Pune

Understand

Pune (poo-nneh) has a long history that stretches back nearly 1,600 years. The Pataleshwar Caves (near Jangli Maharaj Road) from the 5th century are evidence of Pune's old settlements. Pune is a gateway to knowledge about the past with opportunities to learn from the help of forts, monuments, museums and higher-learning institutions. From the medieval Maratha history of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (Maratha King) to a visit to Aga Khan Palace to learn about Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi's non-violent freedom struggle, there is much to learn here. If the quote "Freedom is my birthright and I shall have it!" sounds interesting, make a visit to the Gayakwadwada Museum. If you are interested in ancient Indian history or Indology, then Deccan College, Bharat Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal, and Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute are places of research and learning and house their own museums as well. Pune has been called the "Oxford of the East". The many colleges and institutes here offer everything from engineering to fine arts. These establishments boast a large number of foreign students in addition to locals.

Climate

The climate of Pune is quite pleasant. Pune has three distinct seasons: summer, monsoon and winter. Summers are typically hot with maximum temperatures ranging from 35 to 42°C. The warmest month in Pune is generally April as compared to the rest of the Deccan Plateau where it is May. Pune does not get very hot. Even during the peak of summer, the air is cool and standing under a tree can give respite from the heat. However, as frequent sunlight can cause sunburn, be sure to carry and use sunscreens (above SPF-30). The nights in Pune are significantly cooler than most other parts of this region due to its high altitude. The average rainfall is approx 550 mm. The city often receives thundershowers with heavy downpours in May, which brings down the temperature. The rainy season can sometimes be gloomy, with cloud cover for many days in a row. In winter, day temperatures can be as low as 24 - 28°C and temperatures at night as low as 5 - 8°C. Winters are generally dry. Normally, the climate in Pune is pleasant during the month of November.

Talk Pune is a fairly cosmopolitan city. Although Marathi is the official language of the city and also the most common language spoken on the streets, most people also speak Hindi along with English.

Getting there

Pune is a major transport hub of inner Maharashtra. It serves as the gateway for the numerous hill stations in the Western Ghats.

By plane 1 Pune Airport (Lohagaon Air Force Base), Lohegaon (10 km (6.2 mi) from the city centre, about 30 minutes to an hour to reach, depending on traffic conditions). (PNQ IATA). The airport has excellent domestic connectivity and some international flights operate to Middle East and South East Asia. For arrivals, there is a money exchange stand, a duty-free shop and a pre-paid taxi stall; in airside departures, there are snack stalls and a duty-free store. Photography is strictly prohibited at the airport due to the Indian Air Force having a strong presence. A long-distance private taxi journey should take around three hours and cost about ₹3000. (updated Jun 2023)

By train

Pune has many connections to other Indian cities by train. Check train availability on the Indian Rail website before you go, as train timings are subject to change. There are mainline routes to Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai.

2 Pune Junction CR . An above-average Indian station, it contains an information booth, an internet café, and a computerised ticket booking office. Trolleys are not available, but coolies can be hired to help with luggage. Licensed coolies wear a red shirt with a metallic arm band bearing their serial number. The official rates in Maharashtra are ₹25 for up to 10 kg/3 pieces of luggage (whichever is less); ₹20 per additional 5 kg/piece of luggage (whichever is less); a lightweight briefcase not exceeding 300 cm³ is not included, but carries a ₹5 surcharge. (updated Feb 2023)

By car Pune is served by three national highways (NH) and an expressway.

NH 48 between Delhi in the north via Mumbai and Chennai via Bangalore in the south passes through Pune. NH 48, a part of the Golden Quadrilateral of highways connects Pune to Bangalore also. Satara, Kolhapur and Kagal all in Maharashtra are connected to Pune by NH 48. National Highway 48 runs through the villages of Shirwal, Naraspur, Hadapsar, Khadki, Tolegaon, Wadgaon, Lonavala, and Khandala within Pune district. NH 9 connects Pune in Maharashtra to Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh. Indapur, Solapur, and Umarga in Maharashtra, followed by Rajeshwar, Homnabad, and Mangalgi in Karnataka, and thereafter Zahirabad, Hyderabad, Suryapeta and Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh are connected by NH 9 to Pune. The villages of Kambhargaon, Bhigvan, Ravangaon, Loni Kaibhor, and Theur within the district of Pune are connected by this highway. NH 50 connects Pune to Nashik. The cities of

