Nandura — Travel Guide
Nandura, celebrated across Maharashtra and India as the home of the world's tallest 105 foot monolithic Shri Hanuman statue, a prominent highway landmark on National Highway 53, an agricultural hub for pure Khawa and cotton, and a scenic gateway to Shegaon, Dnyanganga Wildlife Sanctuary, and Lonar Crater Lake, is an engaging destination in Maharashtra.
It works as a primary commercial and transit hub connecting the pilgrimage center of Shegaon with the border city of Malkapur along the Mumbai Nagpur-Howrah railway trunk route.
It represents a rich cultural crossroads where the colossal 105 foot marble clad Hanuman Murti rises majestically over the highway skyline, where ancient Ambadevi river shrines welcome rural devotees, and where the fertile black soils of the Purna river basin produce bountiful harvests of cotton, soybean, and jowar.
Located at an elevation of 262 meters in Buldhana district, it sits 22 km from Dnyanganga Wildlife Sanctuary, 28 km east of Malkapur, 30 km west of Shegaon, 60 km north of Lonar Crater, and 490 km east of Mumbai capital.
Morning breezes drifting over cotton fields and roadside dhabas carry the appetizing aroma of authentic Varhadi Jowar Bhakri served with spicy green chili Thecha and Pithla, crisp Shegaon Kachoris with fried green chilies, fiery Saoji chicken curry, sweet Khawa Pedas, and steaming clay kulhad cups of masala chai, while temple bells sound at dawn.
Colossal orange Hanuman ramparts, active cotton ginning mills, flowing river waters, and passing highway trucks define the daily rhythm of this lively Varhad region highway town.
Nandura is famous for the 105 foot Hanuman Statue, Shri Ambadevi Temple, fresh Khawa dairy products, Dnyanganga forest trails, and authentic Varhadi cuisine.
It's a practical base if you want to marvel at the record breaking Hanuman statue, visit Saint Gajanan Maharaj Temple in Shegaon, spot wildlife in Dnyanganga Sanctuary, and explore the ancient meteorite crater at Lonar.
The surrounding Buldhana Vidarbha territory holds deep antiquity shaped by the Maurya Empire, the Vakatakas, the Yadavas of Deogiri, the Maratha Empire under Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and the British Berar Division. From the towering hands of the Hanuman idol to the ancient basalt cliffs of Lonar, you'll discover rewarding cultural landmarks across the district.
Local life centers around agriculture, dairy farming, Khawa processing, cotton trading, and warm Maharashtrian hospitality. You can view the sunrise over the 105 foot Hanuman crown at dawn, explore the lively cotton and dairy mandis by midday, and watch the sunset from the Dnyanganga reservoir bund by evening.
Neighboring destinations like Shegaon, Malkapur, and Akola offer Anand Sagar, Nalganga Dam, and Narnala Fort. Adding Nandura to your travel plans works well for highway travelers, spiritual pilgrims, wildlife lovers, and road trippers exploring Maharashtra.
You can view the glowing golden sunset reflecting off the colossal Hanuman idol and watch the evening lamps illuminate the temple complex by dusk. The journey is worth every rupee. Nandura provides an authentic, peaceful, and culturally deep travel experience.
Planning your trip around the pleasant winter sightseeing season from October to March, the grand Hanuman Jayanti festival at the 105 foot murti in April, or the annual Palkhi festival at Shegaon will give you the best experience across Maharashtra. Here is the seasonal breakdown:
Best Time to Visit by Season
• Winter Season (October to March): The premier travel window. Pleasant, sunny, and breezy with daytime temperatures between 14°C and 28°C, ideal for temple darshans, wildlife sanctuary safaris, and Lonar crater walks.
• Monsoon Season (July to September): Moderate southwest monsoon rains refresh the Dnyanganga forests and fill agricultural canals across the Purna basin.
• Summer Season (April to June): Hot and dry with daytime temperatures reaching 42°C. Early morning statue visits and evening shopping strolls are recommended.
Major Annual Cultural & Spiritual Celebrations
• Hanuman Jayanti at 105 Foot Murti (Chaitra Purnima): Grand 3 day spiritual festival celebrated with continuous Sundarkand recitals, flower showers by helicopter, and community Mahaprasad feasts.
• Shri Gajanan Maharaj Pralashti & Punyatithi (Shegaon): Mega pilgrimage festival drawing over 500,000 devotees for palanquin processions (Dindi) and devotional bhajan singing.
• Navratri Festival at Ambadevi Temple: 9 day grand spiritual fair celebrated with traditional Garba, holy aartis, and chariot processions.
