Pune

No reviews yetCity Maharashtra, India

Aga Khan Palace, Pune, Maharashtra, India

About Pune

Pune sits on the Deccan Plateau where the Mula and Mutha rivers meet, about 150 km inland from Mumbai, and it carries two identities at once. In the old peths around Shaniwar Wada it is the former seat of the Peshwas, the Maratha ministers who ruled much of India in the 18th century; in Koregaon Park, Baner and Hinjewadi it is a fast-growing hub of IT firms, universities and cafes.

The Maratha story is everywhere: Shivaji spent his boyhood at Lal Mahal, the Peshwas built the temple on Parvati Hill, and the hill fort of Sinhagad still watches the city from the southwest. The Aga Khan Palace adds a chapter from the freedom struggle, as Mahatma Gandhi was held there from 1942 to 1944. Ganeshotsav, the Ganesh festival, is celebrated here on a huge scale, centred on the Dagdusheth temple.

The city is also known for its food, from misal pav and vada pav to Puneri sweets, and for its mild climate compared with the coast. Lonavala and Khandala, the Western Ghats forts and the hill station of Mahabaleshwar are all within reach for day or weekend trips.

Best seasonOctober to February, dry and pleasantly cool

Ideal stay2-3 days, plus a day for Sinhagad

ArrivingPune Airport (Lohegaon) or trains and the expressway from Mumbai

12 Reasons to Visit Pune

History 3

Shaniwar Wada

The fortified palace of the Peshwas was completed in 1732 under Bajirao I and served as the seat of Maratha power until 1818. A gr...

Aga Khan Palace

Built in 1892 by Sultan Muhammed Shah Aga Khan III, this arched palace in Yerawada is where the British interned Mahatma Gandhi, K...

Lal Mahal

The original red palace was built by Shahaji Bhosale for his wife Jijabai and their son Shivaji, who grew up here. It is remembere...

Hikes 1

Sinhagad Fort

Perched on a steep ridge about 30 km southwest of the city, Sinhagad is famous for the night assault of 1670 in which Tanaji Malus...

Museums 1

Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum

Dinkar G. Kelkar spent decades gathering everyday and ceremonial objects from across India, and his collection fills this three-st...

Temples and Shrines 3

Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapati Temple

Founded in the late 19th century by the sweet-maker Dagdusheth Halwai, this temple near Budhwar Peth houses a richly gilded Ganesh...

Pataleshwar Cave Temple

Hidden behind trees just off Jangli Maharaj Road, this cave temple was carved out of a single basalt outcrop around the 8th centur...

Parvati Hill

A long flight of stone steps climbs to the temple complex on Parvati Hill, commissioned by the Peshwa Balaji Bajirao in the mid-18...

Parks 2

Osho Teerth Park

Laid out along a stream in Koregaon Park, this landscaped garden was created next to the Osho meditation resort and is open to the...

Pu La Deshpande Udyan

Also known as the Pune Okayama Friendship Garden, this park on Sinhagad Road was designed as a symbol of the twinning between Pune...

Neighborhoods 1

Koregaon Park

Tree-lined lanes, old bungalows and a steady stream of cafes, bakeries and restaurants make Koregaon Park the city's favourite pla...

Shopping 1

Tulshibaug

Clustered around the 18th-century Tulshibaug Ram temple, this tangle of lanes is one of the oldest markets in Pune. Stalls sell br...

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