, and medicine. The Nalanda library must have had a classification scheme which was possibly based on a text classification scheme developed by the Sanskrit linguist, Panini. Buddhist texts were most likely divided into three classes based on the Tripitaka's three main divisions: the Vinaya, Sutra, and the Abhidhamma. | Nalanda The library |
PER Xuanzang, LOC Nalanda, PER Asanga, PER Nagarjuna Chittamatra, LOC Mahavihara, PER Shilabhadra, PER Hwui - Li, PER Frazier | In his biography of Xuanzang, Hwui-Li states that all the students of Nalanda studied the Great Vehicle (Mahayana) as well as the works of the eighteen (Hinayana) sects of Buddhism. In addition to these, they studied other subjects such as the Vedas, Hetuvidyā (Logic), Shabdavidya (Grammar and Philology), Chikitsavidya (Medicine), the works on magic (the Atharvaveda), and Samkhya. According to Frazier, the Vedic studies included Vedic texts and ritual, but also the different theoretical disciplines associated with the limbs or the sciences of the Vedas, which included disciplines such as linguistics, law, astronomy and reasoning.Xuanzang himself studied a number of these subjects at Nalanda under Shilabhadra and others. Besides Theology and Philosophy, frequent debates and discussions necessitated competence in Logic. A student at the Mahavihara had to be well-versed in the systems of Logic associated with all the different schools of thought of the time as he was expected to defend Buddhist systems against the others. Other subjects believed to have been taught at Nalanda include law, astronomy, and city-planning.Tibetan tradition holds that there were "four doxographies" (Standard Tibetan: grub-mtha) which were taught at Nalanda:
Sarvastivada Vaibhashika
Sarvastivada Sautrantika
Madhyamaka, the Mahayana philosophy of Nagarjuna
Chittamatra, the Mahayana philosophy of Asanga and VasubandhuIn the 7th century, Xuanzang recorded the number of teachers at Nalanda as being around 1510. Of these, approximately 1000 were able to explain 20 collections of sutras and shastras, 500 were able to explain 30 collections, and only 10 teachers were able to explain 50 collections. Xuanzang was among the few who were able to explain 50 collections or more. At this time, only the abbot Shilabhadra had studied all the major collections of sutras and shastras at Nalanda. | Nalanda Curriculum |
PER Vihārapāla, PER Xuanzang, PER Yijing, LOC Nalanda | The Chinese monk Yijing wrote that matters of discussion and administration at Nalanda would require assembly and consensus on decisions by all those at the assembly, as well as resident monks:
If the monks had some business, they would assemble to discuss the matter. Then they ordered the officer, Vihārapāla, to circulate and report the matter to the resident monks one by one with folded hands. With the objection of a single monk, it would not pass. There was no use of beating or thumping to announce his case. In case a monk did something without consent of all the residents, he would be forced to leave the monastery. If there was a difference of opinion on a certain issue, they would give reason to convince (the other group). No force or coercion was used to convince.
Xuanzang also noted:
The lives of all these virtuous men were naturally governed by habits of the most solemn and strictest kind. Thus in the seven hundred years of the monastery's existence no man has ever contravened the rules of the discipline. The king showers it with the signs of his respect and veneration and has assigned the revenue from a hundred cities to pay for the maintenance of the religious. | Nalanda Administration |
LOC Sri Lanka, LOC Japan, ORG Nalanda Buddhist Institute, PER Padmasambhava, PER Shantarakshita, ORG Nalanda College, ORG Nalanda Buddhist Education Foundation, LOC Samye, PER Khri - sron - deu - tsan, LOC China, LOC Nalanda Mahavihara, PER Ron Epstein, ORG Nalanda Buddhist Society, LOC Nalanda, LOC Colombo, LOC Tibet, LOC Vietnam, PER Kamalashila, PER Dharmakirti, LOC Bhutan, LOC Korea, LOC Malaysia, LOC Indonesia | A vast amount of what came to comprise Tibetan Buddhism, both its Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions, stems from the teachers and traditions at Nalanda. Shantarakshita, who pioneered the propagation of Buddhism in Tibet in the 8th century was a scholar of Nalanda. He was invited by the Tibetan king, Khri-sron-deu-tsan, and established the monastery at Samye, serving as its first abbot. He and his disciple Kamalashila (who was also of Nalanda) essentially taught Tibetans how to do philosophy. Padmasambhava, who was also invited from Nalanda Mahavihara by the king in 747 CE, is credited as a founder of Tibetan Buddhism.The scholar Dharmakirti (c. 7th century), one of the Buddhist founders of Indian philosophical logic, as well as one of the primary theorists of Buddhist atomism, taught at Nalanda.Other forms of Buddhism, such as the Mahayana Buddhism followed in Vietnam, China, Korea