• Ganesh Chaturthi & Makar Sankranti: Celebrated with community Ganesh pandals, traditional sesame jaggery (Tilgul) distribution, and colorful fairs.
What Nandura is Famous For
• 105 Foot Hanuman Murti: World record standing monolithic statue on NH 53.
• Khawa Dairy Hub: Pure buffalo milk khawa, pedas, and dairy sweets.
• Varhadi Flavors: Jowar Bhakri with Pithla & Thecha, Shegaon Kachori, and Saoji curry.
Reaching Nandura in Maharashtra is simple because 4 lane National Highway 53 (Surat Dhule-Jalgaon Nandura-Nagpur Highway), Nandura Railway Station on Central Railway, and Shirdi/Nagpur Airports provide reliable multi modal transit connectivity. Here is your complete transit guide:
By Air
• Shirdi International Airport (SAG): Located 240 km southwest of Nandura (approx 4 hours drive via NH 53 / Samruddhi Mahamarg with direct flights to Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad).
• Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, Nagpur (NAG): Located 300 km east via 4 lane NH 53 (approx 5 hours drive).
• Aurangabad Airport (IXU): Located 190 km southwest on the state highway network.
• Airport Transfers: Pre paid cabs, app taxis, and MSRTC Shivshahi AC buses operate regular direct highway transfers to Nandura.
By Train
• Nandura Railway Station (Station Code: NN): Located directly in town on Central Railway's Mumbai Bhusawal-Nagpur Howrah mainline with frequent express halts.
• Malkapur Railway Station (Station Code: MKU): Located 28 km west on the railway mainline.
• Shegaon Railway Station (Station Code: SEG): Located 30 km east, a major pilgrimage station connected across India.
• Bhusawal Railway Junction (Station Code: BSL): Located 75 km west, a major national railway junction connected across India.
• Connecting Express Trains: Vidarbha Express, Sevagram Express, Howrah Mail, and Gitanjali Express connect nearby stations directly with Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, and Kolkata.
By Road
• National Highway 53 (Surat Kolkata Expressway / Asian Highway AH 46): High speed 4 lane national highway passing directly through Nandura.
• State Highway 194: Connecting Nandura smoothly with Khamgaon, Buldhana, and Lonar.
• Bus Services: Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) operates frequent direct Shivshahi, Semi Luxury, and Ordinary buses between Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Akola, and Nandura every 10 minutes.
Local Commuting
• Auto Rickshaws & Town Cabs: Readily available at Nandura Bus Stand, Railway Station, and Hanuman Temple for quick local commuting.
• Rental Private Cabs: Hiring a private taxi is the most convenient way to explore the regional circuit covering 105 ft Hanuman Statue, Ambadevi Temple, Shegaon Gajanan Maharaj Temple, and Lonar Crater in a single day.
Exploring local dairy markets and tasting authentic Varhadi, Vidarbha, and Maharashtrian culinary specialties is an enjoyable part of visiting Maharashtra. Here are the top items to buy and try:
What to Buy (Khawa, Cotton & Sweets)
• Authentic Nandura Khawa (Mawa) & Pedas: Fresh, rich, unadulterated reduced buffalo milk khawa and sweet pedas manufactured daily in local dairy hubs.
• Organic Vidarbha Tur Dal (Pigeon Peas): Unpolished, high protein organic yellow lentils harvested in the fertile black cotton soils.
• Pure Cotton Handloom Fabrics: Handwoven cotton dhotis, towels, and bedspreads crafted in regional weaving clusters.
• Traditional Brass & Copper Pooja Ware: Miniature Hanuman murtis, brass lamps (Samai), and holy water vessels.
• Pure Cold Pressed Groundnut & Sesame Oil: Freshly expeller pressed edible cooking oils produced in rural oil mills.
Famous Local Food Specialties
• Authentic Jowar Bhakri with Pithla & Thecha: Wholesome sorghum millet flatbreads served with spiced gram flour curry and fiery crushed green chili garlic chutney.
• Famous Shegaon Kachori with Fried Green Chilies: Flaky deep fried pastry stuffed with spiced Bengal gram filling, served with salted fried green chilies.
• Spicy Varhadi Saoji Mutton & Chicken Curry: Fiery meat curry slow cooked with roasted dry coconut, stone flower (dagad phool), and roasted spices.
• Melt in-Mouth Khawa Peda & Basundi: Rich milk based confections prepared with freshly boiled whole milk, saffron, and cardamom.