Getting around

By auto-rickshaw

There is a massive army of three-wheeled rickshaws. Some prepaid rickshaw stands can be found at Shivajinagar, Swargate Bus Depot and Pune Airport. All rickshaws plying in the Pune Municipal Corporation limits are supposed to charge according to the meter. Drivers will give you endless excuses why they cannot use the meter. They are required by law to have a working meter and use it, and this will almost always be the cheapest for you too. If they still refuse, walk away: there are plenty of other rickshaws on the roads. In fact, drivers of rickshaws that you flag down from the streets (if practical and possible) will often be more agreeable than those waiting in stands, who demand more fare. The driver may occasionally stop to ask for directions depending on how familiar he is with the area. Nowadays, many auto rickshaw drivers try to charge extra for long distances or very short distances, or they refuse the fare. Stick to the demand of charging by meter and refuse strongly to pay any extra amount, unless it is past midnight. It is very common for rickshaw drivers plying between 11PM and 6AM to demand 1½ times the normal rates for the journey. You are advised to get this cleared with the driver before boarding the rickshaw. If they realise you are not from the city, they may try to take longer routes to the destination to charge extra money from you. Thus, outsiders and foreigners, use your own judgement before boarding any auto rickshaw. Autorickshaw drivers may also refuse to travel to quite a few parts of the city at their convenience; however, this is against the law if their meter reads "on hire" in the upright position. If the sign is turned sideways, the rickshaw driver is not working and can refuse you. If you have complaints against auto drivers for not accepting short-distance rides (or any rides), asking more meter fare, not using a meter, taking other passengers along the way, carrying more passengers than allowed capacity, stopping at bus stands or other similar complaints of serious nature, you can email or call the Road Transport Authorities at ☏ +91 20 2205 1414 or 020-27492828 (PCMC) or email [email protected]. Traffic cops usually come right away to the spot to book a complaint against the driver. Commuters can also send their MMS pictures at +91 9420218338. The complaints should clearly mention all details including the auto's registration number, the time of taking the rickshaw, details of auto fare, the distance commuted, locations, date, time, and nature of the complaint. After so many calls and complaints, th

See

Individual listings can be found in Pune's district articles Pune is the cultural capital of Maharashtra. The Marathi film industry is also based here.

Do

Individual listings can be found in Pune's district articles Bird Watching: Enjoy boating and bird viewing in some of the city parks of Pune. Migratory parks can be viewed throughout the year in Pune. At the right time, you can see many migrated birds in the parks.

Festivals

Pune has a full calendar of events, ranging from classical music to rock concerts. However, Pune's most famous festival is the Pune Festival, which is held during the Ganeshotsav (Annual Ganpati Festival)

The Chatushrungi Fair is an annual event. It is held overnight on Navratri at Senapati Bapat Road. Giant-wheels are the main attractions but the food sold at the stalls is delicious too. The Ganesh Utsav or Ganeshotsav, initiated by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, today is celebrated with great enthusiasm, as city interiors almost remain blocked for ten days. This is usually around the month of September and dates vary based on Hindu calendar. Pune has more than 2,000 mandals (committees) with Dagdusheth Halwai being the biggest and most famous one. The Osho Festival is another international crowd puller in Pune. Held in the Osho Aashram in Koregaon Park, disciples and followers of Bhagwaan Rajneesh make it a point to attend this festival. The Pune International Film Festival - takes place annually and attracts some splendid films from around the world. This festival which generally takes place in January, lasts for a week and is a treat for film lovers in the city. Passes for single day or for entire duration are available at any of the multiplexes hosting the festival at reasonable rates. Sawai Gandharva classical music festival, which started back in the 1960s, has had every Indian and international artist perform and has given rise to a number of budding ones too. It is held in the months of December from dawn to dusk over three days. A number of college festivals have become very commercialised, but still attract big crowds and a very high degree of competition from colleges all over Pune. Verve organised by Express Youth Forum is the biggest inter-collegiate cultural festival in India while Concepts organized by the Pune Institute of Computer Technology (PICT) is a very popular engineering (technical) event. The College of Engineering, Pune also organizes a technical festival which attracts participants from all over India. So all year round, there is enough excitement to keep the Punekars and tourists on their toes!

Buy

Individual listings can be found in Pune's district articles

Pune is a city where you will find an excellent range of streetside shops as well as a few outstanding malls. Pune is a good place to pick up some Indian slippers made of rubber. Soft, comfortable Kolhapuri chappals (leather sandals), that are manufactured in the town of Kolhapur, can be found in many of the street shops in Pune.

Books Punekars are crazy about books. This shows in the number of excellent bookshops scattered throughout the city. The area known as 'Appa Balwant Chowk' is famous for various big and small book shops. Some of them specialise in subjects like law, management, religion, computer, or music. Birds of Pune available from Centre for Environment Education and Kalpavriksh

Ajit Law Book Depot. Appa Balwant Chowk. Book Space, 593, Ganesh Peth. Book World, Basement, Sagar Arcade, FC Road. The Crossword chain of bookshops has 8 branches in Pune. Landmark. SGS Mall, Molendina Rd. Popular Book Shop, Deccan Gymkhana. Utkarsh Book Depot, Deccan Gymkhana, Near Garware Bridge. The WORD bookshop, Boottee St, Camp. L.Bhagwandas & Co, Shivaji Market, Camp. BookGanga, Deccan Gymkhana, Near Garware Bridge(GR7R+WV Pune,MH)

Electronics Pune is a technology hub and is home to IT, ITES, and BPO professionals. Pune also has one of the highest densities of Engineers and Management graduates pursuing studies. Sony World, House of Laptops, Croma are electronics chains dishing out the goodies.