and Japan, flourished within the walls of the ancient school. A number of scholars have associated some Mahayana texts such as the Shurangama Sutra, an important sutra in East Asian Buddhism, with the Buddhist tradition at Nalanda. Ron Epstein also notes that the general doctrinal position of the sutra does indeed correspond to what is known about the Buddhist teachings at Nalanda toward the end of the Gupta period when it was translated.Several Buddhist institutions overseas have chosen to call themselves Nalanda to acknowledge Nalanda's influence. These include Nalanda Buddhist Society in Malaysia and Nalanda College, Colombo, Sri Lanka, Nalanda Buddhist Education Foundation, Indonesia, Nalanda Buddhist Institute, Bhutan | Nalanda Influence on Buddhism |
ORG Nalanda, LOC Indian Subcontinent, LOC India, LOC State of Bihar, LOC Nalanda Mahavihara | The Nalanda Mahavihara site is in the State of Bihar, in north-eastern India. It comprises the archaeological remains of a monastic and scholastic institution dating from the 3rd century BCE to the 13th century CE. It includes stupas, shrines, viharas (residential and educational buildings) and important art works in stucco, stone and metal. Nalanda stands out as the most ancient university of the Indian Subcontinent. It engaged in the organized transmission of knowledge over an uninterrupted period of 800 years. The historical development of the site testifies to the development of Buddhism into a religion and the flourishing of monastic and educational traditions. | Nalanda World Heritage Sites Recognization |
PER Marpa Śāntarakṣita, PER Mahavira, ORG Yogācāra, PER Mādhyamika Shantideva, PER Yijing, PER Buddhaguhya, PER Aryabhata Aryadeva, PER Xuanzang Vajrabodhi, PER Nalanda Maitripada, PER Vasubandhu, ORG Yogacarya, LOC Nalanda, PER Shariputra, PER Chandrakirti, PER Shunyata Naropa, PER Asanga Xuanzang, ORG Bodhisattvacarya, ORG Logic, PER Buddha, PER Atisha, PER Mahasiddha Nagarjuna, PER Nagarjuna Dharmakirti, PER Tilopa, PER Shilabhadra, PER Dharmapala Dhyānabhadra Dignaga, PER Kamalaśīla, PER Nagarjuna Asanga | Traditional sources state that Nalanda was visited by both Mahavira and the Buddha in c. 6th and 5th century BCE. It is also the place of birth and nirvana of Shariputra, one of the famous disciples of Buddha.Other historical figures associated with Nalanda include:
Aryabhata
Aryadeva, student of Nagarjuna
Asanga, proponent of the Yogacarya school
Atisha, Mahayana and Vajrayana scholar
Buddhaguhya, Vajrayana Buddhist monk and scholar
Chandrakirti, student of Nagarjuna
Dharmakirti, logician
Dharmapala
Dhyānabhadra
Dignaga, founder of Buddhist Logic
Kamalaśīla, abbot of Nalanda
Maitripada, Indian Buddhist Mahasiddha
Nagarjuna, formaliser of the concept of Shunyata
Naropa, student of Tilopa and teacher of Marpa
Śāntarakṣita, founder of Yogācāra-Mādhyamika
Shantideva, composer of the Bodhisattvacarya
Shilabhadra, the teacher of Xuanzang
Vajrabodhi, 7th–8th century Indian esoteric monk and one of the patriarchs of Chinese Esoteric Buddhism and Shingon Buddhism
Vasubandhu, brother of Asanga
Xuanzang, Chinese Buddhist traveller
Yijing, Chinese Buddhist traveller | Nalanda Historical figures associated with Nalanda |
LOC Nalanda, ORG Archaeological Survey of India, PER Markham Kittoe, LOC Monastery, LOC Temple, PER Alexander Cunningham, PER Francis Buchanan - Hamilton, ORG ASI | After its decline, Nalanda was largely forgotten until Francis Buchanan-Hamilton surveyed the site in 1811–1812 after locals in the vicinity drew his attention to a vast complex of ruins in the area. He, however, did not associate the mounds of earth and debris with famed Nalanda. That link was established by Major Markham Kittoe in 1847. Alexander Cunningham and the newly formed Archaeological Survey of India conducted an official survey in 1861–1862. Systematic excavation of the ruins by the ASI did not begin until 1915 and ended in 1937. The second round of excavation and restoration took place between 1974 and 1982.The remains of Nalanda today extend some 488 metres (1,600 ft) north to south and around 244 metres (800 ft) east to west. Excavations have revealed eleven monasteries (also known as vihara) and six major brick temples arranged in an ordered layout. A 30 m (100 ft) wide passage runs from north to south with the temples to its west and the monasteries to its east. Most structures show evidence of multiple periods of construction with new buildings being raised atop the ruins of old ones. Many of the buildings also display signs of damage by fire on at least one occasion.The map gives the layout of the excavated structures. Temple 3 in the south was the most imposing structure. Temple 12, 13, 14 face the monasteries and face east. With the exception of those designated 1A and 1B, the monasteries all face west with drains emptying out in the east and staircases positioned in the south-west corner of the buildings. Temple 2 was to the east.
