Day 12: City of Mythical Serpents

Diksha Bhumi: The site of Dr Ambedkar's mass conversion in 1956

Ashoka the cruel tyrant who turned around, converted to Buddhism and became a benign, benevolent ruler

Dr Ambedkar statue at Nagaloka College

The 37 foot high standing Buddha at Nagaloka College

Today we plan to visit Nagpur city and do some sight-seeing. But first we will walk to Nagaloka, the large Buddhist training college that NM taught at for 25 years before he retired.

It is major tourist attraction in Nagpur, dur to its truly enormous standing Buddha in the midst of the campus. NM managed the casting and erecting of this statue.

The city of Nagpur is special to Indian Buddhists, and there is a huge community here. The city itself is possibly named after the nags, the mythical Serpents who live deep in the ocean. The Indian word for a snake is 'nag'. But there are other theories about the city's name origin.

We then visited Diksha Bhumi, large area of ground where Dr Ambedkar and his 400,000 followers converted in 1956. On site it claims it is the largest religious conversion in history, that's probably propaganda.

Since Dr Ambedkar's time, the massive memorial stupa has been built. I visited this site in 2006 for a special anniversary and over a million people were present, a Police Supertendant told me. 

It certainly felt like a million. India being India, there were no toilets.

Diksha Bhumi pilgrims

We returned to the flat for a rest. 

Later, I went with NM to a local Barbers. Haircut, beard trim and full Indian head massage for the equivalent of £2.30. 

I felt I was worth it.

It turns out we are leaving for Bhopal tonight by the 10.30 Night train. I look forward to that. I like the Indian

 train service - when they are on time.