Places to Visit in Pune are full of life and heritage. Pune is the 2nd largest city in Maharashtra. It is the 8th largest city in India in terms of population. This metropolitan city homes a mixed culture comprising the local populace as well as a large number of migrated populations. It has a large number of tourist attractions and it is very well connected to the other major cities of the country.
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History of Pune
Pune has a very old and glorious history. Pune was the capital of the great Maratha empire in the 18th century. Poona municipality dates back to 1858. During British rule, the city was known to be called Poona. The Britishers had built a large cantonment on the eastern side of the city. This cantonment is still operational and used by the Indian army.
Location of Pune
Pune has a wonderful location. It is nestled in the Sahyadri mountain range on the leeward side and western edge of the Deccan plateau. The city has a moderate climate throughout the year. However, with an increase in pollution and other factors, the summers have become warmer since the last few years.
The city is blessed to receive appreciable amounts of rainfall during the monsoon season making it very green and picturesque. It is well connected by rail, air, and road from all major cities of the country. The proximity to the financial capital Mumbai gives the city an advantage in terms of investment potential.
Tourist Places in Pune
Here is a list of tourist places in Pune and the best places to visit in Pune. Pune sightseeing includes:
Shaniwar Wada
Shaniwar Wada was originally built in 1732. It is one of the famous places in Pune. It was the pride of Peshwas of the Maratha dynasty. It lived in its full glory till 1818 when the East India Company defeated the Marathas and collapsed 6 out of 7 stories. It has 5 gates namely:
- Dilli Darwaza
- Mastani Darwaja
- Khidki Darwaja
- Ganesh Darwaja
- Jambhul Darwaja or Narayan Darwaja
It is said that the fort was destroyed completely by fire but the exact reason is still a mystery. However, surviving close to 3 centuries the structure remains as a tourist site.
The fort is said to be a haunted site with the ghost of Narayanrao, the 5th king of the Peshwa dynasty, who was murdered by his guards in 1773. Even to date tourists strolling in the complex hear cries of Narayanrao, crying for help.
There are certainly many stories and legends behind the famed fort complex. It attracts tourists from all over and is especially crowded on weekends. It is situated in Shaniwar Peth. A musical light show is organized every evening for tourists for exhibiting the rich cultural heritage behind this monument. This is one of the best places to visit in Pune.
Show Timings:
- Marathi – 7:15 PM to 8:10 PM
- English – 8:15 PM to 9:10 PM
Other Details:
- Location – Shanivar Peth, Pune
- Entry fees – INR 5 for Indians and INR 125 for foreign nationals.
- Light and sound show fees – INR 25
- Days Open – Monday to Sunday
- Timings – 08:00 AM to 6:30 PM
Related: Spookiest places of India
Aga Khan Palace
The Aga Khan Palace also known as Gandhi National Museum is a magnificent piece of architecture and one of the beautiful places in Pune. It was built by Sultan Muhammed Shah Aga Khan III in 1892. He was one of the founding members of the All India Muslim League.
The palace was built for the purpose of charity to serve the poor in Pune and the neighbourhood when it was hit by famine. It is one of the famous places in Pune. Sarojini Naidu and Mahatma Gandhi along with his wife and his secretary were locked in the palace by the Britishers during India’s freedom struggle.
The palace has a historical significance. They were imprisoned for almost 2 years. During this period Kasturba Gandhi and Mahadev Desai lost their lives. The Samadhis of Kasturba Gandhi and Mahadev Desai are located in the palace. It also houses the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi. It is one of the must to visit place in Pune. Gandhi Memorial Society conducts morning prayer sessions every day at the samadhi for years. The palace also celebrates public functions on:
- Martyr’s Day -30 January marking the death of Mahatma Gandhi
- Mahashivratri – Marking death day of Kasturba Gandhi
- Independence Day – 15 August
- Republic Day – 26 January
- Gandhi Jayanti – 2 October
Other Details
- Location – Nagar Road, Pune
- Entry fees – INR 5 for Adults, INR 2 for kids, and INR 100 for foreign nationals.
- Days Open – Monday to Sunday
- Timings 09:00 AM to 5:30 PM
Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum
The Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum is a majestic museum which boasts of containing more than 20000 artifacts. It was built by Dr. Dinkar G Kelkar in 1962 in the loving memory of his son. His only son Raja died at the young age of 7. The museum is built in 3 stories.