Haircut Being a student town, Pune has a good selection of mid-priced hair salons.

Eat

Individual listings can be found in Pune's district articles

Pune is undoubtedly a great place to eat. Fergusson College Road and JM Road which runs parallel, are full of budget eateries serving delicious hot food at nominal charges. Almost all restaurants open and close at similar hours. 10AM - 11PM is usual. Of course, restaurant bars stay open till at least midnight. Misals are a Pune favourite, if you can stomach the spice in them. They are a tasty meal and a visit to Bedekar Misal or Shree Uphar Gruha is a must. They are in the Peth areas and are famous. Shree Uphar Gruha is at Tulsi Baug. It is a small joint but dishes out tasty Misal and fritters. For more exotic variety, head out to Koregaon Park. North Main Road is a lane with more than 50 restaurants. It offers a choice of cuisine including Italian, French, Mexican, Thai, Japanese and a variety of local Indian food; there is a restaurant to fit every taste and mood. ABC Farms in Koregaon Park has many restaurants in one place - ideal when you cannot decide before leaving for dinner. Koregaon Park is known as the Restaurant Suburb, and holds a similar status to Pune that Bandra holds to Mumbai.

Drink & nightlife

Individual listings can be found in Pune's district articles Hindavi Swarajya Fruits & Juices, JM Road, Opposite to JM mandir. Refreshing Indian drinks such as Jal Jeera (a cumin seed drink) and Nimbu Pani (lemon water/soda) are sold on the sidewalk for around ₹5 per glass. Alcohol is easily available all over town, though most of the bars are in Koregaon Park and upmarket areas. Most bars open in the afternoon and close an hour or two after midnight. Also check out the major hotel bars such as at the Sheraton Grand, Sagar Plaza, JW Marriott, Deccan Rendezvous and The Westin.

Tea and coffee There is no lack of coffee shops in the city. Some of the restaurants listed above serve good coffee or head to a branch of the Barista or Cafe Coffee Day chains, both of which have numerous locations around town. The FC Road and MG Road branches of Barista are Wi-Fi hotspots.

Sleep

Individual listings can be found in Pune's district articles Pune offers a wide range of accommodation options suitable for all budgets, from simple guesthouses to luxury hotels. Travellers can choose between lively neighbourhoods like Koregaon Park and Viman Nagar, business‑focused districts such as Hinjawadi and Baner, or central areas like Shivajinagar and Deccan that provide easy access to major attractions and transport links. Prices vary widely depending on the season, with higher demand during festivals, conferences, and university admissions, so booking ahead is often advisable. A double room tends to be priced at US$200-400 per night. During the lean season, good discounts are available.

Go next

Bhimashankar — Wildlife Sanctuary Jejuri — A 49-km drive to the southeast of Pune, this small city's best-known landmark is the Khandoba Temple. Lavasa - Lavasa is a private, planned city being built near Pune. It is stylistically based on the Italian town Portofino, with a street and several buildings bearing the name of that town. Lohgad — 52 km northwest of Pune, this fort's walls and structures are more intact than other, neighboring forts. The fort rests on the top of a hill and is beautiful in the rainy season. Lonavla — the second-most visited hill station in Maharashtra. It is on the way from Pune to Mumbai. Mahabaleshwar — This is the largest hill station in the Sahyadri mountains and is about 115 km southwest of Pune. Malshej Ghat — Amidst the Sahyadri Hills, it is about a 119-km drive from Pune. This beautiful hill station has many scenic vistas and beautiful waterfalls. Mulshi — To the west of Pune lies Munshi, near the town of Lonavala. Mulshi and the surroundings are abundant with natural beauty that includes a dam, the hilly region of Sahyadri's deep forests and forts like Dhangad and Koraigadh. The water from the dam is used for generating electricity. Narayanpur (Purandar Fort) — 40 km southwest of Pune. Nashik — An ancient holy city about 210 km from Pune. Neel Kantheshwar — 35 km from Pune, this hill temple is near the source of the Mutha river. At this hill station are hundreds of statues that describe scenes from Hindu scriptures and Puranas. The scenery offers a view of three major dams from its top. Rajgad — This is a hill fort about 50 km southwest of Pune. Rajmachi (Udhewadi) — This small village is a roughly 78-km drive from Pune, in the rugged mountains of Sahyadri. There are two forts which were built by Shivaji Emperor during the 17th century. In the rainy season there are giant waterfalls and an abundance of greenery. Rajmachi can be reached by 2 ways, the tough route from Kondivade village, near Karjat, and the other easy but long route from Lonavla. It an excellent place for trekking and is about a 15-km hike from Lonavla. Shirdi — Shirdi is a town in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra in India. There are many buses connecting Shirdi to Pune which is 200 km away, about a 5-hour trip. Shirdi is where the saint Sai Baba lived till his samadhi in 1918. Today, it is a pilgrimage center and millions of his devotees from all over the world pay their respects each year. Torna — To reach this fort requires a steep climb. The village Velhe, at the base of the climb, is about 50 km southwest of Pune. Visapur Fort — It is less t