Nagpur
Nagpur, located virtually at the geographical heart of India, has a rich and unique history. It transitioned from an ancient tribal kingdom into a powerful Maratha center, served as a prominent British colonial capital, and today stands as a vital political and emotional hub for Maharashtra.
Historical Timeline of Nagpur
While 3,000-year-old megalithic burial sites have been found around the outskirts of the city, Nagpur’s modern history as a unified urban center spans across three major eras.
The Gond Foundation
1702
The city was officially founded by Raja Bakht Buland Shah, a ruler of the Deogarh Gond Dynasty. He combined twelve small agricultural hamlets along the Nag River (from which the city gets its name) into a single fortified city, modeling its architecture and trade after Delhi.
The Maratha Bhonsle Dynasty
1743 – 1853
Following succession disputes within the Gond royal family, the Maratha general Raghoji I Bhonsle intervened and eventually took administrative control. Nagpur became the sovereign capital of the powerful Bhonsle Kingdom, which expanded Maratha influence deep into Odisha, Bengal, and Bihar.
The Battle of Sitabuldi
1817
During the Third Anglo-Maratha War, Mudhoji II Bhonsle fought a fierce battle against the British East India Company at Sitabuldi Fort in the heart of Nagpur. The Marathas were defeated, marking a massive turning point that paved the way for British dominance in central India.
British Colonial Era
1853 – 1947
When Raghoji III died without a male heir in 1853, the British annexed the kingdom under the controversial Doctrine of Lapse. They designated Nagpur as the capital of the Central Provinces and Berar. In 1877, the Tata Group opened India’s very first textile factory here, the famous “Empress Mills.”
The Deekshabhoomi Conversion
1956
On October 14, 1956, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, alongside nearly 500,000 followers, converted to Buddhism at a site in Nagpur now known as Deekshabhoomi. This historic event triggered the modern Neo-Buddhist movement in India.
The Nagpur Pact & Maharashtra
1960
When Indian states were redrawn along linguistic lines, Nagpur—which was previously the capital of Madhya Pradesh—joined the new state of Maharashtra. Under the Nagpur Pact, it was designated as the official Winter Capital of Maharashtra to ensure political equity for the Vidarbha region.