Savner — Travel Guide
Truth is, Savner, historically known as Saoner, is one of the most culturally grounded, mineral rich, and ecologically strategic gateway towns in the Nagpur district of northeastern Maharashtra.
Resting in the fertile Kolar and Chandrabhaga river basins along four lane National Highway 547, it sits just 36 km north of Nagpur city and 85 km south of Chhindwara in the Satpura foothills.
The refreshing Vidarbha morning breeze carries the sweet scent of blooming orange blossoms, ripening sweet limes, and damp black cotton soil.
Expansive Nagpur mandarin orange orchards, meandering river waterways, and ancient stone temple spires frame this hospitable countryside. Savner is celebrated across central India as an essential transit gateway to the world famous Pench Tiger Reserve and the 8th century Adasa Swayambhu Ganpati Temple, along with being an energetic industrial hub for high grade coal and manganese mining.
It's a wonderful stop if you appreciate tiger safaris in Mowgli's jungle, ancient hill temples at Adasa, peaceful waterside picnics at Kolar Dam, and authentic fiery Vidarbha Saoji cuisine.
Look, the surrounding Nagpur and Ramtek region holds immense historical prominence spanning Vakataka royalty, Gondwana tribal kingdoms, and Kalidasa's Sanskrit poetry. From the forested shores of Totladoh reservoir to the monolithic idol of Adasa Ganesha, rewarding nature escapes greet you on every outing.
Thing is, the local atmosphere is remarkably peaceful and rooted in traditional rural warmth. You can wander through lively orange mandis, sip strong cutting chai in earthen cups, and relish authentic local meals featuring spicy Patodi Rassa, crisp Jowar Bhakri with garlic thecha, and fresh Nagpur Santra Barfi.
Mind you, neighboring travel destinations like Warud, Nandgaon, and Loha highlight Maharashtra's rich agricultural, fort, and temple circuits. Adding Savner and the Northern Vidarbha wildlife trail to your travel plan is worth every rupee for families, pilgrims, and road trippers.
Whether you're watching a Royal Bengal tiger move through the teak forests of Pench or seeking blessings at Adasa's hilltop shrine, Savner delivers true adventure. It's an authentic jewel of Eastern Maharashtra.
Timing your trip around the prime orange harvesting season, cool winter sunshine, or wildlife safari months will make your journey across Maharashtra memorable. Worth every rupee. Here is the seasonal and cultural breakdown:
Best Time to Visit by Season
• Winter Season (October to March): The ideal travel window. Daytime temperatures stay between 12°C and 27°C with pleasant breezes, perfect for morning tiger safaris at Pench, temple visits at Adasa, and orchard tours.
• Monsoon Season (July to September): Moderate to heavy rainfall turns the teak forests and Kolar dam lush green. Note that core safari zones in Pench remain closed during monsoons.
• Summer Season (April to June): Warm and dry with daytime temperatures reaching 43°C. Peak season for frequent tiger sightings around forest waterholes.
Major Annual Cultural & Religious Celebrations
• Adasa Ganesh Angarika & Maghi Ganesh Jayanti: Hundreds of thousands of devotees climb the sacred Adasa hillock for holy darshan, Maha Abhishek, and community feasts.
• Nagpur Orange Festival (Dec Jan): Colorful cultural carnival celebrating Vidarbha's mandarin citrus heritage with agricultural exhibits and music recitals.
• Maha Shivratri at Kapileshwar: All night vigil with continuous holy water offerings and fair along the wooded hill slopes.
• Pola Bullock Festival: Heartwarming rural festival where farming bullocks are bathed, decorated with painted horns, and paraded through town.
What Savner is Famous For
• Pench Tiger Reserve Gateway: Direct base camp for world famous wildlife safaris.
• Adasa Swayambhu Ganpati: Ancient Ashta Vinayak shrine of Vidarbha.
