Error invoke virtual method 'double android.location.Location.getLatitude()' on a null object reference

As Jon Skeet mentioned in the comments, the getLastKnownLocation() method can and will return null. The main problem is that it doesn't prompt a request to the OS for a new location lock, instead it just checks if there was a last known location from some other app's location request. If no other app had recently made a location request, then you get a null location returned to you.

The only way to guarantee that you actually get a location is to request one, and this is done with a call to requestLocationUpdates().

The location passed into the onLocationChanged() callback method will not be null, since the callback only occurs on a successful location lock.

Just to note, the entire time your app is registered for location updates, it will be causing extra battery drain, so be sure to un-register for location updates as soon as possible. Here it looks like you can un-register as soon as the first location comes in.

Also, you might want to consider showing a progress dialog in this Activity while it waits for a location lock in order to give the user some feedback that the app is waiting on something.

Here is the general structure of what your code should look like:

public class MainActivity extends Activity
        implements LocationListener {

    Intent intentThatCalled;
    public double latitude;
    public double longitude;
    public LocationManager locationManager;
    public Criteria criteria;
    public String bestProvider;

    String voice2text; //added

    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);

        intentThatCalled = getIntent();
        voice2text = intentThatCalled.getStringExtra("v2txt");
        getLocation();
    }

    public static boolean isLocationEnabled(Context context)
    {
       //...............
        return true;
    }

    protected void getLocation() {
        if (isLocationEnabled(MainActivity.this)) {
            locationManager = (LocationManager)  this.getSystemService(Context.LOCATION_SERVICE);
            criteria = new Criteria();
            bestProvider = String.valueOf(locationManager.getBestProvider(criteria, true)).toString();

            //You can still do this if you like, you might get lucky:
            Location location = locationManager.getLastKnownLocation(bestProvider);
            if (location != null) {
                Log.e("TAG", "GPS is on");
                latitude = location.getLatitude();
                longitude = location.getLongitude();
                Toast.makeText(MainActivity.this, "latitude:" + latitude + " longitude:" + longitude, Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
                searchNearestPlace(voice2text);
            }
            else{
                //This is what you need:
                locationManager.requestLocationUpdates(bestProvider, 1000, 0, this);
            }
        }
        else
        {
            //prompt user to enable location....
            //.................
        }
    }

    @Override
    protected void onPause() {
        super.onPause();
        locationManager.removeUpdates(this);

    }

    @Override
    public void onLocationChanged(Location location) {
        //Hey, a non null location! Sweet!

        //remove location callback:
        locationManager.removeUpdates(this);

        //open the map:
        latitude = location.getLatitude();
        longitude = location.getLongitude();
        Toast.makeText(MainActivity.this, "latitude:" + latitude + " longitude:" + longitude, Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
        searchNearestPlace(voice2text);
    }

    @Override
    public void onStatusChanged(String provider, int status, Bundle extras) {

    }

    @Override
    public void onProviderEnabled(String provider) {

    }

    @Override
    public void onProviderDisabled(String provider) {

    }

    public void searchNearestPlace(String v2txt) {
        //.....
    }
}