Photo spot in Nagpur
Zero Mile Stone
Nagpur, Maharashtra
The sandstone marker and four-horse pillar that once denoted the geographical centre of undivided India, a colonial survey landmark.
Best time
Early morning, before traffic fills the junction and while the light is soft on the sandstone; late afternoon for warmer colour on the horses.
Best angle
Crouch low near the fence and take a photo looking up at the pillar with two of the horses in the foreground and open sky behind.
Entry fee
Free
Opening hours
Open access
Crowd level
Low
Best outfit colors
Overview
Best time to visit Zero Mile Stone
Early morning, before traffic fills the junction and while the light is soft on the sandstone; late afternoon for warmer colour on the horses. Crowds here are typically low. Arrive a little early to claim your angle and catch the softest light before the day tips over.
Poses & angles
Photo tips for Zero Mile Stone
Crouch low near the fence and take a photo looking up at the pillar with two of the horses in the foreground and open sky behind. Work a few of the pose ideas below, shoot wide for context and tight for detail, and give yourself a couple of extra minutes to get the frame right.
By the Zero Mile pillar
At the horse sculptures
Outfit guide
What to wear at Zero Mile Stone
For photos at Zero Mile Stone, white, rust and navy work beautifully — they stand out against the setting without fighting it. Pick one hero colour and keep the rest of the look calm so you stay the subject of the frame.
Best outfit colors for photos
Trending wear for this spot
Popular modern looks travellers are wearing across Nagpur.
Traditional wear for this spot
Timeless, cultural outfits worn across Nagpur.
Eat nearby
Food near Zero Mile Stone
Round out the visit with something to eat. Look for patodi rassa nearby, or settle in at one of the 1 restaurants close by.
Special dishes to try
Restaurants & food places nearby
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Good to know
Local tips
Walk around the whole pillar to read the carved distances to Raipur, Seoni and Hyderabad.
Look for the small survey benchmark stone beside the pillar, which is the actual reference mark.
Go early in the morning, before traffic builds at the junction around the monument.
Get out of the car, as the monument is easy to miss from the road.
Take the metro to the station named after it rather than parking nearby.
Add Sitabuldi market and Tekdi Ganesh temple, both a short walk away.
Keep your expectations modest: it is a ten-minute stop, not a monument complex.
A survey mark, not a centre point
The Zero Mile Stone was set up by the British in 1907 as part of the Great Trigonometrical Survey of India. It is a sandstone pillar, a smaller stone marking a survey benchmark, and four stucco horses added later. The benchmark stands a little over 310 metres above sea level. Nagpur likes to call it the centre of India, and in a loose sense the city is: it sits roughly in the middle of the big metros. But it was never an exact geographic centre, and a couple of villages in Madhya Pradesh make the same claim.
Read the pillar
The base of the pillar is carved with distances in miles to towns around Nagpur, including Raipur, Seoni and Hyderabad. It is a small reminder of how the colonial map of central India was drawn. Walk around all sides before you leave.
Finding it
The monument is in the Civil Lines side of the city centre, close to the Vidhan Bhavan and Sitabuldi. It is in a small fenced plot at a busy junction, and there is not much room to stand, so it is easy to miss from a car. A metro station on the city's network is named after it, and a new park has come up nearby.
How long
Ten to fifteen minutes is enough. Combine it with Sitabuldi market, Tekdi Ganesh temple and the fort walls, all within a short walk. It works well as the first stop of the day, before the traffic builds.
Questions
Zero Mile Stone — FAQ
What is the best time to visit Zero Mile Stone?
Early morning, before traffic fills the junction and while the light is soft on the sandstone; late afternoon for warmer colour on the horses. Crouch low near the fence and take a photo looking up at the pillar with two of the horses in the foreground and open sky behind.
Is there an entry fee at Zero Mile Stone?
Entry to Zero Mile Stone is free.
What are the opening hours of Zero Mile Stone?
Zero Mile Stone is open access.
What should I wear at Zero Mile Stone?
White, rust and navy photograph especially well here. Explore the trending and traditional outfit ideas on this page for full looks.
How crowded does Zero Mile Stone get?
Crowd levels are typically low. To miss the busiest window: early morning, before traffic fills the junction and while the light is soft on the sandstone; late afternoon for warmer colour on the horses.
What food should I try near Zero Mile Stone?
Try patodi rassa, available at nearby restaurants.
Is the Zero Mile Stone the exact centre of India?
No. It was a survey reference point set up in 1907. Nagpur is roughly central, but the stone never marked an exact geographic centre.
Who built the Zero Mile Stone?
The British built it in 1907 during the Great Trigonometrical Survey of India. The four stucco horses were added later.
What is written on the Zero Mile pillar?
Distances in miles to towns around Nagpur, carved on the pillar's base, including Raipur, Seoni and Hyderabad.
How long do I need at Zero Mile?
Ten to fifteen minutes. Combine it with Sitabuldi market and Tekdi Ganesh temple nearby.