At a glance Pune is in the Western Indian state of Maharashtra, on the margin of the Deccan Plateau, flanked by the Sahyadris and the Western Ghats. About the city Pune may not be a cosmopolitan city as its upstart cousin on the coast, Mumbai, but it is a pleasant getaway for all those who want to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Pune has a calm atmosphere, non-confronting people, and is certainly much more relaxed and peaceful than Mumbai. If you consider Maharashtra as a Marathi speaking state of India, then Pune can undoubtedly be called its capital, with its glorious past and high concentration of Marathi speaking people. Religious Places Pataleshwar Cave temple At the confluence of the rivers is this ingenious work of rock-cut art belonging to the 8th century. The garden within the temple complex is a popular recreational spot for people in the city and a favourite with tourists as well. A circular Nandi (the bull of Lord Shiva) mandapa (pillared pavilion) welcomes you in the front of the temple. Close by is the temple dedicated to the Jangali Maharaj (Lord of the Jungle), a Hindu hermit who died here in 1818. [ph.25535941; Jangali Maharaj Rd.; 6 am- 10 pm] Parvati Hill Temple Perched on this hillock you can catch a vertical glimpse of Pune. A steep flight of 108 narrow steps leads you to this hill top temple built by Balaji Baji Rao. The Peshwas once used this imposing temple for private worship. Also Nana Saheb Peshwa had spent his last few days here. The Parvati museum here exhibits portraits of the Peshwas, their old manuscripts, coins etc. Kartikeya Temple Located on the southern part of Parvati hill, is presumed to be built by Shrimant Raghoba Dada, the younger brother of Nana Saheb Peshwa in 1766. The Nizam of Hyderabad destroyed the original idol of lord Kartikeya during an invasion. The present idol is made of black stone and was installed in the year 1869. Ganapati Temple Located about 26km from Pune at Theur is one of the Ashtavinayakas (eight Vinayakas) in Maharashtra. The resting places of Peshwa Madhavrao and his wife Ramabai are also in the vicinity. Chaturshrungi Temple Is situated on a hillock off Senapati Bapat Road. This temple of the goddess attracts a large number of devotees during the nine-day Navaratri festival in October. Omkareshwar Temple Lies on the banks of the Mutha River. Situated in Shaniwar Peth, this is famous for its stone structure and the fact that it survived the floods of Panshet in 1962 despite being some 250 odd years old! Lal Deval Synagogue The philanthropist David Sassoonbuilt the Lal Deval Synagogue, situated on Moledina Road, in 1867. This red brick and stone structure reflecting the English Gothic style, resembles a church with coloured windows and a 90ft tower to the north of the entrance. The tomb of Sir David Sassoon located in the centre of the cemetery is a popular spot. Entertainment 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. Kidding around The Fun Fun Fun Arcade on the 21 Sassoon Road is the place for a family weekend. They provide water scooter rides in addition to the usual car and bike games. Your dreams of zooming around in a race car are made real at MRF Go Kart (Ph: 020 - 26811402). This world class track is one of the best in India. They also provide a ramp to train kids. Events And Festivals The Pune Festival and the Sawai Gandharva festival held every year, attract exponents of music and theatre, of classical, folk and fine arts forms, have gained international recognition. How to reach By Air Flights available to Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Calcutta, Madras, Bangalore and Ahmedabad from Pune Airport itself. Mumbai is the nearest International Airport to Pune. By Rail Pune is linked with Mumbai (170 km), Nasik (209 km), Aurangabad (230 km), Chennai (1,088 km), Delhi and other major cities of India. From Mumbai there are regular trains. The Shatabdi also operates from Mumbai to Pune. Another convenient train is the Deccan Queen. Other trains from Mumbai to Pune are Pragati Express and Indrayani Express. By Road The excellent road network connects Pune with most of the important cities in Maharashtra and India. The Mumbai-Pune Express Highway offers a safe and fast access between Mumbai and Pune. Pune is also well connected with Goa, Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Shirdi, Bangalore, Indore, Hyderabad and Aurangabad through road. Distances 25 km South from Singhagad 120 km from Mahabaleshwar 103 km from Mumbai 50 km from Lonavala 495 km from Panjim Best Seasons November-February is when Pune has the best of its weather to offer visitors. Cool breeze, clear skies and refreshing nights make the visit pleasant. The rainy months from June-September are better avoided because the weather is unpredictable and may spoil your travel plans. During the months from June to September Pune receives rain. Thus, period between the months of October and May are best for a visit to Pune. The summer months in Pune are hot and cottons are ideal. During winter you may carry Light Woollens in Pune. Places in and around Visit the Shaniwar Wada to rewind back to the Maratha times. Take a bite of the bakarwadi, Pune is especially known for. A well-made one should be crunchy and not soggy. View the modern face of Pune in its posh Koregaon Park locality and check out the popular hangouts there. Do visit the imposing forts that speak of Maharashtra's glorious history in volumes. It may take some time travelling but they are worth your time and effort if you are looking for a memorable