The Orange City
The city of Nagpur was founded by the Gond King Bhakt Buland Shah- a prince of the kingdom of Deogarh-Nagpur. The Gonds were Adivasi Tribal people who lived in forests and worshipped nature, they ruled the region between Narmada & Godavari rivers known as ‘Gondwana’; the capital of which was later shifted to Nagpur. Later this city was a part of the Maratha Empire, ruled by Raja Raghuji Bhosale of Berar. The British East India Company took over Nagpur in the 19th century and later made it the capital of the Central Provinces and Berar, the Nagpur Province.
Raja Raghuji Bhosale II was called the architect of modern Nagpur as he was a major contributor to the development of the city. Ideal soil and weather conditions allowed oranges to be cultivated in vast quantities, becoming one of the region’s primary exports. So much so that Nagpur is famous as the ‘Orange city’ to this day.
General Post Office Zero Mile All Saints Cathedral Rukmini Temple Complex
On your next visit to Svasara-Tadoba, if you have time to explore our region with Mandira, do let us know in advance. Based on your interests, we can curate a customized guided tour to historical & heritage sites. Food walks, hands-on craft experiences, photography & sketch expeditions, etc. can also be organized.
Photographs by Architects Mandira Neware & Amol Wanjar
About the Author:
Mandira is a Nagpur based architect, who is passionate about photography and arts. Her keen interest in India’s rich heritage, inspired her to start conducting heritage walks in the Vidarbha region. She enjoys the historical storytelling and wishes to grow awareness about the region’s history & culture. She also plays an integral role in Svasara’s design team working on eco-friendly upgrades to the property and future projects.