Tourism in Bhandara district comprises visiting a number of places of both religious significance as well as leisure activities. Apart from the ancient temples, the district of Bhandara has a lot of activities to offer the tourists. There are ancient sites, such as the Ambagarha fort buikt in 1700 AD or the village of Brahmi which contains a well said to have been built by rakshahas. Or one can visit Andhalgaon, famous for the weaving industry here especially the Kosa cloth. When looking for rest and relaxation, the places that Bhandara has to offer its tourists are places like Rawanwadi, Koka etc. which are full of scenic beauty. Discussed below are the various places of tourism in Bhandwara district.
Pilgrimage Tourism in Bhandara District
Chaundeshwari Devi
This temple is in Mohadi which is about 20 km distance from Bhandara. Many pilgrims visit during Navaratri. This place is a popular tourist spot of Bhandara.
Bondgaon
Bondgaon, is a small village in Sakoli tahsil situated about 13 miles south of Sakoli near the Chulband river. In honour of Gangajumna Devi, who is supposed to dwell in a tank in the village, a fair is held on Chaitra-Parnima. The fair lasts for a fortnight. On Ashvin Shudha another fair is held. The priest of the temple is much revered and goes about on tour in Chaitra. He is believed to possess the gift of divination and prophecy.
Rawanwadi
This place is famous for a more than hundred year old temple dedicated to Lord Rama constructed by Shri Sitaram Prasad Dube, a resident of Gunthara village on a hillock. On Ekadashi/ Amawasya day of kartik month, religious gathering takes place here. On both sides of the tank there is dense forest which has converted it into not only a tourist and picnic spot but also a bird sanctuary.
Leisure Tourism in Bhandara District
Ambagar Fort
This medieval period fort is situated in Tumsar taluka and about 13 kms away from Tumsar in the district. The fort was constructed by Raja Khan Pathan, the subhedar of Bakht Buland Shah, the ruler of Devgadh around 1700 A.D. Later it came under the possession of Raja Raghuji Bhosla of Nagpur who used it as prison for captives. Later on it was taken over by the British.
Brahmi
Brahmi is a small village in Bhandara tahsil lying about 25 miles south of Bhandara. It contains an antique well constructed of long slabs of stone. The local people ascribe its building to the giants or rakshasas.
Gaimukh
Gaimukh, is a small village in Bhandara tahsil 20 miles north of Bhandara and six miles from Ambagad. It is so called because a spring issues from the rocks here, and the name gaimukh or cow`s mouth is usually applied to such springs, the form of a cow`s mouth being sometimes carved out of the rock. There is a cave temple ascribed to the Kuramvars.
Andhalgaon
Andhalgaon also known as Andhalgaon or the dark village is a village in the Bhandara tahsil lying about 16 miles north of Bhandara and connected with Mohali by a good metalled road. It is one of the principal centres in the district having a considerable weaving industry, silk bordered cloths for women being chiefly produced. The kosa (silk) cloth for which the district is so well-known has become very costly and hence the demand for it has correspondingly declined. A weekly market is held on Wednesdays to which some cattle are also brought for sale.
Adyar
Adyar is a large village in Bhandara tahsil, situated about 14 miles south of Bhandara on the Pauni road. A number of Gandlis are engaged in weaving silk-bordered saries, cloth and dhotis on handlooms on co-operative basis, the silk-bordered saris being particularly known for their fine texture and quality. Bamboo baskets and matting are also made. At the weekly market held on Sundays household goods, provisions and cattle are put up for sale. In fact Adyar is one of the important cattle markets in the district. The agriculture labourers of this village are known for their skill and knowledge of paddy cultivation and hence are sought after by the agriculturists of the neighbouring villages. The village was previously owned by malguzars but the system of malguzari has since been replaced by the ryotvari system.
Gondumri
Gondumari is a village in Sakoli tahsil about ten miles distant from Sakoli. Soft matting of sukhavasa grass is manufactured here by the Gonds. Gondumri was the head-quarters of the Gond-Umri zamindari.
Chandpur
Chandpur is in Tumsar taluka of Bhandara district. It is situated in hilly ranges and surrounded by dense forests. By constructing a huge wall between two rocks a big reservoir has been created. The reservoir is surrounded by hillocks with dense plantation. One can view the fantastic scenic beauty by standing on the wall of the reservoir. One km.to the south of the reservoir is the water tank and Chandpur
Koka
Koka is about 30 km from Bhandara which is covered with dense forest. The trees in this forest are more than a hundred years old. There is a lake here famous for being the abode of famous Siberian birds. These migratory birds come in the month of December and return in mid January.
These are the various places of tourist interest located in the district of Bhandara.