peep into the past... You may also take up a trekking tour here. Landmarks Shaniwar Wada Do not imagine this to be a sprawling fortress as was built by the Peshwas in 1732! What remain are only the ruins after the palace was burnt down in a fire in 1828. The towering, cracked walls with their sturdy palace doors, studded with spikes, are reminiscent of the prowess of the ancient Marathas in conquering the enemy. There are lovely lotus ponds too. The hour-long son et lumiere held here during the evenings provides an interesting insight into the Maratha culture. Lal Mahal Shivaji had been brought up here. It was renovated by the Pune Municipal Corporation in 1988. The red brick structure stands conspicuously in the heart of the city. There is a statue of "Jijamata" here besides a striking representation, portraying young Shivaji ploughing the land with a golden implement, while mother Jijabai and Guru Dadoji Konddev look on. The four umbrellas on the terrace is another attraction. This is the same place where Shivaji Maharaj had once cut Shaistekhan's fingers when he was trying to run away from one of the windows of the Lal Mahal. Pictorial representations of incidents from Shivaji Maharaja's life can be seen on the palace walls. The Jijamata Garden here is ideal for a walk. Museum Raja Dinakar Kelkar Museum The exhaustive collections of Kaka Kalelkar, as he was popularly known as, on display here, include object de arts and curios representative of the Peshwa era. There are phantasmagoric assortments of musical instruments, ornately carved wooden doors and windows, hookah pipes, betel nut crackers, embellished brass foot-scrubbers, earthenware, old writing implements, terracotta lamps and much more to astound your mind! Gandhi National Memorial Within the precincts of the Aga Khan Palace, across the Mula River in Yerwada, is this memorial to Gandhi. Momentous events from the life of India's martyr-son have been crystallized here, in its photos, paintings and personal exhibits such as a pair of sandals and a thermos flask. The trying and testing period of the Mahatma's life such as the demise of Kasturba Gandhi, his wife, and that of Mahatma's secretary, Mahadeobhai Desai, happened only here and their ashes have been preserved in their samadhis. The Tribal Cultural Museum Located about 2 kms from the railway station, it is a repository of interesting documents representing the culture of the Maharashtrian Adivasi communities, especially those inhabiting the Gondwana and Sahyadri regions. Papier-mache masks, Warli paintings (of tribal life) and other antiques have been on display here. Gardens/Resorts The Empress Botanical Gardens open from 7am - 7pm everyday, is dappled with lovely tropical trees. Recline on one of the park benches and forget the world about! Or consider the Peshwa Park for a refreshing evening walk when food stalls and kiddie carnivals add colour to the life of the place. But if you are the kind seeking solitary spaces, head to Bund Gardens on the banks of the Mula River, which is silent and serene. The evening boat rides and horse rides are fun too and you may like to try one of these. Osho Meditation Resort The Ashram of the famous Indian spiritualist, known universally as Osho, and reverently referred to as 'Bhagwan Rajneesh', is situated in a sprawling, thickly vegetated floral park area in Koregaon. It may not essentially seem a place for the spiritually-inclined as it claims to be, yet, the meditation facilities, the famed white-robed spiritual dance and the environment conducive to recreation, lends the place a touch of the ether world. The Commune, post Osho's death, operates more like a business center with services provided according to the amount of money you are willing to spend! For the ones with enough to lavish about, there is a world-class reception waiting just for you with plush accommodation in the Guest House, organically grown and sterilized fruits and vegetables for consumption, five-hectare Osho Teerth, the virgin gardens, for strolling about and the like. But you ought to register yourself and test HIV negative in order to avail of these facilities. [Ph.24019999; 17, Koregaon Park] Lake Pashan Lake It is a manmade lake, built by bunding the Ram River. It is situated about 12 kms off the road to NDA. This lake is hailed as a birdwatcher's paradise with as many as 60 species of migratory birds coming here. An early morning visit to the Lake will be ideal if you wish to catch a glimpse of the rare birds like the Small Blue Kingfisher, Rufus-backed Shrike, Indian Whiskered Tern, Ashy Wren warbler, etc. Agakhan Palace One of the major tourist attractions in Pune is the Agakhan Palace. The claim to fame of the Agakhan Palace is the fact that the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi along with his wife Karturba Gandhi and Mahadeobhai Desai were imprisoned here in the year 1942, while participating in the "Quit India Movement". Amongst the must visit spots here are the marble memorials of Kasturba Gandhi and Mahadeobahi Desai who had breathed their last here. Shaniwar Wada Shaniwar Wada Palaces Shaniwar Wada Palace is places to be seen in Pune. Balaji Rao (the grandfather of the last Peshwa) built it in 1736. Today, only the massive outer wall of the Palace is left as the rest of it was burnt down in 1827. During its glorious days, the palace used to be the multi-storey home of mighty Peshwas. The main entrance to this place is through iron-spiked Delhi Gate. The nearby street was used to punish people by getting them crushed by