Nagpur's nickname — "The Orange City" — comes from the citrus belt that wraps around the city's western and northern fringes. The region produces nearly 50% of India's orange harvest, with Katol, Saoner, and Warud as the three major hubs.
Best Season
The Nagpur orange (Santra — a mandarin variety) has two harvests: the Mrig Bahar (October to December) and the Ambia Bahar (February to April). October–December is the better season for visitors — cooler weather, denser fruit, and the orchards are at their most photogenic.
Where to Go
- Katol: 60 km north, the largest of the three orange belts. Several orchards offer farm tours and tastings.
- Saoner: 35 km north, smaller and quieter — good for half-day visits.
- Warud: 80 km east, less commercial, with a small co-operative that lets visitors pluck their own.
What to Taste
The Nagpur Santra is sweeter and slightly less tart than the Mosambi (sweet lime) — and it has a thinner peel. Taste both side-by-side at any orchard. Don't miss the orange-rind candy (Santra Burfi) and orange-peel marmalade, regional specialities you'll struggle to find outside Vidarbha.
How to Plan It
A half-day tour is ideal: leave the property at 9 AM, reach Katol by 10:30, walk an orchard for an hour, taste the fruit, drive back via a Saoji lunch in the city. Our concierge can arrange a private driver and pre-book the orchard visit — most farms require 24-hour notice for tours.
Pair the orange-country drive with an overnight stay in our Super Deluxe — the harvest season runs straight into wedding season, and the property is best experienced in the same crisp October weather.