• Nagpur Orange & Coal Hub: Major citrus orchard and mining center.
Reaching Savner in Maharashtra is exceptionally fast and comfortable thanks to four lane National Highway 547 (Nagpur Chhindwara corridor) and close connectivity to Nagpur Junction and Airport. No doubt about it. Here is your transit guide:
By Air
• Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport (NAG), Nagpur: Located just 45 km south of Savner (approx 45 minutes drive via smooth four lane NH 547).
• Airport Transfers: App based cabs, private rental taxis, and MSRTC express buses connect Nagpur airport directly to Koradi, Savner, and Sausar every 15 minutes.
By Train
• Town Railway Station: Saoner Railway Station (Station Code: SONR) sits directly on the Nagpur Chhindwara broad gauge railway line.
• Major Junction: Nagpur Junction (Code: NGP) is 36 km south on the Central / South East Central Railway network.
• Connecting Trains: Vande Bharat Express, Duronto Express, Rajdhani Express, and Nagpur Chhindwara Passenger link Nagpur and Saoner directly to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai.
By Road
• National Highway 547: Four lane smooth expressway connects Nagpur directly to Koradi, Savner, Sausar, and Chhindwara.
• National Highway 353J: Links Savner directly to Katol, Parseoni, and Ramtek.
• Bus Services: Maharashtra State Road Transport (MSRTC) operates frequent ordinary and express buses between Nagpur and Savner every 3 minutes.
Local Commuting
• Auto Rickshaws: Shared and private auto rickshaws are available at Savner bus stand and railway station.
• Rental Taxis & 4x4 Gypsies: Local cabs and safari vehicles are ideal for day tours covering Pench Tiger Reserve, Adasa Ganesha Temple, Kolar Dam, and Ramtek.
Exploring local traditional markets and tasting fiery Vidarbha Saoji cuisine is a wonderful part of traveling in Maharashtra. Here are the top items to buy and try:
What to Buy (Oranges, Spices & Handicrafts)
• Fresh Nagpur Mandarin Oranges (Santra): Sweet, juicy, thin skinned citrus oranges and sweet limes directly from local orchard farm stalls.
• Authentic Nagpur Santra Barfi: Traditional fudge sweet crafted from condensed milk, pure desi ghee, and real orange pulp.
• Authentic Saoji Masala Powder: Traditional roasted black pepper, clove, coriander, and dry chili spice powder mixes.
• Pure Raw Forest Honey: Unprocessed organic honey harvested by tribal cooperatives from the Pench forest reserves.
• Handwoven Cotton Fabrics & Towels: Durable pure cotton textile products from local weaver societies.
Famous Local Food Specialties
• Fiery Saoji Chicken / Mutton Rassa: World famous spicy curry cooked with 24 roasted black spices, served with hot rice or soft rotis.
• Spicy Patodi Rassa with Jowar Bhakri: Steamed gram flour cakes simmered in a fiery onion coconut gravy, served with hot sorghum flatbreads.
• Authentic Nagpur Tarri Poha: Fluffy flattened rice topped with spicy black chickpea curry, raw onions, and crunchy sev.
• Gola Bhaat with Varan: Spiced lentil dumplings cooked with fragrant rice, served with pure desi ghee and lemon slices.
• Chilled Sweet Santra Juice: Freshly squeezed Nagpur orange juice flavored with black salt and mint leaves.
Must-Visit Places in Savner
Savner and the surrounding Nagpur Kolar valley offer an extraordinary collection of ancient Ashta Vinayak shrines, tiger safari reserves, river reservoirs, and teak forest picnic spots. Here are the top attractions you'll want to explore during your stay.
1. Adasa Swayambhu Ganpati Mandir (Ashtavinayak of Vidarbha)
An ancient hill temple housing a 12 foot single stone monolithic idol of Lord Ganesha, surrounded by 40 rock shrines and scenic Adasa Lake.
