The archaeological fabric of India is often defined by its sprawling empires, magnificent temples, and legendary capitals. Yet tucked into the eastern belt of Maharashtra lies Vidarbha, a region whose ancient urban centres are only now beginning to receive the attention they warrant.

These early cities were hubs of administration and culture and critical nodes in subcontinental trade, religion, and governance. With evidence drawn from stupa mounds, Brahmi inscriptions, coin hoards, and royal charters, the region reveals layers of habitation spanning several centuries. What stands out is not just their antiquity, but the role these sites played in the rise of dynasties like the Satavahanas and Vakatakas.

As scholars peel back the soil of this overlooked region, Vidarbha’s significance in the broader ancient Indian context becomes increasingly clear.

1. Pauni (Bhandara District)

Pauni stands as one of the most significant early urban centres in eastern Maharashtra. Archaeological excavations confirm that the site was active from the 3rd century BCE through the Satavahana period and into early medieval times. Located on the banks of the Wainganga River, it offers crucial insights into Vidarbha’s historical role as a cultural and trade crossroads. The most striking finds include the remains of a large Buddhist stupa, often compared in size and construction technique to the more famous stupa at Sanchi. Over 800 punch-marked coins and Satavahana currency have been found here, suggesting an active commercial economy.

A stone railing from the stupa bears Brahmi inscriptions mentioning donors and monks, dating back to the 2nd century BCE. Several residential structures, brick-lined roads, and fortified walls further suggest that Pauni functioned as a planned settlement. Pauni is frequently referred to as the “Kashi of Vidarbha” due to its continued religious importance into the present day. However, its ancient significance is now more firmly rooted in archaeological discovery.

2. Pravarapura (Modern Paunar–Mansar Region, Wardha)

The site of Mansar near Paunar has yielded archaeological evidence that directly supports its identification as Pravarapura, the capital city established by Vakataka ruler Pravarasena I. Flourishing in the 4th century CE, Pravarapura marks the period during which the Vakatakas consolidated power across Vidarbha and central India. Excavations carried out since the 1990s have uncovered palace foundations, water reservoirs, and temple platforms. One of the most noteworthy structures at Mansar is the extensive palace complex dubbed “Palace Site 1,” where charred grain, terracotta seals, and inscriptions were discovered. These findings have helped confirm the administrative and royal character of the site.

The Mansar complex also yielded a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, complete with lingas, inscriptions, and religious iconography typical of the Vakataka period. Inscriptions and artefacts unearthed at the site also help reconstruct the administrative structure of the Vakataka state, shedding light on taxation, land grants, and religious patronage. The city appears to have been planned with both political and ceremonial purposes in mind, underlining its dual role as a royal seat and spiritual centre.

3. Nandivardhana (Nagardhan, Nagpur District)

Nandivardhana, located near Ramtek in the Nagpur district, is identified with modern Nagardhan and is considered another major capital of the Vakataka dynasty. Prior to the establishment of Pravarapura, it served as a significant administrative and cultural centre. Archaeological evidence from Nagardhan includes fortification walls, early medieval bricks, and copper-plate inscriptions that mention land grants issued by Vakataka rulers. These copper plates, recovered from both Nagardhan and surrounding sites, form the most direct link to the site’s ancient administrative function. The Nagardhan fort, built much later during the Gond period, overlays much of the ancient settlement, but early material remains have been retrieved from excavated trenches beneath it. Inscriptions found here show that Nandivardhana was an important centre of royal authority and religious endowment.

The presence of both Shaivite and Vaishnavite elements in the iconography and structural remains reflects the pluralistic religious environment of Vidarbha during the Vakataka period. The site’s significance extends into the literary sphere as well, with ancient Sanskrit texts referencing Nandivardhana as a cultural node in central India.

4. Kundinapuri (Kaundinyapur, Amravati District)

Kundinapuri, identified with present-day Kaundinyapur in the Amravati district, is linked to the ancient Vidarbha kingdom mentioned in the Mahabharata and Puranic texts. It is most famously known as the legendary capital of King Bhishmaka, the father of Rukmini, who is associated with Lord Krishna. The site is situated on the banks of the Wardha River and has been subjected to limited but revealing excavations. Archaeologists have recovered Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW), red ware, and microliths, suggesting habitation from the early historic period. Brick structures and minor inscriptions found in Brahmi script further point to organised civic life. Though mythological associations are prominent in the local narrative, the archaeological record validates continuous habitation at the site since at least the 2nd century BCE. Regional lore, passed down for generations, aligns with the physical findings of ancient architecture and artefacts.

Kaundinyapur is among the few sites in Vidarbha where mythology and material culture converge. The persistent ceremonial importance of the town today, with its annual fairs and riverbank rituals, adds a continuous living dimension to its ancient roots.

5. Mandhal (Near Pauni, Central Vidarbha)

Mandhal is one of the lesser-known yet archaeologically important early historic sites in Vidarbha. Located near Pauni, this area has yielded cultural layers that stretch from the pre-Mauryan period into the early centuries CE. Surface surveys and limited excavations have recovered megalithic burials, microlith tools, terracotta figurines, and Satavahana-era ceramics. One of the most critical findings at Mandhal is the sequence of early Brahmi inscriptions that point to temple donations and local governance. The ceramics discovered here include black-and-red ware and slipped red ware, both typical of early historic settlements in central India. Although Mandhal never rose to the stature of a royal capital, its continuous occupation and integration into trade and religious networks make it a valuable site for understanding non-elite urbanism in Vidarbha.

Satellite imagery and surface analysis indicate a widespread habitation, extending beyond the core mound areas. Several ancient mounds in and around Mandhal are yet to be fully excavated, but initial results suggest a dynamic settlement with both residential and ritual functions.

Ancient cities often reveal themselves in fragments, broken bricks, worn inscriptions, and coin hoards. Yet from these fragments, historians have begun to stitch together the story of Vidarbha’s urban evolution. These five cities reflect not just the scale of development across different dynasties, but also the diversity of function, commercial, religious, and administrative roles they performed.

Unlike more widely recognised ancient capitals of India, these settlements are still being studied, mapped, and excavated, offering fresh material every decade. The depth of evidence across these sites challenges the notion that central India was peripheral in early historic times. As archaeologists continue to investigate these locations, each layer of soil adds a new dimension to Vidarbha’s complex past. And with each excavation trench, the region’s historical significance becomes harder to overlook.