Pune Visit Guide

 

Pune was established as a town in 937 AD and was known as Punawadi back in the history. It is the eighth largest metropolis and the second largest in Maharashtra after Mumbai. Pune grew under the rule and monopoly of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaja, the founder of the Maratha Empire. In the modern era, the city is known as the cultural head of Maharashtra. It is well known for its educational facilities, growing industries of glass, sugar etc, cultural activities like theatre, music, literature etc. Hinduism is the major religion seen in the city. Students and other needful people migrate towards this city in numbers uncountable because of the various opportunities that it provides in the various fields. Apart from these tourists in large numbers, throng the city every year because of its rich culture, monuments, heritage and warmth. The latest growth in IT sector in India is presenting the city of Pune as IT hub in western India. Among the many, few of the places to visit in Pune are listed below.

 

Osho Ashram

 

Bhagwan Rajneesh's famous ashram is located at 17 Koregoan Park, a green and elite suburb of Pune. This site attracts thousands of visitors. The Ashram offers a variety of expensive courses on meditation. All that is required is filling out of an application form (with 2 passport photographs)

and an on-the-spot HIV negative test and purchase of special tunics.Accommodation needs to be arranged outside the ashram. Casual visitors can view a 45 minute video presentation and take a tour (Rs. 60) at 10.00 am and 2.30 pm daily.Please book ahead. You can easily reach this place by auto-rickshaw. The nearby Nulla Park also called Osho Teerth, is a beautifully maintained garden, transformed from a swamp, open for public from 6 to 9 am and 7 to 10 pm.

 

 

Shaniwar Wada

 

 

Built in 1736, Shaniwar Wada was once the palace of the Peshwa rulers. This historic seven-storied palace was built by Bajirao Peshwa I. During his days, it became the seat of political power and achieved tremendous importance. To this date, Shaniwar Wada has been the city's main landmark. Within easy reach from all parts

of the city, Shaniwar Wada was mysteriously destroyed in a fire in 1827. Mysterious fires continued to raze down portions of Shaniwar Wada in the early 19th century, and the entire palace --barring its Mirror Hall was burnt in the fire that broke out for about a fortnight.What now remains of this once palatial Wada are only the plinths, the fortification walls with five gateways, and nine bastions that enclosed the whole complex, elaborate foundations of the original palace and the nagarkhana with its fine wooden pillars and lattice work. One enters the palace through sturdy doors designed to dissuade enemy attacks. This palace is located in the narrow winding old part of the city. The palace is open from 8 am to 6.30 pm. This site is covered in the Pune city tour.

Shinde Chhatri

 

Architecturally amongst the best, just about a couple of kms from the Pune racecourse is the memorial of the great Maratha nobleman Mahadji Shinde. You can see the warrior's painted silver likeness, swathed in a flame-colored turban and elaborate shawl. At his feet are the original prayer vessels, used to propitiate the family deity each morning.
A sign asks you not to open an umbrella within the Chhatri's precincts, as it would be an insult to the warrior's memory

 

 

Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum

 

A must see, this quaint building houses a fascinating collection of Indian artifacts collected by the late Shree Dinkar Kelkar. The 36 sections of the museum are used to display a wealth of antiques, carved palace doors, pottery, 17^th century miniatures, a priceless collection of nut crackers, lamps, musical items, hookah pipes, hair drying combs and other such items from the Mughal and Maratha period.This collection was donated to the government of Maharashtra by Shree Dinkar Kelkar and is only displayed by rotation -- giving you another excuse to return to Pune. The museum is open from 8.30 pm to 5.30 pm daily. The museum is covered in the Pune city tour.

 

 

Pataleshwer Cave Temples

 

Hidden in the heart of the city in the Shivajinagar area is this 8^th century rock-cut temple. Still in use, this temple, similar to the Caves at Ellora, has been painstakingly hewn from a single rock and includes massive pillars, a Shiva shrine and a Nandi bull.

 

 

Tribal Museum

 

The Tribal Museum documents the cultures of Maharashtrian communities, particularly those from the Sahyadri and Gondawana regions. It is open weekdays from 10 am to 5 pm. The city tours do not halt at this site.