The artifacts of the museum were collected by Baba Dinkar himself during his travels across the entire country. The museum has paintings, lamps, wooden scriptures, ornaments, and many other artifacts. Some of the collections include collectibles from the Mughal and Maratha dynasty dating back to the 14th century making it one of the unique places to visit in Pune.
The highlight of the museum is the replica of the Mastani Mahal which was built in 1734. It is a must-visit for lovers of art and history, thus making it one of the famous places in Pune.
Other Details
- Location – Shukrawar Peth, Pune
- Entry fee – INR 5 for Children, INR 20 for adults, INR 50 for foreign children, and INR 200 for foreign national adults.
- Days open – Monday to Sunday
- Timings – 8:30 PM to 5:30 PM
Sinhagad Fort
Sinhagad fort is located at the picturesque Bhuleshwar range of Sahyadri mountains. The term Sinhagad means lion’s fort. It was earlier known as Kondana fort.
It is one of the beautiful places to visit in Pune. It acted as an active military barrier to Marathas. This fort has witnessed many battles including the glorious battle of Sinhagad in 1690.
There is a complete ban on cooking or consumption of alcohol or Non-veg food to maintain the sanctity of the place. It provides an excellent trekking option for all adventure enthusiasts. The fort is brimming with tourists all year-round.
It is a great getaway for Punekars who want to witness the serene surroundings. If you are a nature lover or a photography enthusiast then this is one of the places to visit in Pune.
Other Details
- Location – 35 km Southwest of Pune
- Entry fee – INR 20 for 2 wheelers and INR 50 for 4 wheelers
- Days open – Monday to Sunday
- Timings – 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Parvati Hill Temple
Parvati Hill Temple was built by Balaji Bajirao in 1749. It is located at a hillock at a height of 2100 feet. 103 steps are leading to the temple. Parvati hill has an amalgamation of 5 temples.
- Devdeveshwar Temple, which is dedicated to Shiva and Parvati.
- Kartikeya Temple
- Vishnu Temple
- Vitthal Temple
- Rama Temple
The complex also contains the Peshwa museum. It is this complex where Balaji Baji Rao spent his last moments. His Samadhi is situated in this complex. This makes the temple complex one of the places to visit in Pune.
There is also a water tank beside the temple which provides water supply to almost half of this city. The hilltop gives a panoramic view of the city making it one of the Pune tourist places.
Other Details
- Location – Parvati Partha
- Entry fee – Free
- Days open – Monday to Sunday
- Timings – 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Chaturshringi Temple
Chaturshringi temple or Chatushrungi temple is one of the beautiful places in Pune. It is located on the hill slopes at Senapati Bapat road. It was built during the rule of Shivaji Maharaj.
Chaturshringi literally means 4 sided. The temple is 90 feet high and 127 meters wide. The temple is mainly famous for Goddess Durga, it also has a temple for Lord Ganesha and 8 miniature idols of Ashtavinayaka.
The temple comes to its full life during Navratri when the foothills host a fair. Thousands of pilgrims visit the temple during the 9 days. The temple is also famous because it has a natural statue of Goddess.
Other Details
- Location – Senapati Bapat Road, Shivajinagar, Pune
- Entry fee – Free
- Days open – Monday to Sunday
- Timings – 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Pataleshwar Cave Temple
Pataleshwar cave temple is one of the places to visit in Pune. It is a magnificent ancient temple dating back to the 8th. It is a monolithic creation meaning it is carved from a single rock.
The temple is dedicated to the Lord of Underworld or Patal, believed to be one of the forms of Lord Shiva, making it one of its kind in the country. The intricate carvings on the temple wall add to the grandeur of the monument. The temple site is now maintained by The Archaeological Survey of India.
The museum in the temple complex has a Guinness world record entry i.e. a single grain of rice with 5000 letters inscribed on it. The temple has other gods and goddesses like Nandi, Ganesh, Ram, Sita, and Lakshman.
The temple has no significant entry point because it could never be completed. The astonishing fact about the temple is that even the incomplete structure is so marvelous that it remains one of the best Pune tourist places.
Other Details
- Location –Jangli Maharaj Road, Pune
- Entry fee – Free
- Days open – Monday to Sunday
- Timings – 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM
Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Temple
The places to visit in Pune cannot be completed without the mention of the Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati temple. The temple was started 125 years back by Dagduseth Halwai and his wife Lakshmibai.
This temple is very prestigious for the residents of Pune. It has a beeline of devotees all year-round. The locals visit this temple and it is frequently visited by tourists coming to the city. The Ganesh Utsav is celebrated with much fanfare every year.
During this puja, you can often see many celebrities and politicians visiting the temple.
Other Details
- Location – Budhwar Peth, Pune
- Entry fee – Free
- Days open – Monday to Sunday
- Timings – 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Related: Richest Temples in India
Shinde Chhatri
Shinde Chhatri is one of the places to visit in Pune. The memorial is dedicated to the inspirational military leader Shri Mahadji Shinde.
He served as the Commander in Chief of Peshwas from the 1760s to the 1780s. The architecture of the place is Anglo-Rajasthani in style. It is a beautiful piece of architecture built in black and yellow stone. It houses elaborate colored window panels and carved ceilings.
Another important factor about the place is that the mortal remains of Shri Mahadji Shinde are present in the central hall. The fearless military leader was cremated in the Central Hall of the monument on 12 Feb 1794.
A memorial of Mahadji Shinde was built in 1965 by the descendants of Mahadji Shinde, i.e. Shrimant Maharaja Madhavrao Scindia of Gwalior and Daulat Rao Scindia of Gwalior. The monument is still managed by the Shinde Devasthan trust, Gwalior.
Other Details
- Location –Pune Cantt, Pune
- Entry fee – INR 5 for Indians and INR 25 for foreign nationals
- Days open – Monday to Sunday
- Timings – 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM
National Defence Academy
National Defence Academy is one of the places to visit in Pune. It is located in Khadakwasla. It is the first academy in the world that provides military training to all three services or the first tri-service academy. It was commissioned on 7th December 1954.
It has a sprawling campus of more than 7000 acres. NDA organizes educational and motivational visits on Sundays. Schools, educational institutes, and even individuals can visit the glorious academy and be motivated. These trips are however academic or motivational and not considered to be an excursion.
Thus, you must maintain proper attire and behavior during the entire duration of the visit. It is a popular Pune sightseeing destination.
Other Details
- Location – Khadakwasla, Pune
- Entry fee – Free
- Days open – Sunday (for visitors)
- Timings – 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM
National War Museum
The national war museum is one of the places to visit in Pune. It is dedicated to the brave Indian soldiers and their sacrifices post-independence. It is South Asia’s only museum to be sponsored by public contribution. The museum was built in 1997.
A large part of the museum features glimpses of the Kargil war. The museum has a plethora of artifacts, visuals, written memoirs during wars. Military tanks, Guns, rockets are among the displayed contents. A must-visit for defense enthusiasts and everyone with a little patriotic fervor. This is a good option for Pune sightseeing.
Other Details
- Location – Pune Cantt
- Entry fee – Free
- Days open – Monday to Sunday
- Timings – 09:00 AM to 5:30 PM
Bund Garden
Bund Garden or Pune Okayama friendship garden is one of the places to visit in Pune. It is one of its kind Japanese style gardens in the country. It is inspired by a 300-year-old Okayama Korakuen garden in Japan. It is one of the most beautiful places in Pune.
The garden showcases Indian- Japanese friendship. It is located in the heart of the city. The garden provides shelter to many exotic migratory birds in the winter season. It hosts fun activities like magic shows. The beautiful landscape is marked with a natural canal and manmade ponds and waterfalls. You can enjoy horse riding and boat along the Mula river.
The garden is also called Mahatma Gandhi Udyan or Pu La Deshpande Udyan. Pu La Deshpande, a Padma Bhushan winner in 1990, is a famous Marathi writer and humorist.
A visit in the evening with family and loved ones would be a refreshing experience from the hustle and bustle of the city. It is a famous Pune sightseeing option due to its uniqueness.
Other Details
- Location – Sinhagad Road, Pune
- Entry fee – INR 5, free for children below 3 years.
- Days open – Monday to Sunday
- Timings – 06:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Osho Ashram
Osho International Ashram is one of the places to visit in Pune. It is one of the highly famed Pune tourist places. It has a state-of-the-art meditation cum wellness center.
It started in 1974 and has since only grown in popularity. It has followers from all over the world. Spread in a sprawling 32 acres campus, the ashram boasts of having the world’s largest meditation resort. Osho international offers many programs or meditation courses.
The founder Rajneesh is considered to be one of the most controversial spiritual leaders of all time. He was also tagged as the ‘Sex Guru’. His open attitude towards human sexuality gifted him the title. His liberal thoughts about socialism, religion were mostly criticized by fellow countrymen.
In the 1980’s he had built an entire city Rajneeshpuram in the United States. However, post Rajneesh’s death and with time, his teachings have gained public acceptance. The meditation courses offered are Nadabramha, Nataraj, Kundalini, etc.
One day passes are available for a visit to the ashram for non-members. A compulsory medical test is done for all visitors. Visit Osho Ashram if you want to spend your day in a spiritual and peaceful environment.
Other Details
- Location – Koregaon Park, Pune
- Entry fee – INR 60 for a 1-day pass. Separate charges for programs and medical tests
- Days open – Monday to Sunday
- Timings – 06:00 AM to 10:30 PM
Saras Baug
Saras Baug was built in 1784 by the Peshwas. The park is one of the beautiful places in Pune. It has a lot of open spaces and a play area for children.
The Ganesh temple located in the center of the park is of much significance and attracts hordes of tourists. The temple was named “Talyatla Ganapati”, meaning Ganesh temple in a lake. Earlier, the temple used to be in between a lake and there was no garden.
The lake was later removed and a garden was built up. It is one of the favorite picnic spots for Punekars. This park also has a great sunset view making it the favorite with photographers.
You can find the place crowded especially in the evenings and on weekends and during Ganesh Chaturthi. You can visit the place if you love nature and greenery. After all, a peaceful place like this can relieve your stress.
Other Details
- Location –Sadashiv Peth, Pune
- Entry fee – Free
- Days open – Monday to Sunday
- Timings – 06:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park
Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park is one of the beautiful places in Pune. It is spread on a vast campus of close to 130 acres. It is located near Katraj lake.
The considerable size of the zoo and its proximity to a natural lake makes the animals feel close to their natural habitat. The zoo is home to more than 350 animals including some rare endangered species.
The zoo is divided into 4 sections namely:
- Katraj Lake
- The Zoo
- Animal Orphanage
- Snake Par
The demarcation is done for easing the maintenance. It is a preferred picnic spot for the locals. If you are an animal lover then you are bound to have a great time visiting the place. The zoo also provides adoption facilities, thus now you can adopt any animal of your choice. The adoption fee is spent entirely for the benefit of the animal. The zoo remains closed every Wednesday. You can also hire a guide to take you around the zoo.
Timings
- 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM (1st April to 15th June)
- 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM (16th June to 31st March)
Other Details
- Location – Katraj, Pune
- Entry fee – INR 40 for adults, INR 10 for kids below 4 feet, and INR 100 for foreign nationals. Camera charges are separate.
- School students can avail of special discounts when going on school trips.
- Battery operated vehicles are available on a rental basis.
- Days open – All Days except Wednesday
Mulshi Dam
A 2-hour drive from Pune, Mulshi dam is one of the beautiful places to visit in Pune. It can be a great getaway from the city. Mulshi dam was constructed as early as the 1920’s making it one of the oldest dams in the country.
It was constructed with a vision of providing irrigation and hydroelectric power generation by Tata power. It is a gravity dam and has been operational since 1927.
The dam is located in the catchment area of the Mula river and is nestled in the scenic beauty of Sahyadri ranges. There are many resorts in the vicinity of this dam. This makes it one of the most beautiful places in Pune.
It is very crowded on weekends. It is one of the favorite picnic spots for the Punekars. The dam comes to life during monsoons. It is one of the beautiful places in Pune.
Other Details
- Location – Mulshi Taluka, Pune
- Entry fee – Free
- Days open – Monday to Sunday
- Timings – 24 hr
Khadakwasla Dam
Khadakwasla Dam is one of the beautiful places in Pune. It is located on the Mutha river that flows through Pune. It is a 1.6 km long dam and is considered to be an engineering marvel. It also creates a reservoir in its vicinity called Khadakwasla lake.
The reservoir and dam provide water to most of the city and its suburbs. The dam has a sad history of disaster that occurred at 7:30 AM on 12 July 1961 as it was unable to withstand water more than its capacity. It is a preferred picnic spot for many city dwellers because of the natural surroundings and its proximity to the city. The dam attracts a crowd every evening.
Other Details
- Location – Khadakwasla, Pune
- Entry fee – Free
- Days open – Monday to Sunday
- Timings – 24 h
Vetal Hill
Vetal Hill is one of the beautiful places in Pune. It is located at a height of 2600 feet making it the highest point of Pune. It is considered to be one of the hang out places for people. Many people visit the place for jogging, walking, or just strolling around.
Other Details
- Location – Pashan, Pune
- Entry fee – Free
- Days open – Monday to Sunday
- Timings – 05:00 AM to 09:30 PM
Lal Mahal
Lal Mahal or Red Palace is one of the beautiful places in Pune. It is an imposing structure in red. It was built by the father of Shivaji Maharaj, Shree Shahaji Bhosle. This was made by him for his wife Jijabai and son Shivaji. Jijamata garden still exists in the palace compound.
Shivaji’s famous war with Shaista Khan occurred in this palace. It is also said that Shivaji had cut the fingers of Shaista Khan when he was trying to escape the palace. The pictorial representation on walls shows Shivaji Maharaj’s major life events including present inside the palace complex walls.
Other Details
- Location – Kasba Peth
- Entry fee – Free
- Days open – Monday to Sunday
- Timings – 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Pune Vacation Ideas
Apart from tourist places in Pune, there are other Pune sightseeing attractions in the city, Pune has a lot to offer as weekend getaways. There are many places of interest outside Pune city limits.
Some of the Pune vacation ideas include:-
Mahabaleshwar
The hill station of Mahabaleshwar is famous for its peaks and cool weather. A 3 hours drive from Pune located about 120 km on NH 48 is the town of Mahabaleshwar.
The hill station is the highest point of Maharashtra state. The hill stations have beautiful peaks and many places of interest such as Elephants Peak, Lodwick point, and Vienna lake to name a few. The towns of Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar are connected and are home to the highest point of Maharashtra. Mahabaleshwar is famous for its strawberries.
This city accounts for 85% of strawberry that is produced in the country and is famously referred to as the ‘Strawberry Capital of India’. Thus, Mahabaleshwar can be included in Pune travel planning.
Lonavala
A 65 km drive from Pune on the Western express highway takes you to the twin cities of Lonavala and Khandala. Another hill station that lives up to its expectation.
This place is famous for its Chikki. This delicacy is made in different flavors and varieties. This hill station provides much-needed relief to the city dwellers, especially during the summer season.
However, this place is crowded throughout the year owing to its proximity to Pune as well as Mumbai. Some of the tourist attractions are Lonavala lake, Bushi Dam, Kune falls, Lions point, Lohagarh Fort, Karla Caves, etc. You can always plan a weekend trip to Lonavala or Khandala.
This destination is a must for Pune travel planning.
Aamby Valley
Located in Mulshi valley, western ghats Lavasa city was touted to be India’s first private city and planned hill station.
An ambitious project which started around the 2000s is spread over 25,000 acres of land. The controversial project got halted after almost 10 years of construction due to land and environmental issues.
The city is open for the public and serves as a tourist spot. The city is around 60 km from Pune and is thronged by Punekars especially on weekends. So, Aamby valley can be included in Pune travel planning.
Imagica
If you are into adventure and you love amusement parks then there can be no better place than Imagica. It is situated at a distance of 90 km from Pune on the western express highway.
This amusement park is famous for its rides. It boasts of having the fastest roller coaster of the country namely ‘Hot Wheels’. Imagica is the biggest amusement park in India. A 2 hrs drive from Pune, this place can make your weekend well spent.
Sightseeing in Pune
Pune apart from having a rich cultural history is a city full of life. It has been adjudged as the most livable city in India more than once. The local crowd is very complaisant. The city has a huge student crowd owing to a large number of colleges and institutes in the city.
The IT and MNC culture of the city also contributes to young and energetic Punekars. The city has several lounges and cafes. Pune city has an awesome nightlife with many night clubs and pubs all around the city. Kalyani Nagar, Viman Nagar are a few hot spots for night clubs.
Shopping in Pune
The city has a large number of shopping malls for your retail therapy. The malls are located at all corners of the city, Phoenix Market City mall, Amanora Mall, and Pavillion Mall are some of the best malls.
The shopping options are not only limited to malls if you like street shopping then, but Pune is also the city for you. A walk on FC road, Fashion Street or MG Road and you will be spellbound by the things the market has to offer.
Best Food in Pune
Talking about eateries, the city serves all kinds of cuisines ranging from North Indian food, South Indian Delicacies, Continental, Italian, fast food chains, Nonveg barbeques, and the list goes on.
The city loves tea and coffee, you will find a cafe in almost every street in the city. The very hyped Tandoori Chai started its journey from Pune and now is in vogue in the entire country.
The city is famous for its street food, be it the spicy chat treats, or sweet tooth cravings, Pune has it all. The city offers a lot of variety when it comes to street food. Rohit Wada pav, Ganesh Bhel, Amruttulya Tea are some of the famous chains in Pune.
Sujata Mastani established in 1967 is famous for its milkshakes with ice cream. It is quite astonishing that the drink of milkshake and ice cream was pioneered by this chain, which is now in every household.