The city of Pune (India) is located in the western part of the Deccan Plateau, at a distance of 150 km from Mumbai (south-east direction). The territory of the settlement is quite hilly, and in the center two rivers merge-Mutha and Mula. In the suburb (in the north-west), the Indrayani and Pavana rivers flow. Since cities are located in a seismically active zone, earthquakes occur here. Despite possible force majeure circumstances prepared by nature, every year tourists from all over the world come to Pune. What attracts travelers and about the features of holidays in India, read our review.
General information
Pune is a city in India, located at an altitude of 560 meters above sea level. The locality is part of the state of Maharashtra. The first mention of settlements in Pune appeared two thousand years ago. By the 16th century, the city was considered an important trade and economic point, as it had a favorable geographical position – at the crossroads of important trade routes. The situation did not change with the arrival of the British — the city flourished and soon became a major industrial center, and in the near future — an educational center.
The city of Pune is famous not only for its historical and architectural attractions. The Osho International Commune operates here, the Marathi University has been hosting students since 1949, and the Virology Research Center has been recognized not only in India, but also in many countries.
The old part of Pune City is located between the Shanvarwada Palace and the Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum.
Interesting fact! Musicians play on the palace balconies during the holidays. This is an old tradition that was lost, but the modern authorities revived it.
In the new part of Pune, the industry and automotive sector are developed, motorcycles and Mercedes-Bens brand products are produced. Information technologies are actively developing.
An international airport has been built near the city, and all major cities in India can be reached by rail from Pune. In addition, multi-lane, modern highways have been built between localities, and moving along them reduces the road by several hours.
Useful to know! The official language is Marathi, but the population also speaks English and Hindi.
Attractions
Of course, modern Pune is, first of all, the resort city of Osho-a center where people come for meditation, relaxation and relaxation. The Koregaon Park complex occupies more than 20 hectares of land, the territory is overgrown with dense vegetation — forests, shrubs. Initially, this place was intended for recreation of aristocrats and representatives of the nobility, but today the doors of the Center are open to all comers.
Important! If you plan to stay in the commune longer than the usual excursion, you will need two passport photos, a medical certificate with the results of an HIV test.
Sinhagad Fort
The attraction is located 26 km from the city of Pune, at the top of an almost sheer cliff. The easiest way to visit the fort is to purchase a day tour from the city. Of course, you can come here on your own, by bus number 49, departing daily from 6-30 to 21-30 with an interval of 1 hour. Your destination is the Svargate bus stop.
From the foot to the top of the hill is a difficult two-hour climb, but you can get there by transport. It is noteworthy that the walls of the fort, which are 12 m high, are still inhabited by several families, they offer tourists yogurt, tea and traditional Indian sweets. During the ascent to the top, the tourist passes a distance of 2.7 km and rises to an altitude of 600 m.
Important! From the outside, the fort looks much more impressive than inside, so if you don’t have much time for sightseeing, limit yourself to just walking around the fort.
What to see:
- monument to Maharati warlord Tanaji;
- burial place of Rajaram chhatrapati;
- military stables;
- temple of the goddess kali;
- brewery;
- ancient gate.
Interesting fact! The fort was discovered by restorers under an impressive layer of concrete, paint, and cement.
The landmark in India is known as the place of the struggle for independence of the country, here was located the leader of the rebel army Tilak, with whom Mahatma Gandhi met.
Cadets of the National Defense Academy regularly take part in exercises in Sinhagad, and they run from the school to the fort in full uniforms and equipment.
Important! Meat dishes, alcoholic beverages, noisy parties and smoking are prohibited in the fort.
The time of visiting the fort is every day from 5-00 to 18-00.
Sri Balaji Mandir Temple
Balaji or Lord Venkateswara is the god of wealth, prosperity, and success. For visiting, it is best to choose a weekday when there are no queues and you can enjoy peace and quiet. The temple covers an area of 4 hectares and is surrounded by picturesque hills. The entrance to the territory is decorated with beautiful carvings.
Interesting fact! A tourist attraction in Pune, India — is an exact replica of the Tirupati temple.