 

 

Gandhi National Memorial / Aga Khan Palace

 

The gracious buildings with salons and suites that you see standing amidst well laid out gardens is more that just a palace. It is a historical landmark. It was donated to India by the Aga Khan IV in 1969. During the 1942 Quit India Movement, Mahatma Gandhi was imprisoned here. On the grounds are the remains (samadhi) of Kasturba Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi's wife, who died here while in internment. The memorial is open from 9 am to 5.45 pm. The city tour makes a stop here.

 

 

Vishrambaug Wada 

 

This is a three-storied mansion, known for its beautiful entrance and balcony with carved woodwork typical of the Peshwa period. The 260 ft long and 815 ft broad Teen-Chowki Wada was built by the last Peshwa, Bajirao II as his residence at a cost of Rs. 2 lakhs. The Wada's eye-catching wooden facade is memorizing in its beauty, and has beautiful columns carved in the Suru form. On October 31,1880 a surprise fire engulfed the Wada ravaging the entire structure. Vishranbaug Wada was restored to its somewhat original appearance by public subscriptions and municipal contributions. For many years till 1958 it was to serve as the offices of the Poona Corporation. Today it houses assorted offices: a strange fate for what was once a king's abode.

 

 

Bund Garden

 

Bund Garden is located on the right bank of the Mula Mutha river, only a couple of kms north-east of Pune railway station. A stroll in the breeze and a cool evening boat ride in the back waters created by the 'Bund' on the river attracts many fun lovers.

 

 

Saras Baug

Evenings are best for a stroll through this beautiful garden that houses the famous Ganesh Temple on the top of a small hillock in the center. The temple was formerly surrounded by a lake, which has been fully reclaimed in the form of an open park, now a popular public place in Pune.

 

 

Parvati Hill

This famous landmark is located on the southern end of the city. A climb of 108 wide stone steps rewards you with a beautiful round view of the city and an invigorating draught of cool, fresh air. It also takes you to the group of four temples of Shiva, Ganesh, Vishnu and Kartikeya. The Parvati Temple used to be the private shrine of the Peshwa rulers. Also take a look at the Parvati Museum, which houses replicas of ancient paintings, old manuscripts,

 

 

Peshwe Udyan

A zoo maintained by the Pune Municipal Corporation. It houses a variety of species of wild animals. The zoo offers a toy-train ride -- a very special attraction for children, and boating facilities for the family.

 

 

Katraj Snake Park

 

Started in 1986 with the help of the Pune Municipal Corporation, the Katraj Snake Park is situated on the Pune-Satara Highway near Bharati Vidyapeeth Campus. The straight road emanating from Swargate takes you to the desired destination. The park today has a collection of wonderful reptiles, birds, a baby leopard, crocodiles and others. The prize collection is of course the six-year-old, nine feet long King Cobra.

 

 

Pune University

 

Pune' s oldest education institute is the Pune University formed in 1948. The university has many affiliated education institutes and colleges from all parts of Maharashtra -- research institutes such as the National Chemical Laboratories, Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC), Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, National Institute of Virology (NIV) are just to name few. The IUCAA, one of the pioneering institutes for research in astronomy, is located in the lush green environment of Pune University, and is headed by a world renown mathematician, Dr Jayant Naralikar.

Pune University is located on 400 acres of sprawling grounds with quiet roads and small open canteens towards the city limits. It was once the official residence of the Governor of Mumbai during the monsoons, the Pune University is now a stately mansion at Ganeshkhind. A large building in the Italian Gothic style, built with local grey tap rock, it has a square tower 40 m high and well-maintained lawns. One can spend a pleasent evening here.

