Pune is the cultural capital of Maharashtra. It is also called Punyanagari. The central administration of the city is located in the Pune division. Fabulous restaurants, museums and hill forts are the places of tourists' attraction. The population of students in the city is high. The city has a lively and vibrant atmosphere. Pune being the cosmopolitan city, extends varieties of entertainment to the city people and the tourists. Pune also has a sizeable population of musicians and artists , which has paved the way for development of a rich cultural fabric of the city.
Air : 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 Airport is just 12 kms from the city centre.
Rail : The easiest way to travel Pune from Mumbai is by train. Regular trains viz. Deccan Queen, Deccan Express, Indrayani, Pragati and Shatabdi all ply to Pune from Mumbai everyday. One can also reach the city from important destinations of the country.
Bus : Pune can be easily approached 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 passes throughthe Western Ghats. You can also reach the city by private taxis from Mumbai (Dadar).
Bund Garden : Bund Garden lies on the right bank of the Mula Mutha river. Constructed by Sir Jamshedji Jeejeebhoy primarily for providing water to the poor during summer, it has become a popular unwinding spot for citizens with an added attraction of boating facilities and has recently added a well-designed jogging track. Bund Garden is now known as the Mahatma Gandhi Udyan.
The Osho International Commune : The Osho International Commune is in Koregaon Park, attracting thousands of foreigners wishing to take part in the meditation courses organized by the Ashram. The Commune was founded by Osho Rajneesh who died in 1990. His samadhi is situated in the Ashram. The commune has beautiful gardens open to the public in the mornings and evenings.
Aga Khan Palace : True to its name this place boasts of Italianate arches and spacious lawns, an unlikely place for a prison but the Britishers interned Mahatma Gandhi and his wife Kasturba Gandhi here.The architecture of the palace wil take you down memory lane, reminding you of the illustrations from fairy tale houses.
Shindyanchi Chhatri : Amongst the architectural prides of Pune, the memorial to the great warrior Mahadji Shinde, the commander-in-chief of the Maratha army, between the years 1760 to 1780 under the mighty Peshwas. The temple adorned with Rajasthani architecture is an imposing edifice situated at Wanowrie.
Shaniwar Wada : The historic palace of the Peshwa (Prime Ministers) rulers, became the seat of political power during Bajirao-I’s reign and became so conspicuous that to this date the palace has become the symbol of the city and its culture. Built in 1736, the Shaniwar Wada was once the palace of the great Peshwa rulers. The wada (Fort) was destroyed by a major fire in 1827, the cause of the fire till today remains a mystery.
Parvati Hill and Temples : The 'Nagarkhana' drum house, the imposing temple of Parvati and Devdeveshwar are the main structures on the hill. The Parvati museum houses protraits of heroes of the Peshwa dynasty, besides old manuscripts, weapons and coins. A group of beautiful temples of Ganapati and Kartikeya make Parvati add to Parvati's attractions. According to the records, the main idol was carved out of gold by craftsmen from Karnataka. After this was stolen in 1932, it was replaced by silver idols plated with gold. The 108 step climb to the 17th century temple located on top, the hill is also the favourite haunt of fitness fans.
Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum : Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum is housed in a quaint Rajasthani-style building. It holds a one-man collection of the most fascinating Indian artifacts. Thirty-six sections of this museum are used to display a plethora of antiques, carved palace doors, pottery, a priceless collection of lamps and musical instruments of the Mughal and Maratha periods. A masterpiece is the 'Mastani Mahal' brought and erected as it was from its original place!
Saras Baug : Sitting like a flat oyster towards one end of the city, the sunken Sarasbaug is a place where hundreds of Puneites throng every evening, for their share of fresh air among green surroundings. Adjoining Sarasbaug, across a small narrow road is another garden. This however, is not merely a park but a zoo as well - Peshwe Park.
Sinhagad Fort : One of the great forts of Maharashtra is based in Pune. This is the place where brave soldiers fought for the fort. Tanaji, one of the trusted soldier of Shivaji Maharaj sacrificed his son's wedding to win the fort. He was well supported by his uncle Shelar Mama and his brave Marathas. The fort was named Sinhgad from Kondana, after this brave Maratha who fought till death like a true lion.
If you are interested in trying out some modern Indian clothing then check out FabIndia at Sarkar 10, Sassoon Rd.; their lovely kurtis and printed salwar kameezes are a must-buy. For Indian ethnic hand-embroidered clothing go to Lucknow Chikan palace at Ferguson College Rd. Samars Galleria at M.G. Road, Saifee Lane, Near Audio Palace, is an exclusive women's boutique with an extraordinary range of fashionable Indian and Western clothing. The Bombay Store in MG Road has a wide array of object D'art, besides clothing, jewellery, books and stationery on display. The shop is chic and contemporary and is bound to impress you. Nirmitee at Law College Rd. is however purely dedicated to object Darts. The Contemporary Arts and Crafts showroom at Sohrab Hall, Sassoon Road has a plethora of handicrafts, souvenirs, showpieces, home furnishings and dr on their list.
Pune has some excellent places that offer fantastic food. To begin with, lights snacks and sweets are available in Chitale Bandhu Mithaivale at 777, Sadashiv Peth, Opp. Vishram Baug Vada. The shop is a local favourite for its bakarwadi, which is crispy and delicious. Other places to check out include Bhavanagari Fancy Sweet Mart, one of the oldest in Pune (651,Sachapir Street, Opp Police Chowky), Bikaner Sev Bhandar (250, M.G. Rd, Camp) offering excellent Rajasthani sweets and Paras Khaja Mithai Kendra (8, Ravivar Peth, Sonya Maruti Chowk) which has some well-made dhoklas, bakarwadi, chamcham, besides their speciality, Paras Khaja. Also taste the mastaani, a preparation of thick milk, fruits and ice cream, which is widely available in all snack shops.
Pune may not be as hip and happening as Mumbai when it comes to party-clubs but the area around Koregaon Park has some especially interesting points. At the ABC Farms, Koregaon is this stylishly Mediterranean bar & club called Ola (Ph.30921906; 12 pm-1 am) that is a hub of foreign tourists. You may also wish to check out Jazz Garden (Ph.26817412) for live music on most Wednesday and Saturday nights. Leather Lounge is meant for the party animals and gets filled with the city's hippest crowds. Drink and dance to your heart's fill here! Inox (Ph.26050101; Queen Garden Rd.) is an avant-garde multiplex that runs several shows of Hindi and English feature films. Book your tickets in advance to ensure you get to watch the movie of your choice.