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Places to Visit in Pune
Pune is a sprawling city in the western Indian state of Maharashtra. It was once the base of the Peshwas (prime ministers) of the Maratha Empire, which lasted from 1674 to 1818. It's known for the grand Aga Khan Palace, built in 1892 and now a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, whose ashes are preserved in the garden. The 8th-century Pataleshwar Cave Temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.
Raj Bhavan
Raj Bhavan (The Dhapooree House - Pune) were the government houses during the British Raj era in India. It was the monsoon resort of the Governor of Bombay and was built in 1866. The building was impressively designed by James Trubshawe and is situated in Ganeshkhind, Pune.Today Ganeshkhind might mean the Pune University to most. But half a century ago it suggested the Government House, the monsoon resort of the Governor of Bombay. Yet the name still evokes the memories of that fateful night of 22 June 1897. It was on this day that Walter Charles Rand, Special Officer for Plague in Pune, who invited the wrath of Pune residents for his atrocities, was assaulted by the Chapheker brothers while he was returning from the Government house after attending the Golden Jubilee celebrations or the Queen’s coronation.
Pataleshwar Cave Temple
An atypical rock cut cave temple in Pune is the Pataleshwar Cave Temple which is an ancient temple that dates back to the 8th century during the Rashtrakuta period. This temple is one of the famous places to visit in Pune with family. The temple is also known as Panchaleshvara or Bamburde temple. Originally, the temple’s location was outside the town and when the city limits were expanded, the temple is situated now on the downtown Jangli Maharaj Road. It has been declared as a protected monument by the government and it is one of the best sightseeing in Pune.
Mahatma Phule Museum
Founded in the year 1890, Mahatma Phule Museum is one of the must-visit Pune tourist attractions for history buffs. Earlier established as Lord Ray Museum, the museum was renamed as Mahatma Phule Museum in the year 1968. The museum makes for an interesting trip as one can see various collections of industrial products, agricultural items and handicraft pieces in this museum.
Shaniwar Wada Palace
A prominent historical landmark in Pune is Shaniwarwada which is considered as one of the best pune tourist places. It is a majestic fortification which was built in 1732 and during that time it was the seat of the Peshwas of the Maratha Empire and they ruled over there until 1818. After they lost control to the British East India Company, they could not use it longer. But when they were in the reign, Shaniwarwada was the centre of Indian politics in the 18th century and is one of the famous places to visit in pune with friends.
Aga Khan Palace
Yet another amazing landmark and one of the famous places to visit in Pune with friends is the Aga Khan Palace which was built by Sultan Muhammed Shah Aga Khan III in 1892. In the history of India, this palace placed itself on a prominent space as one of the biggest landmarks in India. As an act of charity, the palace existed and the Sultan who built it wanted to help the poor in the region.
Dagdusheth Halwai Temple
A famous Ganesha temple in Pune is Shreemath Dagdusheth Halwai Temple which is a major attraction in Maharashtra. The temple is visited by thousands of pilgrims every year. The annual ten-day celebrations named Ganeshotsav is the main festival conducted at the temple when celebrities and ministers arrive to pay tribute to the Lord. The main idol is insured for a sum of Rs.10 million and it is one of the very famous places in Pune and one of the amazing places to visit in Pune with family.
Osho Ashram
Osho Ashram is one of the famous tourist places in Pune located in the Koregaon Park. The founder of the ashram was Rajneesh Chandra Mohan Jain who is famous among the people as Osho Rajneesh. The ashram has got another title as Osho Commune International of Pune and it is spread across 32 acres of land. Those who are eagerly waiting to escape into the laps of peace and tranquillity will fall in love with this ashram which is existing on a land of pure serenity and greenery and it offers the much-awaited break from the hustle and bustle of the city pollution and crowd. Currently, the ashram is perhaps the most visited tourist destination after it achieved fame among the tourists coming to Pune as well.