Lal Mahal (Red Palace) 

 

Dating back to the year 1634, was constructed by Sahaji Bhonsale, Shivaji’s father. When Sahaji received territories in Pune from Bijapur Sultanat, he sent his wife, Jijabai, and his son to the city and got the palace built as their residence. In 1998, Lal Mahal came under the management of Pune Municipal Corporation. Lal Mahal has an impressive collection of Shivaji and Jijabai’s pictorial representations, of which one shows young Shivaji plowing land with a golden plough and Jijabai and Guru Dadoji Konddev looking at him. The other major attractions of the Lal Mahal of Pune include four Umbrellas on its terrace and a statue of Jijabai. There is also a beautiful garden inside the palace complex, known as Jijamata Garden. Now the garden has been converted into a children’s garden and is very popular amongst kids as well as senior citizens

 

 

Appu Ghar 

 

Appu Ghar is a nice environment for fun and enjoyments in Pune. Appu Ghar invites you whole-heartedly. It is a theme park, with many facilities of merry making and offer many fun related activities. Appu Ghar is located at Indira Gandhi Udyan in Pune, earlier known as Bund Garden. It has grown to a major picnic spot with beautifully illuminated pathways and picturesque lawns. Prime attractions in the Garden are the attractive still lake and vast expanse of unexplored hilly terrains. If you visit Pune, do not miss the visit to Appu Ghar, especially kids like this great place.

 

 

Pune City Map 

 

https://maps.google.co.in/‎

 

How to Get to Pune

Indian Airlines and Jet Airways provide regular flights to Pune from Delhi, four flights a week to Chennai and Bangalore and two to three flights daily from Mumbai. Pune city is 12 kms from the Pune Airport.

The easiest way to travel from Mumbai to Pune is by train. Regular trains - Deccan Queen, Deccan Express, Indrayani, Pragati and Shatabdi all ply to Pune from Mumbai everyday. Bookings are possible two weeks in advance. Train travel is around 4-5 hours. On the way, the trains climb the Western Ghats and afford a splendid view of this green mountainous region. During the monsoon, one can enjoy the sight of huge waterfalls. Most of the trains have a small halt at monkey hill - where both children and adults can feed friendly monkeys. The trains also halt at Lonavala, Khandala and Karjat (known for its delicious fried potato wadas).

