Pune Tourism & Travel - Know Before you Go!

Pune Tour & Travel Guide at WeAreHolidays

Pune, as the eight largest metropolis in India, is a quick drive from Mumbai. Situated on the Deccan Plateau, 560 metres above sea level, at the confluence of the Mula and Mutha rivers, this city was where Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of the Maratha Empire, spent his childhood. It is known as the student city as it houses a large number of educational institutes, covering a variety of subjects.

While Pune is usually a work stop, industrial or a student centre, there are a few places that must be visited when there. Some of these are:

Shaniwarwada

This is a palace-fort within Pune, and was built in 1736, serving as the Peshwa seat of the Maratha empire. After an inexplicable fire, the Shaniwarwada wasn' reconstructed or restored, resulting in what remains today being but a tourist attraction. Despite this, the massive, sturdy fort leaves one in awe of the strength of the Empire that sought protection behind these walls.

Aga Khan Palace

Also known as the Gandhi National Memorial, the Palace was built in 1892 by Aga Khan III, in order to give employment to the famine struck villagers. It was here that Mahatma Gandhi and his wife Kasturba were held under house arrest in the 1940s. This is also where Kasturba bai passed away. The Palace has, since Independence, been treated as a museum and memorial of Mahatma Gandhi.

Forts

Pune is also an excellent pit stop for some lovely historical treks to forts such as the Sinhagad, Parvati Hill and Temples, Lohagad and Rajgad.

Osho International Meditation Centre

For many years now, Pune has placed itself on the international map thanks to the Osho Centre. Thousands of visitors come by here to reflect on Osho's teachings and experience the calm and quiet brought on by the beautifully designed gardens and Meditation Centre.

Lal Mahal

Located in the centre of the city, Lal Mahal was built by Shivaji's father for his mother and himself, and is where the young to-be-emperor lived till he captured his first fort. While the original fell to ruins, this is a reconstruction. The Mahal has many historical stories associated with it, and is today a museum of sorts detailing the life of Shivaji, complete with paintings and other memorabilia.

Pataleshwar Temple

The Pataleshwar temple is an 8th century rock-cut cave temple located within the parameters of the city. Dedicated to the god Shiva, this incomplete temple is still used as a site of worship and is interesting to look at for its architectural disparity with respect to other Shiva temples.

Being a student’s city, Pune has no dearth of bars and clubs, (though most shut by 11.30pm) or places to eat at. Amongst clubs some of the popular ones are Area 51, Attica and Mi a Mi at the J. W. Marriott. Bars are many and strewn across the city with Curve and Apache being popular student hang-outs and Thousand Oaks cooking up some excellent barman special cocktails. Restaurants will find the usual suspects like McDonald’s, Domino’s, Pizza Hut and regular coffee shops all around the city. Most offer regular fare ranging from Indian to Continental to multi-cuisine and the next-door udipi. Some like Sweet Chariot, which specializes in Continental food. and also he delectable Malaka Spice that spins some authentic pan-Asian fare in a relaxed space need to be recommended by a local!

Pune's geography allows it a comfortable climate with better defined seasons and relatively cold winters when compared to Mumbai. On average, summer temperatures range between 30 and 38, while winter temperatures range between 10 to 28. Nights are often significantly colder than the day in this city. The monsoon showers down between June and October, though, being on the leeward side of the Ghats, the rainfall is considerably lesser than that in Mumbai.

When To visit

The best time to visit Pune is in the month of November, when it is not too cold, and the weather is refreshingly pleasant.

Rail

As compared to many parts of the country, Pune's railway station is quite clean, organized, and is equipped with all facilities. it is well connected to all parts of the country.

Air

Pune does not have a civil airport yet, but has a military airport at Lohegaon through which all commercial flights are routed. Currently, all domestic carriers service Pune, although it still is not connected to all sectors of the country. A convenient alternative is to drive down to Mumbai and then take a flight from there to the destination. On an international level, there are flights from Pune to Dubai and Frankfurt.

Road

Pune is a 3-4 hour drive from Mumbai, when on the Expressway. The drive during the monsoons is spectacular, with waterfalls spilling from the Ghats that have a scrubbed, green look. The drive is an extremely enjoyable one, on excellent roads, though precaution is always advised. There are daily buses from Mumbai to Pune that depart every half hour as well.

Pune has a good mix of both excellent malls as well as street-side shopping. It also is a book lover's paradise as there are some really nice book shops strewn all across the city.

Koregaon Park

It has a number of small exclusive boutiques that have a good collection of clothes.

M.G. Road

You can find almost anything on sale at Mahatma Gandhi Road, ranging from shoes and clothes to even furniture, stationary and kitchen sinks!

Laxmi Road

A very huge market selling gold jewelry and clothes.

Fashion Street

Located in the Pune Camp Area near M.G. Road, this is another inexpensive market selling all items. Like MG Road, here too your skill in bargaining is tested to the very core!

Juna Bazar

Located near the Pune Railway Station, this flea market is held every Wednesday and Sunday .There are a number of interesting things that you can get for dirt-cheap prices such as rare coins, gramophone records and other similar unique paraphernalia.

Lonavala

Lonavala is one of the most popular weekend getaways from Mumbai and Pune. While here, do check out some of the numerous caves strewn across the valley, and also the waterfall near Bhushi dam, and Tiger's Leap - offering great panoramic views from the cliff from where there is a sheer drop of over 650 metres.

Matheran

In the 21st century, Matheran is probably one of the only places in the world which has banned all motor transport! It is probably due to this very fact that the hill station has been rated by many as the 'most beautiful in Maharashtra'. The best time to go to Matheran is just after the monsoons, when the hills have that great wet-green look to them, the waterfalls are bursting out of their seams, and the lakes are full and splendid!

Khandala

Blessed with lush valleys, hills, milky waterfalls and pleasant weather almost all through the year, Khandala is a perfect breaks for families, groups of friends as well as young couples looking to spend some romantic time alone.

Malshej Ghat

This is one of the most popular weekend getaways for people from Pune. Lush green, and full of waterfalls, Malshej Ghat is a nature lover's paradise.