What to See in Wardha

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Wardha is a town in Maharashtra state which is associated with Mahatma Gandhi. The place derives its name from the Wardha River that flows through it. The town was founded in the year 1866 and is a very popular historic tourist destination in Maharashtra. The town is very famous for Gandhiji's Sevagram Ashram which is a National Institute. Sewagram or Bapu ki Kuti is the most popular tourist spot in Wardha. National and international tourists come here to see the Ashram as it is associated with the Father of the Nation.

Mahatma Gandhi established the Ashram in the year 1933. It was named as Sevagram which literally means, "Village of Service". It was once a headquarters of the Indian National Movement led by the Mahatma. Gandhiji lived in this ashram for over 14 years.

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. You can find Gandhijis spinning wheels, spectacles, and other personal things of the Mahatma on display here. There is a very interesting exhibition of rare photos depicting Gandhijis life. The environment in the ashram is peaceful and quiet. 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.

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.

Fuji Guruji came to Wardha from Japan and met Mahatma Gandhi in 1935. He wished to set up a Stupa where the Buddhist 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.

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.

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.

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.