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Pune is one of the historical cities of India with a glorious past, an innovative present and a promising future. Pune, the modern and contemporary education center of India and the cultural capital of Maharashtra has been known by many sobriquets. Popular among them are: Queen of the Deccan, pensioner's paradise and Oxford of the East. Being surrounded by beautiful hills and the Sinhagad fort, it has numerous dams and picturesque locations as the city has the honour of being a part of the greenest belts in India with its more than 40 percent area covered with verdant foliage.
History of Pune
Pune city lies at the confluence of the Mutha and Mula river, surrounded by hills. Pune is a significant milestone in the history of India. The great warrior Shivaji, the Maratha king who fought the Moghul emperor Aurangzeb was brought up in Pune. The city was the capital of the mighty Maratha Empire under the Peshwas. After the fall of Marathas, Pune became an educational centre. Pune became the focal point of national politics during the lifetime of Lokmanya Tilak. The city has an able contribution in the India's freedom struggle as it provided many social reformers, revolutionaries and political leaders. Even today, after attaining the status of an educational and cultural center of Maharashtra, Pune retains its quaint old values and traditions.
Tourist Places in Pune
Bazaars and shopping plazas, palaces and hotels, temples, forts, mosques, churches, parks and a synagogue; you have everything here in Pune which comes in your list of tourist places. The Ganapati festival celebrated annually, also called the Pune Festival, has made its mark on the tourist map of India. The famous tourist places in Pune include:
Lal Deval (Synagogue)
It is Pune's finest synagogue, built by philanthropist David Sassoon in 1867. This red-brick-and-stone structure built in the English Gothic style, resembles a church.
Bund Garden
On the right bank of the Mula Mutha river, it was constructed by Sir Jamshedji Jeejeebhoy primarily for providing water to the poor during summer. It has now become a popular tourist spot with boating facilities and a jogging track. It has been renamed as Mahatma Gandhi Udyan.
The Osho Ashram
The Osho Ashram attracts thousands of foreigners wishing to take part in the meditation courses organized by the Ashram. Osho Rajneesh whose samadhi is situated in the Ashram founded it. The commune also has beautiful gardens open to the public in the mornings and evenings.
Shindyanchi Chhatri
This imposing edifice is a 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 reflects Rajasthani architecture.
Pataleshwar Cave Temple
Pataleshwar Cave Temple is an 8th century rock-cut temple, hewn from a massive single rock, with huge pillars, a Shiva shrine and a Nandi bull.
The other tourist places in Pune include Shaniwar Wada, Parvati Hill and Temples, Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum, Bal Gandharv Mandir, Tilak Smarak Mandir, Saras Baug, The Film and Television Institute of India, The Katraj Snake Park, Chaturshrungi Temple and Sinhagad Fort.
How To Reach Pune
Pune is well connected through flights to the major Indian cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai etc. The railway network is also quite convenient providing an easy access to the important cities in India especially the frequent trains are available for Mumbai and Indore. The road network is excellent with frequent buses and taxis available for Mumbai and Indore. The commutation from Mumbai to Pune or vice versa has become one of the easiest tasks due to the Mumbai-Pune expressway.
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