Vidarbha, often relegated to the shadows in Maharashtra's tourism landscape, is a realm of unbridled beauty and historical significance. The majestic Pench Tiger Reserve, inspiration for Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book, beckons wildlife enthusiasts and photographers. The sacred Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur, where Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar embraced Buddhism, stands as a testament to the region's pivotal role in shaping India's social fabric. Every mile explored, every monument visited, and every local encounter reveals a new facet of Vidarbha. September 27 is celebrated as World Tourism Day and this year it is celebrated on the theme ‘Tourism and Peace.’ With a great legacy of Deekshabhoomi propagating peaceful Buddha dhamma and Sewagram ashram symbolising one of the biggest idols of peace and non-Violence, Mahatma Gandhi, it is important for Vidarbha as a region to embrace its historic, cultural and natural monuments. Vidarbha is famous for its Eco-tourism. Known for Tiger popullation in Tiger reserves of the region, Nagpur city is also called the Tiger Capital of the country.

 

 

These Tiger reserves are main attraction that brings approximately 25 lakh tourists annually to the region. Still, it makes mere 15% of Maharashtra’s total tourist share. Vidarbha’s tourism sector is heavily dependent on Eco-tourism which has a limit. This limit is already saturated at most of the tiger reserves and national parks in Vidarbha. India’s tourism sector is expected to grow at around 6.8% in near future. To take advantage of this progress,Vidarbha needs to develop new, unexplored, hidden destinations to attract more tourists to the region. Beyond the well-trodden paths, Vidarbha's hidden treasures await discovery. The town of Amravati, with its intricately carved temples and vibrant markets, is a cultural enthusiast's paradise. The imposing forts of Gadchiroli, nestled deep within the verdant forests, appeal adventure enthusiast. The serene Wainganga River, which cradles the region's fertile landscape, offers a soothing respite from the chaos of urban life. And unseen, untouched gems of Vidarbha offer humongous potential for development, job generation and growth through tourism.

 

One such example is the Kunghada Caves. Situated just 1 km from state highway connecting Nagpur to Nagbhid, 88 km from Nagpur, lie the Kunghada Caves, a group of five caves, echoing the ancient splendor of Madhya Pradesh's Bhimbetka Rock Shelters, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.The five cave complex is built by cutting through a single rock. These caves dates back to second to third century CE. The caves feature engravings on walls and floors which are believed to be some ancient games. As Bhimbetka draws tourists worldwide, Kunghada Caves remain an uncharted territory. Another potential tourist magnet is Hemadpanthi temple in Neri near Chimur. It is situated at a distance of 94 km from Nagpur. This temple, locally known as ‘Rakshsache Mandir’, dates back to 11th century. The temples intricate carved pillars and grand Mandapa reminds of temples of Hampi. Despite its rich cultural and natural heritage, Vidarbha's tourism potential remains untapped. Places like Kunghada and Neri are not on any tourism map and are not developed. Not many people know wonders like these are so close to them.

 

This lack of awareness and development is hampering Vidarbha’s tourism industry. Dr Priyadarshi Khobragade, Head, Department of Travel and Tourism, RTMNU cited the dominance of eco-tourism in Vidarbha for ignorance of other monuments by tourists. “Vidarbha has always been advertised as land of Tigers and tourists only turn towards Vidarbha when they think of Jungle safaris. Even the local population is not aware of these places. These places need to protected, developed, advertised and projected as alternative tourist destinations,” he said. Prashant Sawai, Deputy Director, Directorate of Tourism informed ‘The Hitavada’ that the government is actively working towards developing other tourist attractions in Vidarbha. He listed examples of Navegaon-Nagzira; Saras bird watching facility in Gothangaon in Gondia district; Koka wildlife sanctuary; Ashok time stupas near Paoni; and newly constructed Ambhora bridge as some examples of their efforts.