Bhandara: Temples and Discoveries in the District

Bhandara can be explored from two perspectives: the town offers temples and distinctive features in its centre, while Bhandara district encompasses further natural and cultural attractions. When planning your trip, it is worth keeping these two levels separate—especially if you want to combine local history with landscapes and regional traditions.

Temples and features in the town

In the centre of Bhandara are the Hemadpanthi temples of Ambai and Nibai. Both are dedicated to the tree deities Mango and Lime. This distinctive dedication gives the temples a clearly defined cultural theme that goes beyond their architectural classification. Other notable features of Bhandara include lakeside temples, a monastery, a garden and fountains. Khamb Talav and the pillars in it are also part of the townscape. An ancient Ganesh temple is located near Bhandara, two kilometres from the district headquarters.

Other points of interest are in the surrounding area. The Sur meets the Wainganga 1.5 kilometres north of Bhandara. The tourist destination of Ziri lies west of Nandora and 13 kilometres from Bhandara’s district headquarters. Fairs are held at the Ambadevi Temple in Korambhi during Navratri, Chaitra Purnima and Makar Sankranti. If you plan to time your trip around one of these festivals, check the dates in advance.

In Bhandara district: lakes, nature and culture

At district level, the landscape broadens: Bhandara district is known as the district of lakes and has more than 3,500 lakes. One specific example is the reservoir near Chandpur, surrounded by hills and dense vegetation, in Tumsar taluka. The protected areas offer a different focus on nature. Koka Wildlife Sanctuary covers 92.34 square kilometres and is home to tigers, leopards, gaurs, chital and sambar deer.

Umred Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary is partly located in Pauni tahsil in Bhandara district. Resident tigers live and breed there, alongside herds of gaur, wild dogs, flying squirrels, pangolins and honey badgers. Forest along the Wainganga connects the sanctuary to Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve. By comparison, Chandpur reservoir and the protected areas mentioned offer different points of reference for planning a trip: a waterside landscape shaped by hills and vegetation, or nature destinations with specific wildlife species.

The district’s cultural history is also spread across different locations. Mahasamadhi Bhoomi is a Buddhist pilgrimage site; it was established in 1987 in Ruyad, Pauni, in Bhandara district. Ambagad Fort was built by Raja Khan Pathan in the early 18th century. Craft traditions can be seen in other ways: bamboo baskets and mats are made in Adyar. Saris with silk borders, fabrics and dhotis are also produced there on cooperatively organised handlooms. Andhalgaon is known for its important weaving industry, which mainly produces fabrics with silk borders for women.

Choosing a location and planning your journey

When looking for a holiday rental, consider whether your focus is on the temples, Khamb Talav and features of the town, or whether you also want to include natural and cultural attractions in the district. This lets you tailor your search to the kind of trip you are planning, rather than treating town and district attractions as the same. For travel, the train from Nagpur Railway Station to Warthi Railway Station near Bhandara takes approximately one hour. Check the timetable before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Kardha, Khairi.

Return to the main travel overview: Bhandara.