All the monasteries at Nalanda are very similar in layout and general appearance. Their plan involves a rectangular form with a central quadrangular court which is surrounded by a verandah which, in turn, is bounded by an outer row of cells for the monks – a typical design of vihara architecture. The central cell facing the entrance leading into the court is a shrine chamber. Its strategic position means that it would have been the first thing that drew the eye when entering the edifice. With the exception of those designated 1A and 1B, the monasteries all face west with drains emptying out in the east and staircases positioned in the south-west corner of the buildings.Monastery 1 is considered the oldest and the most important of the monastery group and shows as many as nine levels of construction. Its lower monastery is believed to be the one sponsored by Balaputradeva, the Srivijayan king, during the reign of Devapala in the 9th century (see Nalanda copper-plate of Devapala). The building was originally at least 2 storeys high and contained a colossal statue of a seated Buddha.
Temple no. 3 (also termed Sariputta Stupa) is the most iconic of Nalanda's structures with its multiple flights of stairs that lead all the way to the top. The temple was originally a small structure which was built upon and enlarged by later constructions. Archaeological evidence shows that the final structure was a result of at least seven successive such accumulations of construction. The fifth of these layered temples is the most interesting and the best preserved with four corner towers of which three have been exposed. The towers as well as the sides of the stairs are decorated with exquisite panels of Gupta-era art depicting a variety of stucco figures including Buddha and the Bodhisattvas, scenes from the Jataka tales. The temple is surrounded by numerous votive stupas some of which have been built with bricks inscribed with passages from sacred Buddhist texts. The apex of Temple no. 3 features a shrine chamber which now only contains the pedestal upon which an immense statue of Buddha must have once rested. According to Win Maung, the stupa was influenced by Gupta architecture, which itself had Kushana era influences. In a shrine near the bottom of the staircase, a large image of Avalotiteshvar was found which was eventually moved to the museum.
Temple no. 2 notably features 211 sculptured religious and secular panels. These include Shiva, Parvati, Kartikeya, and Gajalakshmi, Kinnaras playing musical instruments, various representations of Makaras, as well as human couples in amorous postures, as well as scenes of art and of everyday life. Susan Huntington and Bhaskara Misra – scholars of Indian architecture and arts, state Temple 2 as a Hindu temple. However, Huu Phuoc Le – a scholar of Buddhist architecture, questions this purely "Hindu affiliation", stating that it could be a temple based on the mandala principles, and one reflecting "Hindu-Buddhist syncretism" of the 8th to 12th century when Shaiva and Shakti deities were integrated into Vajrayana Buddhism. The site of Temple no. 13 features a brick-made smelting furnace with four chambers. The discovery of burnt metal and slag suggests that it was used to cast metallic objects.
To the north of Temple 13 lie the remains of Temple no. 14. An enormous image of the Buddha was discovered here. The image's pedestal features fragments of the only surviving exhibit of mural painting at Nalanda.To the east of Temple 2, lie the remains of Sarai Temple in the recently excavated Sarai Mound. This multi-storeyed Buddhist temple with many stupas and shrines was enclosed by a massive wall enclosure. The remains in the sanctum suggest that the Buddha statue was around 24 metres (80 ft) high.
Numerous sculptures, as well as many murals, copper plates, inscriptions, seals, coins, plaques, potteries and works in stone, bronze, stucco, and terracotta, have been unearthed within the ruins of Nalanda. The Buddhist sculptures discovered notably include those of the Buddha in different postures, Avalokiteshvara, Jambhala, Manjushri, Marichi, and Tara. Brahmanical idols of Vishnu, Shiva-Parvathi, Ganesha, Mahishasura Mardini, and Surya have also been found in the ruins.A Black Buddha temple (termed by locals as the Telia Bhairav, "tel" refers to use of oil) is near Temple 14 with has an ancient large black Buddha image in bhumisparha mudra. This the same temple termed Baithak Bhairab in Cunningham's 1861–62 ASI report. | Nalanda Excavated remains |
ORG Asia Society, PER Surapala, LOC Nalanda, LOC India, LOC Yarlung Museum, LOC On ke ru Lha khang monastery, LOC Tibet, PER Asoka, PER Buton, LOC Tsetang, LOC Los Angeles County Museum of Art | Fleeing monks took some of the Nalanda manuscripts. A few of them have survived and are preserved in collections such as those at:
Los Angeles County Museum of Art Folios from a Dharanisamgraha, circa 1075.