Pune is easily accessible by bus from any of the major cities of Maharashtra. From Mumbai, regular MSRTC buses and private buses ply to Pune. The bus route also flows through the Western Ghats. Long distance share taxis ply from Mumbai (Dadar) regularly. There is a fixed rate of charge. Shopping Places in Pune Tulsi Baug This is the noisiest market area of Pune. Filled with temporary stalls and lined shops, you can find household items as well as cosmetic jewellery here. If you are interested in the traditional wares of the Maharashtrians -- the pearl nose ring and necklace and the nine yard saree -- you will easily get it here.     Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (Deccan Gymkhana) As you leave behind the hustle and bustle of the main city of Pune and cross the river Mutha by using Lakdi Bridge, you enter the triangular area of the Deccan Gymkhana. From the point of view of shopping, the area is so small that you could easily cover it with a 15 minute walk. This compact, triangular area is full of shops with just about everything -- fruit, leather items, gifts, food, shoes, and furniture. There is also a 'Hong- Kong' lane here -- selling trinkets, cosmetic jewellery, cassettes and flowers. One can find many typical sweet shops including Chitale Bandhu known for its sweet pedas, barfis and amrakhanda as welll as spicy bhakar wadis and saurali wadis.   Juna Bazaar Find a treasure trove in the aptly-named Juna Bazaar or Old Market. Antique coins are casually sold along with mundane accessories like necklaces, screw drivers and door hinges. Many Puneites are unaware that antiques are sold here for a pittance, but umpteen foreigners and amateur coin collectors are familiar with this street. You can find anything here -- worn out trousers, old silk saris and even second hand floppies. Juna Bazaar operates every Wednesday and Sunday on a part of the Vir Santaji Ghorpade Path, near Maldhaka Chowk.   Laxmi Road A visit to Pune is incomplete if you have not visited Laxmi Road at least once. Laxmi Road is the real heart of Pune -- a fact attested by the crowds and the hustle and bustle on this road as well as on any of the countless narrow side streets that crisscross it. This road is named after the goddess of wealth. Starting at the Alka Talkies Square and running right through the old city, it terminates in the Cantonment area - an overall length of 4 kms. Over 90 percent of its length is literally lined with shops on both sides. It is mainly famous for its garment shops, suitable for all climates and purses. Jewellery shops take a distant second. Laxmi Road is closed on Mondays and in the afternoons.   Mahatma Gandhi Road Mahatma Gandhi Road (M G Road) starts where the Moledina Road ends, in the Ambedkar Square. It leads onto East Street at Shankarshet Road, which later becomes the Pune-Sholapur-Hyderabad highway. Mahatma Gandhi Road, like Laxmi Road is also one way. You can only come from the direction of Shankershet Road towards Ambedkar Square. Big stores stand alongside temporary road stalls mostly selling garments. There are plenty of food stalls and ice cream parlours on this road as well as in nearby areas, to satisfy the shopper's hunger and thirst pangs. An evening is well spent here. M G Road is closed on Sundays and in the afternoons.   Visiting Places around Pune   Panshet Dam For water sports, you can visit Panset Dam and try your hand at kayaking or wind surfing at the recently developed water sports complex. There are special facilities for speed boats and water scooters. Limited accommodation is available. It is easily accessible from Pune.   Bhatgar Dam One of the highest river dam walls in India, built on river Velvandi, Bhatgar Dam is 40 kms from Pune. Fun lovers often frequent the entire area around the dam. ST buses play between Pune and Bhatgar Dam   Sinhagad Sinhagad -- where valour is etched on every stone and the soil has turned red seeped by the blood of martyrs! From the time when a Koli chieftain, Nag Naik stoutly defended this fort (AD 1328) against the might of Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq for nine months to Jaswant Singh, Aurangzeb's commander, who dragged his guns up the fort's steep shoulders to avenge the insult to Shaista Khan, who was rebuffed by Shivaji, this fort has been infused by tales of bravery.   Raigad This is the very heart of Maratha country -- Raigad, the capital of Shivaji's kingdom. Strategically perched atop a wedge-shaped block of hill, split off from the Western Ghats and inaccessible from three sides. Stories of incredible valour and heroic deeds are etched on every pebble at Raigad.   Shivneri Fort About 90km away from Pune is this fort built by Sahaji. The fort is arduous to climb as it was a deliberate effort to ensure security from enimies. Jijabai spent her period of pregnancy in this fort and gave birth to great Shivaji Maharaj in 1627. Shivaji was named after the goddess “Shivani” whose temple is also very close by. Shivaji spent his childhood learning his basic knowlede and skills in this fort only. It was through Shivaji’s early lessons and training in this fort that he realised the concept of Swaraj(self-rule). So one can attribute all the contributions of Shivaji Mahraj to his training in this fort.   Food   Traditional Food In food, as in all else, Pune believes in tradition. All-time Maharashtrian favourites include Puran Poli (a paratha stuffed with jaggery and dal), Aamti (masala dal), and Alu chi Vadi (steamed arbi leaves, fried in an unusual sweet and spicy masala). Also popular are the wholesome Pithla Bhakri, Varan Bhat, Matki Ki Usal and Thali Pith.   Summer Special Mangoes, in all their range of colour, flavour and recipe!! From tangy green through flamboyant orange to delicate pink, the summer in Pune flaunts the fruit in a glorious splash of vibrant colour. May is the best time of year for the famed Alphonso, but other succulent varieties are available through most of the summer and early monsoon. And although the ultimate Maharashtrian dessert amras is best made from the pulp of fresh mangoes, there are others that are available throughout the year - mango barfi, amrakhand (mango yogurt), mango poli, aam papad. the list goes on. The Kayani Bakery  Probably one of the best-known bakeries in the country. Their range of biscuits includes Brazil Nut and Ginger, but what they are really famous for is the Shrewsberry variety. They bake two lots of Shrewsberry biscuits in a day, once in the late afternoon and once at around dawn. Both lots are sold out within a few minutes. If you're looking for further testimony to the quality of these biscuits, the queue outside the bakery in the small hours of the morning says it all. Chitale Bandhu Mithaiwale Few tourists leave Pune without a sizable parcel of bhakarwadis from Chitale Bandhu. This shop is also popular for its fresh shrikhand, pedhas and modaks. Laxmi Narayan Chiwda While the Chitales also make a great chiwda, the real specialists are the Laxmi Narayan Chiwda people. Laxmi Narayan Chiwda is now available across the globe, but Pune is where it comes from. Thank you!!