- published: 28 Aug 2014
- views: 19261
Nāgpur ( pronunciation (help·info) English: Nagpore) is a city and winter capital of the state of Maharashtra, the largest city in central India and third largest city in Maharashtra after Mumbai and Pune. With a population of 2,405,421 (2011) Nagpur Metropolitan Area is the 13th largest urban conglomeration in India. It has also recently been ranked as the cleanest city and the second greenest city of India after Bangalore. In addition to being the seat of annual winter session of Maharashtra state assembly "Vidhan Sabha", [Nagpur] is also a major commercial and political center of the Vidarbha region of [Maharashtra], and is also famous throughout the country as "Orange City" for being a major trade center of oranges that are cultivated in the region. In addition, the city also derives political importance from being the headquarters for the Hindu nationalist organisation RSS and an important location for the Dalit Buddhist movement.
Nagpur lies precisely at the center of the country with the Zero Mile Marker indicating the geographical center of India. The city was founded by the Gonds but later became part of the Maratha Empire under the Bhonsles. 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 reorganisation of states, the city lost its capital status but according to the informal "Nagpur Pact" between political leaders it was made the second capital of Maharashtra. Nagpur is also declared, "Tiger Capital of India " as it connects many Tiger Reserves in India to the world.