Poddareshwar Ram Mandir

Getting there

• By air

  Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport (NAG) is in Nagpur.

• By train

  Nagpur Railway Station (NGP) is the nearest railway station.

Why devotees come here

Shri Poddareshwar Ram Mandir is a temple in Nagpur city, widely known as Ram Mandir. Its main idol is a black stone statue of Rama, and the evening aarti lights 21 lamps.

Shri Poddareshwar Ram Mandir stands in Nagpur city and is widely known as Ram Mandir. The main idol is a black stone statue of Rama, shown with Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman and adorned with jewels and garments. Some accounts say the temple is dedicated to Shiva and Ram. It is described as an icon of devotion in the city.

Accounts give two different dates for the temple. One says it dates back more than three centuries, to the 18th century, and was first commissioned by Rani Bhawani of the Gond queendom. Another says it was constructed in 1923 by the late Sri Jamnadhar Poddar. The temple has also drawn visitors such as Mahatma Gandhi, who visited it in 1921.

The architecture mixes North and South Indian styles, with intricate sculptures and carvings that show stories from Hindu mythology. In the evening, 21 lamps are lit during the aarti. The tradition represents 21-gun salutes paid to Rama. Every year on Ram Navami, a shobhayatra procession comes to the temple, and thousands of people watch it.

Festivals

• Every year, on Ram NavamiRam Navami

  A shobhayatra procession comes to the temple, and thousands watch it.

Tips for your visit

• A spacious dharamshala beside the temple provides accommodation and meals for travellers.
• Visitors who enjoy history can see Sitabuldi Fort, a British colonial-era structure at the heart of the city.

Questions people ask