Asia Society This Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita manuscript records, in Sanskrit and Tibetan, the history of the manuscript from its creation at the famous Nalanda monastery in India through its use in Tibet by the compiler of the first Tibetan canon of Buddhism, Buton.
Yarlung Museum, Tsetang (From the On ke ru Lha khang monastery) Astasahahasrika Prajnaparamita Sanskrit palm-leaf manuscript, with 139 leaves and painted wooden covers. According to the colophon, this manuscript was donated by the mother of the great pandita Sri Asoka in the second year of the reign of King Surapala at end of the 11th century. | Nalanda Surviving Nalanda manuscripts |
PER Suvarnadvipa, PER Vipulshrimitra, LOC Nalanda, PER Yashovarman, LOC Sarai, PER Sailendra, PER Baladitya, PER Hirananda Shastri, PER Murnavarman, LOC Nalanda Museum, PER Balaputradeva, PER Buddha | A number of inscriptions were found during the excavation, which are now preserved in the Nalanda Museum. These include:
Son of a minister of Yashovarman donated to the temple built by king Baladitya. 8th cent CE, basalt slab found in monastery 1.
Murnavarman constructed an 24-metre-high (80 ft) brass image of Buddha. 7th cent CE, basalt slab, found in Sarai mound.
Monk Vipulshrimitra built a monastery. Basalt slab, later half of 12th cent, found in the uppermost level of Monastery 7.
Donation of Balaputradeva, the king of Suvarnadvipa of Sailendra dynasty. 860 CE Copperplate found by Hirananda Shastri in 1921 in the antechamber of Monastery 1 at Nalanda. | Nalanda Nalanda inscriptions |
LOC Nalanda | Nalanda is a popular tourist destination in the state attracting a number of Indian and overseas visitors. It is also an important stop on the Buddhist tourism circuit. | Nalanda Tourism |
ORG Archaeological Survey of India, LOC Rajgir, LOC Nalanda | The Archaeological Survey of India maintains a museum near the ruins for the benefit of visitors. The museum, opened in 1917, exhibits the antiquities that have been unearthed at Nalanda as well as from nearby Rajgir. Out of 13,463 items, only 349 are on display in four galleries. | Nalanda Nalanda Archaeological Museum |
LOC Xuanzang Memorial Hall | The Xuanzang Memorial Hall is an Indo-Chinese undertaking to honour the famed Buddhist monk and traveller. A relic, comprising a skull bone of the Chinese monk, is on display in the memorial hall. | Nalanda Xuanzang Memorial Hall |
LOC Nalanda Multimedia Museum, LOC Nalanda | Another museum adjoining the excavated site is the privately run Nalanda Multimedia Museum. It showcases the history of Nalanda through 3-D animation and other multimedia presentations. | Nalanda Nalanda Multimedia Museum |
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LOC India, LOC Nanded, PER Guru Gobind Singh, LOC Maharashtra, PER Guru Granth Sahib, LOC Marathwada | Nanded is a city in Maharashtra state, India. It is the tenth largest city in the state and the seventy-ninth most populous city in India. It is the second largest city in Marathwada region. It is the district headquarters of Nanded district.
The last Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh spent his last days in Nanded and passed his guruship to the sacred text Guru Granth Sahib before his death there in 1708. | Nanded Introduction |
LOC Hingoli district, LOC Waghala, LOC New Nanded, LOC Bidar, LOC India, LOC Nanded, LOC Yavatmal district, LOC Godavari, LOC Latur, LOC Nizamabad, LOC Nirmal, LOC Karnataka, LOC Parbhani district, LOC Adilabad, LOC Old Nanded, LOC Telangana, LOC Kamareddy | Nanded is located on the banks of river Godavari in west-central India. Nanded district borders Latur district, Parbhani district and Hingoli district to the west and Yavatmal district to the north. The district is bordered by the Nizamabad, Kamareddy, Nirmal and Adilabad districts of Telangana state to the east and Bidar district of Karnataka state to the south.
Nanded has two parts: Old Nanded 20.62 square kilometres (7.96 sq mi) occupies the north bank of the Godavari river; New Nanded, to the south of the river, 31.14 square kilometres (12.02 sq mi) encompasses Waghala and neighbourhoods. | Nanded Location |