elephants. Pataleshwar Cave Temple Pataleshwar Cave Temple A marvelous respite from the bustle in Pune, Pataleshwar Cave Temple is quite elegant and exudes spirituality. Adding to the tranquility and beauty of the site is the circular stone gazebo (Nandi mapandapam) standing by the entrance of this small underground temple, which is a must visit place for the tourists to Pune. Raja Denkar Kelkar Museum Kelkar Museum Creation of the passionate efforts of a single person, Dr. D.G.Kelkar, the museum has a vast collection of unique and peculiar exhibits. The collection is eclectic and exceptional. In a pleasant change from the other well-known museums of India, the Raja Denkar Kelkar museum exhibits the diversity of India's culture in a subtle and delightful way. The elephant-shaped foot scrubber, a brass scorpion that reveals a secret lock and eight images of Lord Ganesha carved on a bean make it a place to see in Pune. Raj Bhavan Raj Bhavan or the Government's House was built in the year 1866 and housed the government of Bombay Presidency during the colonial times in the summers. The building was impressively designed by James Trubshawe and is situated in Ganeshkhind. It is must visit place for all the tourists in Pune. Saras Baug Saras Baug A popular place in evenings in Pune, you can visit the sprawling green lawns and the famous Ganesh Temple constructed by Madhavrao Peshwa. Kasturba Samadhi Kasturba Samadhi is located near the Aga Khan Palace, now Gandhi National Museum. Kasturba was the wife of Mahatma Gandhi. She died at Aga Khan Palace, which was used to imprison Gandhi by the British. The samadhi contains the ashes of Kasturba. Film and Television Institute of India Situated in the Law College Street, Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) of Pune is one of the most prominent film schools in Asia. The institute has trained a good number of famed actors, directors, and technicians for the Hindi Film Industry. This place is worth visiting in Pune. Sassoon Hospital This is a Gothic-style building built in 1867. It is located near the railway station of Pune and a popular tourist attraction. St Mary's Church Located to the south of Sasoon Hospital (1825) in Pune, the St. Mary's church was consecrated by Bishop Heber, who toured the region in the 1830's. Synagogue The synagogue is located to the southwest of Sasoon Hospital and was built in 1867 by Sir David Sasoon. Also known as Lal Dewal, it has an attractive red building with coloured windows and a 90-ft tower to the north of the entrance. The tomb of Sir David Sassoon is located in the centre of the cemetery. This place is a must see in Pune. Empress Garden Empress Garden is located to the north of St Patrick's Cathedral. The place with a fine collection of tropical trees and a small zoo is a must visit in Pune. Osho Commune International Osho's Ashram The controversial ashram of Osho (also known as Rajnish) is located in Koregaon Park. It is a lush green 24-acre commune, described as the "spiritual Disneyland for disaffected First World yuppies" by the Wall Street Journal. A number of programs with special emphasis on new-age meditation are conducted here. This place is worth more than a visit in Pune. In the Maratha Kingdom, Pune was the centre of power and all the places around this city reflect the might and glory of Marathas. Sinhagad, a hilltop fort, is the epitome of the bravery and cleverness of Maratha warriors. Raigad Fort was the place closely associated with the life and times of Shivaji, an icon of Maratha pride. Bhimashankar is a place known as much for its religious importance as for its natural surroundings. Jejuri has one of the most important temples in Maharashtra situated on a hilltop. Sinhagad The Lion Fort or Sinhagad, situated around 25 kilometres southwest of Pune is atop a steep hill. Now almost ruined, the fort has a interesting history and an important place to visit and see around Pune. It was in the year 1670, that Tanaji Malusre, a general of Shivaji scaled the steep hill in dark with his men and defeated the forces of Bijapur. According to legends, the Maratha forces used trained lizards to carry the ropes up the hillside. This is also the place where Mahatma Gandhi met another stalwart of Indian freedom struggle, Bal Gangadhar Tilak in 1915 for the first time. A pleasant day trip to this place from Pune should not be missed. Raigad Raigad is the place where Shivaji was crowned in 1648 and died in 1680. From the fort located on an isolated hilltop, you can get a breathtaking view of the Western Ghats. To reach the hilltop, you need to ascend the steep climb. Raigad is situated at a distance of around 126 kilometers from Pune. Bhimashankar Bhimashankar is a little picturesque spot situated around 95 kilometers from Pune. The place has everything to attract the visitors - deep forests, temples, rivers and all other things that give you a feeling of being in a paradise. More than anything else the place is famous for the temple of Lord Shiva, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas in India. The place is also the point of origin of river Bhim. A must visit if you are interested in trekking, nature watching, and bird watching. Jejuri Popularly known as Khandobachi Jejuri, Jejuri is a famous temple of Maharashtra. The temple is dedicated to Mhalsakant or Malhari Martand, a god worshipped by Dhangars, one of the oldest tribes in Maharashtra. The temple is situated on a hill and you need to negotiate 200 steps to reach it. Jejuri is situated around 40 kilometers southeast of Pune towards Phaltan.