According to legend, Lord Venkateshwara is one of the forms of the god Vishnu, whose name in translation means-destroying sins. The deity is able to fulfill any desire, you can visit the temple and turn to Venkateswara every day from 5-00 to 20-00.
Locals note that the temple is very clean, well-groomed, located an hour’s drive from Pune in the direction of Mumbai (on the Bangalore highway). And everyone here is offered a free lunch. By the way, there are two other temples nearby, so you can plan a visit to all three temples on the same day.
For the comfort of visitors, a parking lot is equipped, there are shoe racks, storage rooms for personal belongings and valuables.
FISKCON NVCC Temple
The attraction is located right in the center of Pune in India, but it is incredibly quiet, peaceful, clean and tidy. The Vedic Culture Center is open to all comers, it is the largest temple in Pune, which covers an area of 2.5 hectares.
What to see:
- Radha Krishna Mandir;
- multifunctional hall;
- hall where free food is distributed;
- balaji temple;
- gardens and recreation areas;
- conference rooms.
The project is aimed at the audience of different ages and social status. Educational, social and educational programs are developed for visitors that promote the comprehensive development of people. There are statues of Krishna in the large prayer hall.
National Defense Academy
The school is located in a picturesque location, and the entrance is restricted because the building is a department of the Ministry of Defense. If you want to go inside, you need to order a permit in advance on the academy’s website. It is also possible to visit the attraction on Sundays or public holidays.
The academy trains the best representatives of the Indian armed forces. The surrounding area is well maintained, clean and beautiful. By the way, local residents are very proud of the educational institution. It is believed that this is where boys become men. Not far from the academy there are beautiful lakes, Peacock Bay, where cadets are trained. The educational institution has museums, memorials, and a library with more than 100 thousand printed publications.
Aga Khan’s Palace
If you want to see one of the most luxurious architectural monuments in India, be sure to visit the Aga Khan Palace. It was thanks to the Sultan that people in the city of Pune were provided with jobs and money by the population, which at the time of the reign of Muhammad Shah Aga Khan III was on the verge of poverty. The palace is surrounded by a beautiful garden.
The attraction is located on Pune Nagar Road, next to the Fitzgerald Bridge. In the second half of the 20th century, it was the headquarters of the national movement for independence. Today, the palace has a museum dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi, his wife and personal assistant. In addition, the museum houses the ashes of Gandhi.
Practical ifnormation:
- admission is 100 rupees or $1.40;
- work schedule-every day from 9-00 to 18-00, lunch break from 12-00 to 13-00.
Shaniwar Wada Fort
Landmark in India admires the architecture. It is one of the iconic structures in Pune, built in the early 18th century to house the Peshwa (Prime Minister) Baji Rao I. Unfortunately, in 1828, the building was severely damaged in a fire, so its former greatness can only be guessed. Only the walls and gates of the fort were saved from the fire. Today, light and music shows are held on the territory of the attraction. Tourists can only admire the ruins and visit bright shows.
Practical information:
- the attraction is located within the city limits, the nearest public transport stops are Shaniwar Wada Kasba Peth Police Chowki and Shanivarwada;
- the cost of visiting is Rs 125;
- work schedule-every day from 9-30 to 17-30, from 19-30 to 20-10 and then from 20-30 to 21-10.
Malshey Mountain Pass
A great place to organize a picnic during the rainy season. Of course, there are no outstanding attractions here, but their absence is more than compensated by the picturesque nature and beautiful landscapes. Only during the rainy season, you can see hundreds of waterfalls here.
If you evaluate the pass from the point of view of tourist recreation, this is a wonderful place for travelers who are low on funds. There is a small hotel and campsite in the immediate vicinity of the pass. If you are traveling on your own, you can’t get lost, as there is only one road leading to the pass. You don’t have to take food with you, as you’ll see a lot of small eateries along the way. The security of tourists is provided by the police.
Japanese Garden
The attraction is called Pune Okayama or Friendship Garden. The entire park is provided with water by a single canal. The park area is small, it is forbidden to enter the lawns here. In the garden you can see different landscapes, and if you climb the bridge, located in the very center of the park, you can easily see colorful fish swimming in the pond.
