Nagpur lies in the heart of India. It is locted under the Vidarbha area of the state of Maharashtra. It is the third largest city in Maharashtra, the largest being Mumbai followed by Pune. It has a population of over 2.4 million. It is among the top fifteen urban centers of India. India's Zero Mile Monument is located in the city, depicting that it is the center most point of Mainland India from all directions.
Nagpur was established by Bhakt Buland Shah, the Gond King of Deogarh in 1702. The name Nagpur came from the twisty river Nag that flows through the city. Nagpur was a part of the Central Province Region in British India. Post Independence, it initially became the capital of Madhya Pradesh (including Central Provinces and Berar) but was later added into the state of Maharashtra along with the Marathi majority Vidarbha District. In 1960, Nagpur became the second capital of Maharashtra.
It is well known throughout the world for its juicy oranges, so it earned the nickname of 'The Orange City'.
As it is located in the center of India, many industries have come up in and around Nagpur taking advantage of the fact that all regions of India can be easily accessed with supply chain and distribution networks. There are chances of International Airport and an International Cargo Hub being set up at Nagpur. This will further give an encouragement to the economy in the region. Nagpur is known for wood and woodworking applications industry like furniture, along with cotton based industries.
Nagpur is also an education center. Nagpur. Students from all corners come to Nagpur to study. Nagpur University is among the oldest and most important universities in India. Among other subjects, Hindi and Sanskrit are an integral part of culture and tradition of Nagpur. Lots of engineering colleges and management schools have also come up in the city.
Nagpur is a trading and commerce hub and there before among the residents of the city is a considerable portion of India's trading communities – Marwaris, Gujratis, and North Indian Banyas. Although people generally speak Marathi in Nagpur, the city is rather cosmopolitan in nature. People from all over India come to Nagpur to stay. The headquarters of the Nationalist Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS) is also housed in Nagpur. Dalit Movement has its origin in Nagpur. It was here in 1956 that Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar with a large following converted into Buddhism as an indication of objection against caste discrimination rampant among Hindus. .
