The present city was founded in the early 18th century by Bhakt
Buland, a Gond prince of the kingdom of Deogad in the
Chhindwara district. Seeing the advantage of civilized life in
Delhi, he started to build Nagpur as his new capital. His
successor Chand Sultan continued the work. On Chand
Sultan's death in 1739, disputes regarding succession arose and Raghuji
Bhonsle, the Maratha governor of Berar, helped to restore the
elder son to the throne. As the dissentions continued, Raghuji
Bhonsle again intervened in 1743, and the control of Nagpur
slowly passed on from the Gonds to the Marathas. It became the
capital of the Bhonsles.
With the Bhonsle dynasty came the vast class of cultivators in
Vidarbha. Raghuji's successors lost some territories to the
Peshwas of Pune and the Nizam of Hyderabad. In 1803, Bhonsles
(along with their allies Scindias [Shinde] of Gwalior) at Assaye
and Argaon (Argaum). In 1811 Pindaris attacked Nagpur. Bhonsles
again lost to the British in 1817 and Nagpur came under British
influence. In 1853 Raghuji III died without an heir to his
kingdom. As a result, the city lapsed into British control under Lord
Dalhousie's Doctrine of Lapse. { This policy was one of the
reasons which led to the Indian War of Independence
[Sepoys' Mutiny : as referred to by the British] in 1857}
In 1861, Nagpur became the capital of the Central Provinces. The advent of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway (GIP) in 1867 spurred its development as a trade centre. After Indian independence, Nagpur became the capital of Madhya Bharat state (C.P. and Berar). In 1960, the marathi majority Vidarbha region was merged with the new state of Maharashtra and Nagpur was designated the second capital of Maharashtra state, alternating with Mumbai (Bombay) as the seat of the Maharashtra state legislature.
Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
Following is the brief timeline chart of history of Nagpur.
10th Century A.D. -The name Nagpur appears for first time on record
Early 18th century A.D. - Nagpur city founded by the Gond king "Bakht Buland" of Devgad. He founded the city by joining the twelve small hamlets formerly known as "Rajapur Barasa" or "Barasta"
| ? | Nagpur becomes the capital of the Bhonsles |
| 1769 | Nagpur burnt in 1769 and again partially burnt in 1811 by the Pendharis |
| 1817 | The battle of Sitabuldi & Nagpur fought which secured British influence in these territories |
| 1853 | Nagpur was incorporated into the British territory. |
| 1854 | Mr. Mansel takes charge of Nagpur as the first commissioner |
| 1861 | Nagpur city becomes the capital of Central Provinces |
| 1867 | First train steams out of the city |
| 1901 | C.P. Club founded |
| 1911 | The Hitavada a leading english daily launched |
| 1912 | Foundation stone of Vidhan Sabha laid |
| 1923 | Nagpur University founded |
| 1934 | Gondwana Club founded, Nav Bharat a leading Hindi daily launched |
| 1947 | AIR founded |
| 1950 | Nagpur made capital of M.P. state |
| 1956 | Dr. Ambedkar converts thousands of dalits to Buddhism at Deeksha Bhoomi |
| 1960 | Nagpur passed onto Maharashtra State |
| 1972 | Thomson Corporation founded |
| 1985 | JT Software launched |
Well, this is not the most extensive report on Nagpur history, You are free to contribute if you feel that you have information which might be of general interest, we will be glad to hear your story. If found worth while it will be put on the net & your contribution will be acknowledged.