Orange City, the Zero Mile Marker and the seat of the winter session: Nagpur in Maharashtra

Background

Maharashtra Tourism, a department of the State government, calls Nagpur the "Orange City" and the winter capital of Maharashtra, and says it is the seat of the State's annual winter legislative assembly session. The city was established in the early 18th century by the Gond prince Bhakt Buland, and it is the commercial and political hub of the Vidarbha region. It lies at the centre of India, a point fixed by the Zero Mile Marker. Nagpur takes its name from the Nag River, which winds like a snake. Because several tiger reserves lie close by, the department also calls it the "Tiger Capital of India". Founded by Gond rulers, the city later passed to the Bhonsle line of the Maratha Empire, and under British rule it was the capital of the Central Provinces and Berar. The Nagpur Pact kept its standing as the second capital after the State was formed.