Urban India has seen steady growth in pet ownership over the last decade, bringing visible changes to how neighbourhood parks and natural spaces are used. Cities that once treated dog walking as an exception now witness it as a daily activity integrated into public life. Nagpur has followed the same pattern, with more residents choosing structured walks rather than sporadic outings on empty streets.

The city’s parks, water bodies, and elevated green belts have gradually become shared spaces where morning walkers and pet owners coexist with varying degrees of acceptance and adjustment. In the Vidarbha region, where formal dog parks are still rare, pet owners rely heavily on multipurpose public spaces rather than dedicated infrastructure.

This has shaped daily routines around locations that offer walking tracks, open ground, and relatively lower vehicle movement. Within Nagpur, a small set of locations has come to be repeatedly used for dog walking due to their layout, environment, and user behaviour rather than any official designation. This article documents three such places based on their physical traits and their consistent presence in local pet walking routines.

1. Lendhra Park, Ramdaspeth

Lendhra Park is located in the Ramdaspeth area, one of Nagpur’s older residential localities known for low-rise housing and street-level activity. The park has defined walking tracks and a compact layout, making it easier for pet owners to maintain control over dogs during walks. Its size makes it possible to complete multiple rounds without crossing into playground equipment or central lawns. Residents living around Ramdaspeth routinely use this park in the early morning and late evening for walking and light exercise. Public listings and user responses on local platforms have stated that small pet dogs are regularly seen inside the park during walking hours. Dog movement inside the park is typically restricted to walking paths rather than open areas where children play.

Lendhra Park’s design includes benches, lighting infrastructure, and paved pathways which provide a controlled environment for pet walking. The park is enclosed on multiple sides, reducing the chances of dogs drifting toward traffic. Several pet owners from nearby housing societies are known to walk their dogs in designated loops rather than moving across open lawns. The park’s use patterns show that dogs are generally present during non-peak hours to avoid congestion. While there is no signage officially designating the park as dog-friendly, routine usage has normalised the presence of leashed pets during morning hours. In the context of Vidarbha, Lendhra Park represents how shared neighbourhood spaces are informally adapted for animal activity without structural changes.

2. Ambazari Lake Walking Track and Garden Perimeter

Ambazari Lake is the largest water body inside Nagpur’s municipal limits and has long served as a central recreational area. The lake is surrounded by stretches of paved track used by joggers, walkers, and cyclists. Portions of this walking loop are lined with vegetation while others pass through open stretches facing the lake. Travel and trail platforms list Ambazari as a recreational walking location and note that dogs may be permitted depending on timing and section of access. The walking track is long enough to accommodate extended walks without repetition, which appeals to dog owners who avoid loops that end too quickly.

The lake perimeter includes seating areas and jogging tracks that are used in structured patterns, making movement predictable and easier to manage with pets. Early mornings are commonly used by both fitness walkers and dog owners due to lower crowd density. The outer stretch is preferred by pet owners over garden interiors, where restrictions may differ based on local staff enforcement.

Pet owners generally restrict themselves to the track area to avoid interference with visitors seated near food stalls or viewing decks. Dogs are usually kept on leash given the number of cyclists and older pedestrians on the track. In parts of Vidarbha, Ambazari is seen as a rare example of a large urban water body with public walking access that supports informal pet walks through usage patterns rather than regulation.

3. Seminary Hills

Seminary Hills is Nagpur’s primary green elevation zone, positioned near the city’s western boundary. The area consists of uphill roads, forest land, and institutional buildings interspersed with walking routes. It is frequently used by walkers, runners, and cyclists who seek less traffic and cooler surroundings. The broader zone includes viewpoints and internal routes that extend deep into wooded sections. Seminary Hills is known for lower urban density and relatively controlled vehicular access during certain hours.

Walking here differs from structured park environments due to the terrain and surface conditions. Pet owners who visit Seminary Hills often use tarred hill roads rather than interior soil paths to maintain stability during walks. The area also connects to a Japanese garden route that appears on hiking and walking platforms with information that dogs may be permitted depending on local rules.

There is limited direct oversight, which makes responsible handling essential for those walking dogs here. Preservation regulations apply to the hills due to their forest status, which affects the times and zones open to civilians.

Unlike neighbourhood parks, Seminary Hills requires longer walking distances to complete a single route. Dogs seen here are commonly left to walk continuously rather than looping. Regular users often remain on specific routes along the ridge rather than entering forest sections. Within Vidarbha, Seminary Hills functions as a natural walking corridor rather than a maintained park, making it different from formal city infrastructure.

Nagpur’s dog walking spaces reflect the broader pattern seen in Indian cities where public locations evolve into shared companion zones through daily use rather than formal regulation. These locations exist not as designated enclosures but as flexible areas shaped by community habits and geography. Their suitability depends on layout, timing, and the behaviour of people who use them. While there is no official dog park system in place, routine practices show how shared spaces adapt to changing urban routines.

Each of the three locations covered in this article reflects a different type of setting within the city, ranging from neighbourhood parks to reservoirs and green hills. Together they show how dogs and walkers navigate a city built primarily for people.

Nagpur’s walking zones also highlight the lack of specialised facilities for pets, yet demonstrate that coexistence happens through unspoken rules. Owners follow walking hours suited to low congestion and remain on structured paths where possible. These practices reflect a kind of informal coordination rather than planned design.

In Vidarbha, where urban growth often outpaces planning, dog walking continues through adaptation instead of invitation. These shared spaces speak about the city’s rhythm rather than any formal intent. They record change not through infrastructure but through repeated presence.