Visiting Hours: 6:00 AM to 8:30 PM daily
Entry Fee: Free darshan
Route Note: Located 12 km southwest of Savner.
2. Pench Tiger Reserve & National Park (Mowgli Land)
A world renowned tiger reserve offering open jeep safaris to spot Royal Bengal tigers, leopards, sloth bears, and over 250 species of birds.
Visiting Hours: 6:00 AM to 10:30 AM, 2:30 PM to 6:00 PM (Oct to June)
Entry Fee: Forest safari permits apply
Route Note: Located 45 km northeast of Savner.
3. Kolar River Dam & Reservoir Eco Park
An earthen dam across the Kolar River surrounded by forested hills and peaceful water channels, offering lakeside picnic and sunset viewpoints.
Visiting Hours: Daylight hours
Entry Fee: Free public access
Route Note: Located 14 km west of Savner.
4. Waki Woods & Kanhan River Waterfront
A popular eco tourism and birdwatching retreat tucked along the Kanhan River, offering bamboo tree huts, camping, and boating.
Visiting Hours: 8:00 AM to 6:30 PM daily
Entry Fee: Nominal entry fee
Route Note: Located 16 km south near Saoner road.
5. Historic Ramtek Gad Mandir & Kalidasa Memorial
An ancient hilltop fortress temple dedicated to Lord Rama where poet Kalidasa wrote Meghaduta, offering panoramic views over Ambala Lake.
Visiting Hours: 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily
Entry Fee: Free darshan
Route Note: Located 42 km east in Ramtek.
6. Kapileshwar Mahadev Devasthan (Kelwad Hills)
An ancient stone Shiva shrine tucked into peaceful wooded hillocks, celebrated for holy water abhishekams and peaceful meditation spots.
Visiting Hours: 6:00 AM to 7:30 PM
Entry Fee: Free darshan
Route Note: Located 10 km north near Kelwad.
7. Shri Panchamukhi Hanuman Mandir (Savner)
A revered town temple housing a powerful five faced idol of Lord Hanuman, celebrated for Tuesday evening deepa aartis and sweet laddu prasad.
Visiting Hours: 5:30 AM to 9:00 PM
Entry Fee: Free darshan
Route Note: Located in central town streets.
8. Totladoh Dam & Pench Reservoir Viewpoints
A massive hydroelectric dam on the Pench River creating a vast scenic water body surrounded by dense teak and bamboo jungles.
Visiting Hours: Daylight hours
Entry Fee: Free public access
Route Note: Located 50 km northeast in Pench buffer.
9. Savner Nagpur Mandarin Orange & Sweet Lime Orchards
Tour sweet fruit farms to taste freshly picked juicy Nagpur oranges and sweet limes directly from local orchard growers.
Visiting Hours: 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM (winter harvest)
Entry Fee: Free farm visits
Route Note: Spread along Savner agricultural belts.
10. Shri Satava Maata Mandir (Savner)
An ancient folk goddess shrine revered by local farming communities for blessings of healthy children, cattle safety, and bountiful crops.
Visiting Hours: 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Entry Fee: Free darshan
Route Note: Located on town ridge.
11. Shri Hanuman Mandir (NH 547 Highway Pass)
A popular roadside shrine where highway travelers stop for safe journey blessings, Saturday evening aartis, and sweet boondi offerings.
Visiting Hours: 5:00 AM to 9:30 PM
Entry Fee: Free darshan
Route Note: Located along NH 547 highway.
12. Savner Mega Orange, Cotton & Grain Krishi Mandi
One of Vidarbha's major agricultural trading yards where farmers auction millions of crates of fresh oranges, cotton bales, and soybeans.
Visiting Hours: 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Entry Fee: Free access
Route Note: Located at APMC market yard, Savner.
Savner Photo Gallery & Attractions
Explore high-resolution photographs of iconic temples, historical monuments, and scenic landmarks in Savner.
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