8/7/2019 Fun Things to Do in Pune

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 Fun Things To Do In  Pune    

Pune, formerly called Poona, derives its name from Punya-Nagari, meaning the blessed city.

Living under the shadow of its glamorous cousin, Mumbai, Pune has thus far been to the

denizens of Maharashtra what Mysore is to Bangaloreans – a place to plan their retirement in.

But having broken free of the shackles of this odious comparison, Pune today is a city teeming

with the best that any metropolis has to offer, while retaining its old worldly charm.

Being the cultural capital of Maharashtra (take that, Mumbai!), and with the majority of the

population being Hindu, Pune is home to many temples, most notable among them being the

Halwai Ganpati temple and the Parvati temple on Parvati hill. For those interested in religious

places with historic significance, there is the temple of Dakshinamurthy, situated near theconfluence of three rivers, Bhima, Indrayani and Bhama. For those with a fascination for

architecture, there’s the world famous Pataleshwar rock-cut temple complex built in the

8th century, as also the Aga Khan Palace, Shaniwarwada and Lal Mahal. ISKCON also has

built a temple in Pune, the Shri Radha Kunjbihari temple.

If you’re more spiritually inclined but not religiously so, there is the world famous Osho

Ashram, going by the name of Osho International Meditation Resort, on the outskirts of the

city. Founded by the late Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, fondly known as Osho, who preached

“free love”, this ashram is one of the most popular spiritual retreats of the world, attracting

visitors from over a hundred countries.

Pune is the largest city in the Western Ghat region and is surrounded by beautiful mountain

ranges, the Sahyadris, which have been an inspiration to travelers and poets for centuries.

Trekking and hiking the Sahyadris have long held fascination for the adventurous and the

romantics at heart. The Sinhagad fort, located just outside the city, is one of the key tourist

destinations. The north-western suburbs boast of a manmade lake, the Pashan Lake.

Being the cultural hub of the state, Pune boasts of richness in terms of arts, craft, theatre,

music, festivals and the like. It is also home to FTII, India’s premier film institute, with the

who’s who of the Indian film industry being invited for guest lectures and interactive sessions

with the students and the larger audience.

The Sawai Gandharva music festival held every year in December with Pandit Bhimsen Joshi at

the helm of affairs fetes the life and achievements of Pandit Sawai Gandharva and attracts

classical music enthusiasts from all over the country as well as the world. This is one of the

most popular Indian classical music festivals.

If you’re fond of public monuments, memorials and museums, be sure to check out the Pu La

Deshpande Garden, Babasaheb Ambedkar Museum and War Memorial Museum. An

environment friendly city that Pune is, it is also home to many gardens, most notable among

them the Kamala Nehru Park and the Shahu Udyan.

Matheran, a hill station about 2 hours away from Pune, is also a hugely popular tourist

destination, known for its hilly terrain, located about 800 meters above sea level and verdant

lushness for miles and miles around. