Pune City Attractions & Top Destinations Maharashtra
Pune known as the ‘Oxford of the East’ attracts good numbers of vacationers from different corners of the world. Pune was earlier ruled by Chatrapati Shivaji but after the end of his empire, the Peshwa family ruled the city. However after the battle of Painipat, the Maratha Empire started declining and in the year 1818 and it was taken over by British East India Company. With the boom in information technology business, many management and engineering institutes have emerged in the recent years and it is slowly emerging as the cosmopolitan city of India.
The ubiquitous presence of verdant hills and spaces makes Pune an excellent place to plan a holiday. The travelers while on the tour to Pune can shop at malls, visit nature park, eat at famous restaurants and stay at the Hotels in Pune. Pune has a temperate climate and is amongst the lush green urban areas of the country. The major tourist magnets of Pune are as follows:
Osho Ashram: Osho Ashram is the holy sanctorum of spiritual master Rajneesh. Millions of pilgrims throng this ashram to achieve spiritual enlightenment. This center also offers various expensive courses on spirituality and life management. Located at 17 Koregaon Park, the general visitors have to pay 60 rupees to plan a tour to Osho Ashram. The visitors have to pay 60 rupees in which one hour video about the activities at Osho Ashram is also shown to the visitors. The near by Nulla Park is also called as Osho Teerth which is open for public from 6:00 Am to 9:00 Am and 7:00 Pm to 10:00 Pm. Causal visitors can view video. For doing the spiritual courses the visitors have to provide the authorities with pass port sized photographs and have to pass through the HIV negative test.
Shaniwar Wada: Shanivar Wada was constructed in 1736 by Bajirao Peshwa I. It was once a 7 storied lavish palace which got into ruins after the mysterious fire in 1827 turned down the whole palace into ashes. Presently, the travelers can view few bastions and the gates of the entire palace. Some of its damaged portions can still be viewed by the vacationers seeking for some exciting exploration. This palace is located in the narrow winding fortified walls of the city. The palace remains opens from 8:00 Am to 6: 30Pm.
Shinde Chatri: The architectural marvel, few kilometers away from the Pune race course, attrcats large numbers of visitors from every nook and corner of the world. The travelers here can figure out the remains of warriors’ weapons and other artifacts. You can see the warrior`s painted silver likeness, swathed in a flame-colored turban and elaborate shawl. At his feet are the original prayer vessels, used to propitiate the family deity each morning. A sign asks you not to open an umbrella within the Chhatri`s precincts, as it would be an insult to the warrior`s memory.
Raja Dinker Museum: The Raja Dinker Museum houses the collection of antiques from the periods of Marathas, Peshwas and Mughals. The mirrors, weapons, accessories, earthen pots and many more things can be figured out at this museum. All the above mentioned artifacts were donated by Shree Dinker Kelkar. The timings of this are from 8:30 Am to 5:00 Pm.
Pataleshwar temples: The Pataleshwar temple is nestled in the rock cut cave. This temple is carved from the single rock. There are pillars and it shares close resemblance to the caves of Ellora and Ajanta. This temple is adorned with Shiva Linga and a Nandi Bull.
Tribal Museum: The tribal museum documents the cultures of different region particularly from Gondwana and Sahyadri regions. It is open from 10:00 Am to 5:00 Pm in the morning. This museum is not covered in the tour halt.
Gandhi National Memorial: The Gandhi National Memorial was once a palace which was donated by Aga Khan. It is the same place where Mahatma Gandhi was imprisoned and Kasturba Gandhi died during internment. The remains of those golden times can be traced here. The memorial opens from 9:00 Am to 5:45 Pm.
Vishkramkang Wada: The Vishkramkang Wada is a three storied mansion. This mansion carries a close resemblance with the architectural style of Peshwas. In the mid 16th century, this mansion got heavily damaged. In the year 1958, this mansion was again restored to its original structure. Today this mansion is the administrative office of government department. What a strange destiny for the mansion which was once the king’s throne.
Bund Garden: Bund garden is located on the right bank of the Mula Mutha river, only a couple of km North East of Pune Railway Station. A stroll along the river bank is assured to bestow the revelers with refreshing effect. The cool evening boat ride in the backwaters is another option which can surely be a blissful experience. The Bund gardens is an excellent tourist magnet for all those travelers who are fun loving and want to indulge themselves in the thrill of boat ride.
Saras Bang: The Saras Bang is a small hillock in the center where the travelers can tale a stroll. The temple was formerly surrounded by lake which was later reclaimed in the form of park. Today this destination is a public place where the travelers enjoy their evenings with their family, friends or some one really special.
Parvati Hill: This famous landmark is located on the Southern end of the city. This hill houses the temples of Lord Shiva, Parvati, Parvati, Kartikeyan, Vishnu and Ganesha. The Parvati temple used to be private shrine for offering prayers by the Peshwas. The hill also have Parvati museum which houses the historical monuments and various antiques existed during the Peshwa period. The Parvati hill surrounded by hills and rivers is the certainly a great place for the vacationers where the travelers can laze around and can spend their time in complete peace and seclusion.
Peshwe Udyan: The Peshwe Udyan is maintained by Municipal Corporation. It is zoo which houses variety of animal species. A toy train ride and boating facilities are the special attractions for the vacationers.
Katraj Snake Park: The Katraj Snake Park nestled near the Bhartiya Vidyapeeth campus has different species of snakes, reptiles and birds. Maintained by municipality, this park attracts good numbers of visitors from every corner of world.
Pune University: Pune University is located on 400 acres of sprawling grounds. It was once the official residence of the governor of Mumbai. Built in the Italian Gothic style, this monument is the best instance of architectural marvel. The Pune University is today the center of education which can be visited by the travelers by any time of the season.