Vetal Tekdi
A prominent hill in the city limits of Pune is Vetal Hill which is the highest point at an elevation of 2600 feet and one of the unforgettable places to see in Pune. Vetala temple is also located on the top of the hill and that is how the hill got its name as Vetal Hill. Adventure seekers come here in plenty to escape from the hustles and bustles of the city and it is a great morning trek location and it is one of the best places to visit in Pune.
Lal Mahal
Lal Mahal is one of the famous tourist places in Pune which has another name as Red Palace. It is a beautiful monument established in 1630 AD by Shivaji Maharaj’s father Shahaji Bhosale for his wife and son. Shivaji Maharaj lived here for a long time until the time he captured his first fort.
Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum
An intriguing museum with a lot of references to the medieval history of India is located in Pune and that is the most famous tourist places in Pune, Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum. It possesses the rare collection of Dr. Dinkar G Kelkar dedicated to the memory of his sone, Raja. There are three floors for this museum displaying different types of sculptures dating back to the 14th century along with ivory, silver and gold items and musical instruments, war weapons, vessels etc. The collection began in 1920 and by 1960, the museum was filled with 15000 objects and later in 1962, Dr. Kelkar donated all the collections to the Government of Maharashtra. Currently, if you visit the museum, you will come across more than 20000 objects out of which 2500 only are on display.
National Defence Academy
NDA is the sophisticated acronym of the National Defence Academy in Pune. It is the joint services academy of the Indian Armed Forces where three sections of the defence field such as the Army, the Navy and the Air Force cadets are trained together before the get pre commissioning training in the respective service academies and it is one of the famous places to visit in Pune city.
Explore Parvati Hill
This beautiful lush green hill is one of the prominent Pune visiting places. Not only is the place popular for trekking and escaping into nature, but is famous for its ancient Paravati Temple atop the summit. This temple, located at around 2,100 ft. above sea level, was built during the time of the Peshwas and it is one of the best places in Pune.
Sinhagad Fort
Sinhagad or Kondana is a pride of the southwestern region of Pune. This fort was the one to support Maharashtra during the ancient battles. Sinhagad battle of 1671 is the significant one. Bhuleshwar range of the great Sahyadris is the home to this historical monument.The fortress has an elevation of around 1312 m above the sea level. Sinhagad has got its own breakneck slopes to protect it from all sides.
Pashan Lake
A captivating yet artificial lake near the suburbs of Pashan Hills is Pashan Lake located at a distance of 12 kilometres from the city centre of Pune. It was built during the British era in order to fulfil the water requirement of the natives in the region and neighbourhood. Ram Nadi, a small rivulet is the inlet of the huge lake and it is controlled by the barrage at the north side of the lake and it is one of the best places to see in Pune.
Pune-Okayama Friendship Garden
Tucked away from the bustling city, lies a surreal place in Pune, Pune Okayama Friendship Garden that looks refreshingly green everywhere around as far as your eyes can see! Spread across 10 acres of land, This garden is inspired by a 300-year-old Japanese Korakuen garden that was developed by Ikeda Royal family in Okayama, Japan.
Shinde Chhatri
Shinde Chhatri is a memorial dedicated to the 18th-century military leader Mahadji Shinde and it is one of the main attraction and a well-known Pune places to visit . Mahadji Shinde served as the commander in chief of the Maratha army under the rule of Peshwas from 1760 to 1780.
Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park
Go for an amazing outing with your friends and family to Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park when you are in the city of Pune. The famous park is known for having a snake park, an animal orphanage and a zoo that makes it totally worth a visit for lovers of wildlife and nature. Whether you are an adult or a kid, a visit to Rajiv Gandhi zoological park is an exciting trip to learn more about snakes and reptiles and come back with more knowledge about these elusive creatures.
National War Museum
Offering an astounding getaway to commemorate the memory of brave Indian soldiers who lost their lives in the line of fire, National War Museum is one of the most amazing Pune tourist places. Engulfed by a blanket of greenery, National War Museum is the only war memorial in South Asia that was built by the contributions of common citizenry.
