Location :
Maharashtra
Tourist Attractions : Shaniwar Wada, Raja Dinkar Kelkar
Museum, St. Mary's Church
Languages : Marathi, Hindi & English
STD Code : (91) - 20
Best time to Visit : October to March
About Pune
The west Indian city of Pune, also known as Punyanagri is one of the most
modernised cities of India. The city has a chequered history with a glorious
past dating back to almost 600 years. Established as a tiny village during
the 7th century, the city emerged with time as a major site and was bestowed
upon the title of the Deccan capital that rivaled the glory and splendor of
Delhi. The city was taken over and ruled by a number of dynasties during
subsequent years including the mighty Peshwa kings who ruled for years from
the famous Shaniwar Wada. The city also took a great part in India's freedom
struggle giving birth to leaders such as Lokmanya Tilak.
Climate and Best time to Visit
The temperature in Pune remains moderate throughout the year with not much
difference between the summer and winter months. The summer season (mid Mach
to July) witnesses temperature ranging between 20 and 38 degrees Celsius
while in winters it can get a bit chilly with temperatures dropping to a low
of 8 degrees. The best time to visit Pune are the months from October to
March though warm clothes must be carried along if visiting the place during
peak winters.
Tourist
Attractions in Pune
Shaniwar Wada
The huge seven storied palace was constructed by Bajirao Peshwa I and
served a number of Peshwa rulers over the years. The palace became a major
landmark of the city until the 18th century when a major fire devastated the
complex and what remains today are the corpses of the mirror hall,
beautifully adorned walls and pleasant memories of the glorious past.
Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum
The museum houses the personal collection of objects and artifacts
belonging to Raja Dinkar Kelkar. The entire complex is divided into 36
sections housing objects such as antiques, miniature paintings, traditional
hookah pipes and musical instruments belonging to the Mughal period.
Pataleshwar Cave Temples
The ancient rock cut temples are situated in the Shivaji Nagar area in the
heart of Pune city. The temples resemble the caves of Ajanta and Ellora in
their construction style. Created of a single rock, the temple houses a
number of huge pillars and statues of Lord Shiva and Nandi the bull.
St. Mary's Church
Pune is known for its number of beautiful colonial architectural marvels.
The St. Mary's Church, situated in the heart of the city is a huge structure
built during the British rule. The ancient church resembles the church of
Martin in the field situated at Trafalgar Square in London.
Get
Aways
Mumbai
Mumbai is the capital of Maharashtra and one of the most lively cities in
the country. While you will need at least a few days to cover the length and
breadth of this huge city, the travellers having less time on their hands
can check out the major attractions of the city which include the Gateway of
India, Victoria Terminus, Chowpatty Beach, Marine Drive and Elephanta Caves.
Nashik
A major Hindu pilgrimage destination, Nashik is also known for its number
of tourist destinations and a favourable climate. The prominent tourist hot
spots of the place include the Sita Gufaa, Kalaram Temple, Jain Mandir and
Phalke Smarak.
Lonavla
The famous hill station is located just a short distance from Pune. Lonavla
is a favored weekend getaway for the tourists especially during the summer
season because of its cool climate.
Things to Do
Shopping
The major shopping promenade in Pune is the area around Tulsi Bari. The
market is the busiest in the city with its streets lined with small and big
shops selling everything from traditional Maharashtrian jewellery to clothes
and hand crafted material. Another major shopping-hive is the Deccan
Gymkhana area which is known for its stalls that sell items of everyday use
as fruit, stationery, leather goods, furniture etc. Visit the Hong-Kong lane
for trinkets, flowers and cosmetic jewellery.
Stay At
Prominent hotels in Pune offering the best in luxury and comfort to the
visitors include Hotel Le Meridien and Hotel Taj Blue Diamond (both 5 star),
Hotel Regency and Holiday Inn (both 4 star). All these hotels are located at
easily approachable distances from the city centre, railway station, airport
and other major attractions of the city. Other hotels in Pune include The
Samrat Hotel, Sagar Plaza, Hotel Dwarka, Hotel Pride Executive, Hotel
Sunderban, Hotel Aurora Towers and Hotel Ashiyana.
Getting
There
By Air : The airport at Pune is located just 12 km from
the city centre in the Lohagaon area. Indian Airlines and Jet Airways
operates regular flights to Pune from Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai,
Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Goa. A daily flight from Goa departs Delhi at 16:00
and arrives Pune at 18:00.
By Rail : Pune is conveniently connected to other major
Indian cities through regular trains. Daily trains to Pune from Delhi
include the Jhelum Exp. and Goa Exp. while the trains from Mumbai are the
Mahalaxmi Exp., Coimbatore Exp., Konark Exp., Sahyadri Exp., Kanyakumari
Exp. and Chennai Exp.
By Road : Pune is connected to other cities in
Maharashtra through well built state and national highways. Maharashtra
State Road Transport Corporation buses provide regular services between
Mumbai and Pune, a journey which can be conveniently covered in 4 hours.
Local Transport : Pune city has an excellent internal
transportation system with the major options of moving around inside the
city being cycle rickshaws, auto rickshaws, local buses and private taxis.
Distance from Major Cities
- Aurangabad : 214 Km
- Nashik : 202 Km
- Mumbai : 163 Km
- Hyderabad : 548 Km
- Delhi : 1417 Km
- Panaji : 495 Km
- Surat : 362 Km
- Thane : 142 Km
