Markanda

Situated on the banks of River Wainganga, the 8th century Markanda Mahadev Temple is one of Nagpur's prime attractions that draws devotees in large numbers. The temple complex, famously known as Mini Khajuraho, is a cluster of 20 temples that bear the architectural style of the temples in Madhya Pradesh's Khajuraho. These temples are one of the finest in the Vidarbha region and are surrounded by small hillocks overlooking the winding Wainganga river. Out of the 20 temples, four are well-preserved, namely Markandeya Rishi, Yamadharma, Mrikanda Rishi and Shankara Temple. Most of the temples are dedicated to Lord Shiva and the name Markanda has been derived from the name of Markandeya rishi, who was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. Markanda lies at a distance of 190 km from Nagpur and makes for an interesting exploration.

Markanda

Tadoba Andhari National Park

A haven for tiger lovers, Tadoba Andhari National Park is one of the largest national parks in Maharashtra. Comprising patches of dense forests, smooth meadows and deep valleys, the national park is one of the few tiger reserves in India where tourists can easily spot majestic tigers in their natural habitat. Lined with teak trees, the best way to explore the national park is by taking a safari in an open top gypsy. Other common sightings in the park include sloth bears, leopards, gaurs, nilgais, civets, striped hyenas, sambars, barking deers, chitals and wild dogs. The national park is divided into three forest ranges known as the Tadoba north range, Kolsa south range and Morhurli range. The forest is also home to a wide variety of reptiles including pythons and cobras.

Tadoba Andhari National Park

Pench National Park

Located about 95 km from Nagpur, Pench National Park is located in the southern part of the state of Madhya Pradesh. With a picturesque vista and a treasure of flora and fauna, the park is an ideal camping site for adventure and wildlife enthusiasts. Some of the fauna you can spot are the royal Bengal tiger, chital, wolf, Indian leopard, gaur, four-horned antelope, sloth bear etc. Furthermore, a great variety of birds like crow pheasant, peafowl, pintail, lesser whistling teal, Indian roller, wagtail, munia, waterfowl, blue kingfisher, crimson-breasted barbet, red-vented bulbul are also found here.

Pench National Park

Tipeshwar (Tipeshwer) Sanctuary

A haven for tiger lovers, Tipeshwar Sanctuary is endowed with abundant natural beauty and picturesque landscapes. Some of the fauna you can sight here include blackbucks, blue bulls, chitals, sambars, monkeys, wild cats, wolves, bears, jackals and wild boars. The sanctuary is one of the few sites in the country where tourists can easily spot majestic tigers as it is home to around 13 of them. The best time to visit the sanctuary for tiger spotting is during the summer months of April and May. Tourists can book online safaris for exploring the dense forests of the Tipeshwar Sanctuary. Located at a distance of about 172 km from Nagpur, the sanctuary is a must-visit for all wildlife enthusiasts and nature-lovers.

Tipeshwar (Tipeshwer) Sanctuary