Wardha
Wardha in Maharashtra is a popular tourist place. The town derived its name from the river Wardha. The place was founded in the year 1866 and is now a very popular tourist place. Tourists come to Wardha to visit the Sevagram Ashram founded by Mahatma Gandhi.
Kelzer has a beautiful temple of Lord Ganesh popularly called as Varad Vinayak. It is one of the temples from the Ashtavinayak in the Vidarbha region. The sculpture of the Lord belongs to the Arya period.
Vishwa Shanti Stupas are found in Wardha. Fuji Guruji came to Wardha from Japan and met Mahatma Gandhi in 1935. He wished to set up a Stupa where the Buddhists can offer prayers. Gandhiji agreed to this proposal and eight Shanti Stupas were built at different places in India. One of them is at Wardha. The stupas in Wardha describe the history and life of Lord Gautam Buddha.
Gitai Mandir is the place where Acharya Vinobha Bhaves Gitai became perpetual. Achrya ji translated the Bhagwat Gita into Gitai. For this reason, a number of polished stones were brought from different places and arranged vertically. These stones were arranged to form a cow and 18 shlokas of the Gita are engraved on it. This temple is unusual as it has no ceilings and no walls. There is a permanent exhibition arranged in Shanti Kuti in the memory of Mahatma Gandhi and Jamnalal Bajaj.
Gandhi Gyan Mandir is a public library opposite to Bajajwadi. The most interesting feature of this library is that there are books written by Mahatma Gandhi and Books on Mahatma Gandhi. In addition, there is a valuables collection of reference books of literature, Economics, Politics, social science and other subjects. Dr Rajendra Prasad laid the foundation stone of Gyan Mandir in Wardha in 1950. Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru inaugurated the library.
Sewagram or Bapu ki Kuti is the most popular tourist spot in Wardha. Tourist from all over the world come here as Gandhiji started his freedom movement from here. Mahatmaji came here in the year 1934 and was requested by Jamnalal Bajaj to select Segaon for his Kuti or Ashram. Accordingly, a Kuti was established here. The Ashram premises have Adi Niwas, Ba Kuti, Akhari Niwas, Kishor Kuti, Mahadeo Kuti and other historical places. Many things used by Mahatma Gandhi are on display here. A permanent exhibition of Gandhijis rare photos is also a hit among tourists visiting the Ashram.
Acharya Vinoba Bhave established Pawnar Ashram in the year 1934. It is on the banks of River Dham in Pawnar which is just 5 miles from Wardha. He stayed in Gandhijis Ashram for some time and then followed an inner call and started the Bhoodan and Gramdan movements. He also worked for the Bharat Chodo movement from this Ashram in Pawnar.
Other tourist places in Wardha are the Museum of Wardha or Magan Sangrahalaya, Rashtra Bhasha Prachar Samiti, Laxmi Narayan temple and Bajajwadi.
Other picnic spots near Wardha are Bor Dam with its beautiful gardens, Dhamma Kendra and its beautiful stupas, the forests of Garpit, Tomb of Sheikh Farid Baba in Girad, Forests of Dhaga and Koteshwar which has a beautiful ancient Hemadpanthi temple of Lord Shiva.