Interesting fact! The garden is named after Pu La Deshpande, a writer from Maharashtra.
Practical information:
- Entrance fee-Rs 5;
- you can’t bring your own food to the garden;
- paid parking is available near the entrance;
- there is a free children’s playground;
- photos and videos are not allowed.
Lakshmi Shopping Street
The most famous shopping street in the city of Pune in India. It is better to come here on foot, because it is simply impossible to find an empty space for parking a car. The street is lively at any time of the year and day, here you can buy almost everything-clothes and shoes, jewelry and accessories, food, drinks, souvenirs, cosmetics, household items.
Useful to know! Traditionally, prices for goods are called inflated, so buyers safely bargain and often they manage to buy what they want at a lower cost.
People come here to enjoy the special charm of Indian culture and traditions, but be careful — often scammers take advantage of the fact that tourists are passionate about goods and steal wallets, and the goods are not always of high quality.
Lakshi Road is particularly busy on weekends and evenings. Locals call Lakshmi Survival Street, which starts at Alka Talkis Square and runs along residential areas. The length of the shopping districts is almost 4 km. There are wholesale and retail shops, the range changes every season.
Of course, sightseeing is not the only purpose of a trip to the city of Pune in India. People come here to enjoy nature, take a walk in the surrounding area, visit the Bhuleswar mountains, visit the Mahabaleswar station. The city has a fairly rich nightlife, with discos, restaurants and bars open until the morning.
Accommodation in Pune
The city is divided into districts:
- Baner is a fast-growing suburb, with a park and sports complex nearby, and a convenient train station location for those planning a trip to Mumbai;
- Deccan is a cultural area with many theaters, galleries, and movie theaters;
- Shivaji Nagar — There are train and bus stations in the area;
- Camp is one of the greenest areas in the city. Elite offices and shopping centers are located here;
- Koregaon Park-the best suburb with lots of restaurants;
- The Peths-an old neighborhood with narrow streets;
- Kothrud-the area is located around the Karve highway, where there are many restaurants, educational institutions and shopping complexes;
- Pashan is a beautiful, picturesque area with modern residential complexes built among picturesque hills;
- The districts of Aundh, Kalyani Nagar, Kharadi, Viman Nagar, Hadapsar, Mundhwa and Pimpri Chinchwad are being actively expanded and built up, with IT firms and other large companies moving here.
Price of accommodation in Pune:
- double room in a 3-star hotel-from$ 10 per night;
- for a similar price, you can rent apartments from local residents;
- accommodation in the hostel will cost from$ 5 per day;
- rent one-room apartment for a month in the central areas of the city — $ 200, in the suburbs – $ 130.
Weather and climate, when it’s best to arrive
In the Indian city, the climate is quite pleasant for European tourists. There are three seasons-summer, winter and monsoon. In the summer months, the air warms up to +42 degrees, the hottest in April, but the heat is easily transferred due to the wind and shade from trees.
The peak of the rainy season is in May, when the weather is overcast. In winter, the daytime temperature is 25-28 degrees, and the night temperature is 5-8 degrees.
Important! Since Pune is located on a hill, it is cooler at night than in other cities of India, which are lower.
Interesting facts and useful recommendations
Did you know that:
- Pune police is recognized as the most reliable in India;
- 40% of the city’s territory is covered with forests;
- The second name of Pune is Oxford of the East, because there are many educational institutions here, and the city is also called the fashionable capital of Asia.
What a tourist needs to know:
- don’t buy iced drinks and only drink bottled water;
- there are no taxis in the city, they are replaced by rickshaws, and the cost of the trip must be discussed in advance;
- in India in general and in Pune in particular, they do not like dollars, it is better to pay in local currency;
- shops and large shopping centers start working only after 10: 00;
- fresh vegetables and fruits must be cleaned before eating.
What to bring as souvenirs:
- spices;
- fabric products;
- essential oils;
- tea.
The city of Pune (India) is mostly youth-oriented, but it is also perfect for active and spiritual recreation. The multinational city welcomes tourists from all over the world.