• Steaming Clay Kulhad Masala Chai: Strong boiling tea brewed with fresh milk, crushed ginger root, and green cardamom.
Must-Visit Places in Nandura
Nandura and the surrounding Buldhana Vidarbha heritage corridor offer world record Hanuman statues, sacred Shakti temples, 205 sq km wildlife reserves, and ancient meteorite crater lakes. Here are the top attractions to visit during your stay.
1. 105 Foot Monolithic Shri Hanuman Murti & Hanuman Vatika (Nandura)
World's tallest standing single cast monolithic statue of Lord Hanuman rising 105 feet on NH 53, listed in the Limca Book of Records with landscaped gardens.
Timings: 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM daily (Evening Aarti at 7:30 PM)
Fee: Free access
Route: Located right on NH 53 in central Nandura.
2. Shri Ambadevi Historic Temple (Nandura)
Ancient riverbank Shakti temple dedicated to the patron goddess, revered for fulfilling devotees' prayers and hosting festive Navratri melas.
Timings: 5:30 AM to 8:30 PM daily
Fee: Free access
Route: Located near the Dnyanganga riverbank in Nandura.
3. Dnyanganga Wildlife Sanctuary & Dam (22 km)
Scenic 205 sq km dry deciduous forest sanctuary home to leopards, sloth bears, nilgai, striped hyenas, and 150 bird species.
Timings: 6:00 AM to 5:30 PM daily
Fee: Forest department entry charges apply
Route: Located 22 km south near Khamgaon / Buldhana road.
4. Shegaon Shri Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan & Anand Sagar (30 km)
World famous spiritual pilgrimage sanctuary of saint Gajanan Maharaj, featuring exquisite marble temples, meditation halls, and Anand Sagar park.
Timings: 5:00 AM to 9:30 PM daily
Fee: Free temple darshan with subsidized prasad meals
Route: Located 30 km east via NH 53.
5. Lonar Meteorite Impact Crater & Hyper Saline Lake (60 km)
World's only hyper saline soda crater lake created by a meteorite impact in basalt rock 50,000 years ago, surrounded by ancient Yadava temples.
Timings: Daylight hours
Fee: Free access
Route: Located 60 km south in Lonar.
6. Balaji Mandir & Sandalwood Chariot (Khamgaon / 20 km)
Historic 18th century temple housing an ornate sandalwood chariot (Chandanacha Rath) drawn during the annual Brahmotsavam.
Timings: 6:00 AM to 12:00 PM & 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM daily
Fee: Free access
Route: Located 20 km southeast in Khamgaon.
7. Purna River Basin Farmlands & Cotton Countryside
Fertile black cotton soil plains cultivating long staple cotton, soybean, high protein tur dal, and golden jowar crops.
Timings: Daylight hours
Fee: Free access
Route: Located along rural countryside roads.
8. Nandura Khawa (Mawa) & Dairy Product Mandis
An active traditional wholesale dairy hub famous for pure buffalo milk khawa, pedas, basundi, and fresh paneer.
Timings: 7:00 AM to 8:30 PM daily
Fee: Free access
Route: Located along Dairy Market Lane.
9. Nandura Cotton Ginning & Baling Industrial Cluster
Major cotton processing industrial complex producing export quality white cotton bales and cottonseed oil.
Timings: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (Working days)
Fee: Free access with factory permission
Route: Located along Station Road.
10. Nandura Grain, Tur Dal & Oilseed Mandis
Major regional agricultural market trading premium pigeon peas (tur dal), soybean grain, and sunflower seeds.
Timings: 8:00 AM to 6:30 PM daily
Fee: Free access
Route: Located along APMC Market Yard.
11. Nandura Traditional Sweet Shops & Halwais
Renowned local confectioneries serving hot Khawa Pedas, Shegaon Kachoris, and fresh Shrikhand daily.
Timings: 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily
Fee: Free access
Route: Located near Highway Chowk.
12. Traditional Varhadi Dhabas & Saoji Food Corners
A delightful food street serving authentic Jowar Bhakri with Pithla & Thecha, Shegaon Kachoris, Saoji curry, and hot tea.
Timings: 11:30 AM to 10:00 PM daily
Fee: Free access
Route: Located along NH 53 highway road.
Nandura Photo Gallery & Attractions
Explore high-resolution photographs of iconic temples, historical monuments, and scenic landmarks in Nandura.
Plan Your Nandura Trip Now
Get the best verified hotel deals and customized tour packages. Book directly on EarthTrip and save up to 45%!
