Akola

Located about 580km far from Mumbai, this city is a hidden gem and a must-visit tourist destination in Maharashtra. Famous for its wildlife sanctuary, forts, and sightseeing experience, this citys history dates back to the famous Mughal Era. Places such as Akola Fort and Balapur Fort are the major tourist attractions in this city, surrounded by lush green forests. Apart from these, temples like Raj Rajeswar Temple and Shiva Temple are other popular tourist places in Akola.

On the other hand, for religious tourists and devotees, this city holds great importance due to places like Shegaon. Most of these places in Akola are quite busy and packed with tourists during the winter season. Above all, each and every Akola place holds something unique to offer to all kinds of tourists and travellers.

Akola Overview

Best Time to Visit Akola

Due to unbearable summers, the winter season from October to February is the best time to visit Akola Maharashtra. The weather in Akola during winter becomes quite comfortable and enjoyable for outdoor activities. However, its quite common for Akola temperature to go as low as 2 degrees during the same season. Thus, its better for tourists to carry some extra warm clothes in case of such low temperatures. Apart from this, the monsoon season usually starts here in June and ends in September. As the winter season sees a massive number of tourists incoming, the late monsoon period is one of the best times to explore places in Akola without any huge crowds.

How to Reach the Places to Visit in Akola

Despite being a remote tourist destination, this city shares excellent connectivity with major cities such as Mumbai and Nagpur. A road journey from Mumbai via NH160 usually takes around 12 to 13 hours to complete. Moreover, various buses from Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) pass through its corridors every day. Luckily, the city has its own train station known as Akola Junction Railway Station. More than 130 trains pass through this station daily, connecting it with famous cities such as Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, etc. On the other hand, the city doesnt have its own airport, and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport in Nagpur is the closest airport. From there, tourists can easily book a private cab or taxi to reach different tourist places in Akola.

What are the things to see and do in Akola

Undoubtedly, this city is quite different from any typical tourist destination in India. Despite not being hugely famous, the city surprisingly offers tons of attractions for everyone. As an important pilgrimage centre, the city has some of the most stunning and serene temples. Moreover, temples like Maharaj Mandir and Baladevi Temple are equally important among Hindu devotees. Apart from such religious places, the visuals at Akola Fort and Balapur Fort are truly a sight to behold. As for nature lovers, places like Katepurna Wildlife Sanctuary are an absolute must-visit to experience the diverse wildlife of this city. Lastly, the local markets and shopping complexes of this city are well-known for handcrafted items and other traditional items that tourists can buy as gifts and souvenirs.

Places to Visit in Akola

As the third largest city in the eastern region of Maharashtra, this city holds various tourist attractions for its regular visitors. Here, tourists can enjoy several outdoor activities, stunning sightseeing, and mouthwatering delicacies. Lets have a look at some of the citys most famous places:

Akola Fort

Built by the famous Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, Akola Fort is among the main attractions in this city. While the original structure of the fort is quite heavily damaged, various parts of this fort greatly reflect the rich history and heritage of this city. Moreover, the views from here during the sunset are truly mesmerising and shouldnt be missed by any tourist.

Katepurna Sanctuary

With more than 115 species of flora and fauna, Katepurna Sanctuary is a popular tourist destination in this city. During some specific seasons, tourists can find themselves lucky to catch sight of various species of wetland and grassland birds. Moreover, animals like Barking Deer, Four-Horned Antelope, Nilgai, Hyenas, etc., are easily visible within its premises.

Shegaon

Shegaon is a quaint little town located in this city, and its popular for its religious values and sacred sites. The famous Shegaon Temple is entirely devoted to a popular saint Shri Gajanan Maharaj. Apart from this, the town has several other local Hindu temples and sacred sites that hold great value among Hindu devotees and pilgrims.

Restaurants

To enjoy some traditional Marathi dishes as well as other cuisines, tourists can easily rely on these famous restaurants and eateries.

Dawat Restaurant

Located at Railway Station road, Dawat Restaurant is a popular choice among locals as well as various tourists. The restaurant not only serves traditional Marathi dishes but also specialises in Mughali and other Continental delicacies.

Mirch Masala

Similar to its name, the restaurant is a huge hit among those who love spicy dishes with perfect ambience and seating arrangement. Apart from the traditional dishes, the restaurant is quite famous for its Varhadi or Vidarbhian cuisines as well.

Places to Stay

To ensure tourists dont have to hassle too much with their accommodation, the city has several trusted hotels and lodges available.

Hotel City Pride

Located near Akola Junction Railway Station, Hotel City Pride is a famous hotel that offers cosy accommodation facilities with all the necessary amenities. Moreover, for international tourists, the hotel has a separate currency exchange facility as well.

New Bombay Lodge

New Bombay Lodge is another popular hotel in this city thats been operational for more than 85 years now. The hotel rooms are quite spacious and carry all the modern amenities and features required for a comfortable stay.

Food to Try in Places to Visit in Akola

The famous Maratha culture isnt only visible in this citys architecture, but its also present in its dishes and delicacies. Most of the restaurants in Akola are known for serving mildly spicy yet mouthwatering dishes. Most traditional dishes here include the usage of rice, wheat, peanuts, and cashews as well. Apart from typical North Indian dishes, Thalipeeth, Upma, Pav Bhaji, and Aamti are the most popular cuisines here. On the other hand, the desserts and sweets from this city are well-known for their sweet texture and fresh taste. Some of those popular desserts include names like Anarsa, Basundi, Shrikhand, etc.

Things to Buy in the Places to Visit in Akola

This citys rich history and culture are clearly visible among its intricately carved temples and forts. However, the local markets of this city have unique stories depicting this city's glorious history.

Patil Market

While exploring local markets such as Patil Market, tourists are likely to find several gift shops that specialise in handcrafted items.

Priya Gift Gallery

From smartly crafted artworks to authentic crystal statues and showpieces, this citys markets are full of shops such as Priya Gift Gallery offering these items. As its a popular pilgrimage site, tourists can also buy some handmade sculptures of Hindu gods and other religious symbols.

Taibah

Lastly, the city has various shopping malls like Taibah, from where tourists can purchase branded products as well.

But when one does arrive at that fresh frontier, there are ways better than others to begin your journey of discovery. Follow these steps and see the world with a new light.

• Discover a new city through a food tour. Food tour's are the easiest way to take a tour, learn about the local delicacies, and the best of all, get great tips that aren't just "local" tips for tourists, but sometimes, lessons for a lifetime too
• Use Public Transportation. When you are in a new city, you can possibly see places and people that you wouldn't normally see when simply walking to the places that checks your list. Some buses or rails take you to parts of the city you wouldn't get to see otherwise. Whilst using public transportation, just ensure that you are following the local norms and do remember to watch the locals!
• Find a local festival. Go beyond what other tourists might do while visiting a place. Look for the unique things you would want to do. Use social media or the local tourism website to find out what's going on locally. You may have to move out of the center of the city to do some of the less popular but more unique things, so just keep that in mind!

Conclusion

All in all, this city is not only religiously significant but also offers stunning views of mother nature through its various rivers, ancient forts, wildlife sanctuary, and historical ruins. As soon as Akola weather becomes pleasant in the winter season, thousands of tourists reach here every year. Above all, places like Katepurna Wildlife Sanctuary works as nothing short of a goldmine for those who love spending time with nature itself. Luckily, the city shares perfect connectivity with other parts of the state as well as the country. On the other hand, accommodation facilities and restaurants are also widely available to take care of every tourists needs and comfort. Hence, a trip to Akola city in Maharashtra is very likely not to disappoint you in any possible way.