Tourism

Pune , the cultural capital of Maharashtra, is located in the Sahayadri Hills, near the west coast of India. It is a fascinating city with a healthy climate all year round.Shivaji, the great Maratha leader, was raised in Pune, which was granted to his grandfather in 1599. Now Pune is one of the biggest industrial towns of Maharashtra and known as the automobile city as many big auto mobile companies have their head Quarters here. Pune is also famous for education and OSHO Communes in the Rajnesh Ashram located here. Pune boasts of various art galleries and museums that offer collection of ancient artifacts. October to May is the best time to visit this place.

Aga Khan Palace or Gandhi National Memorial
Open 9am to 5.30 pm
Built by Imamsultan Muhammad Shah Agakhan 111 in 1892,the  palace with its Italian arches is remarkable. In 1969 it was donated to India by Agakhan1V. Mahatma Gandhi and his wife Kasturba Gandhi and other leaders were interned here by the British for nearly two years after Gandhi delivered his Quit India Resolution. An exhibition here details highlights of Gandhi's life and career. The palace grounds has spacious lawns.

The Osho Commune International
Situated at 17 Koregaon Park, the Commune was founded by Osho Rajneesh, one of India's most popular self proclaimed gurus. This Commune attracts thousands of visitors each year who wish to take part in the meditation courses organized by the Ashram. Osho died in 1990 and his samadhi is situated in the Ashram. Facilities here include a swimming pool, sauna, massage and beauty parlour, tennis and basketball courts. The commune has beautiful gardens open to the public in the mornings and evenings.

Shaniwar Wada
Open 8 am to 6.30 pm 
Built in 1736, the Shaniwar Wada was once the palace of the great Peshwa rulers. The Fort was burnt down in a major fire in 1827, but the massive walls still remain.

Shindyanchi Chhatri
This 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. is situated at Wanowrie.

University Buildings
The University Buildings of the University of Pune at Ganeshkhind, once comprised the official residence of the Governor of Bombay Presidency during the fierce annual monsoons of the coasts. A large building in the Italian Gothic style, it has a 30 m high square tower, a swimming pool and manicured lawns.

Temples and Synagogue

Pataleshwar Cave Temples
Pataleshwar Cave Temples lies in the heart of the city, at Shivaji Nagar on Jangali Maharaj road. This 8th century rock-cut temple, hewn from a massive single rock, has huge pillars, a Shiva shrine and a Nandi bull. Nearby is the Jangali Maharaj Temple dedicated to a Hindu ascetic.

Parvati Hill and Temples

This 17th century Parvathi temple lies on the southern outskirts of the town on a hill top. The Parvati museum houses portraits of heroes of the Peshwa dynasty, besides old manuscripts, weapons and coins. There are also temples of Ganapati and Kartikeya.

Other temples
Khunya Murlidhar Temple This Krishna temple in Sadashiv Peth was built in 1797 by a famous merchant of the Peshwa regime, Dada Gadre. The radhakrishna idol here is in marble. Omkareshwar Temple lies on the banks of the Mutha river. Chaturshrungi Temple is situated on a hillock off Senapati Bapat Road. This temple of the goddess attracts hundreds of devotees during the nine-day Navaratri festival in October.

Lal Deval Synagogue
Lal Deval situated on Moledina Road was built by philanthropist David Sassoon in 1867. The red-brick-and-stone structure built in the English Gothic style, resembles a church. 

Museums

Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum
Open 8.30 am - 5.30 pm
The exhibits here are the personal collection of Shri Dinkar Gangadhar. It holds a one-man collection of  around 17000 Indian artifacts collected over 70 years. Thirty-six sections of this museum are used to display antiques, Peshwa and other miniatures, carved palace doors, pottery, a collection of lamps and musical instruments of the Mughal and Maratha periods.

Museum of Arthropoda
It’s a museum of Natural History. The specific focus is on the joint legged animals. This museum has most of the multi- legged varieties - lobsters, prawns, crabs, worms, beetles and cockroaches too.

Tribal Museum
Open weekdays 10 am to 5 pm
Situated near the railway station, this museum documents the cultures of Maharashtrian Tribal communities, especially those from the Sahyadri and Gondwana region.

Tilak Smarak Mandir
Tilak Smarak Mandir on Tilak Road is a building commemorating the great freedom fighter and social reformer Lokmanya Tilak. There is a small museum on the ground floor describing Tilak's public life and a theatre on the upper floor.

Kesari Wada
The home of the Kesari newspaper started by Late Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak.  The first Indian National flag unfurled by Madam Cama, and many other documents are well preserved here.

Parks and Zoo

Saras Baug
Sarasbaug is a popular place for evening strolls where people throng every evening, for their share of fresh air among green surroundings. Adjoining Sarasbaug, across a small narrow road is another garden, Peshwe Park. There is a zoo here maintained by the Pune Municipal Corporation housing a variety of beautiful species of wild animals. A toy-train ride, an elephant ride and boating are special attractions. Saras Baug Ganesh temple is also situated in Peshwa Park.

Bund Garden
Bund Garden constructed by Sir Jamshedji Jeejeebhoy lies on the right bank of the Mula Mutha river. There is boating facility and a well-designed jogging track. Bund Garden is now known as the Mahatma Gandhi Udyan, the bridge here crosses the river to the Gandhi National Memorial.

The Katraj Snake Park
The Katraj Snake Park has a collection of reptiles, birds and turtles. The park has a zoo.

Empress Botanical Gardens
This Garden has fine tropical trees and a small zoo.

Kamshet
Situated in Pune district, Maharashtra; 110km from Mumbai and 56km from Pune, the area in and around Kamshet, with its low hills, rocky terrain and flatlands has scores of favourable sites with enough ridges just right for take off. Read More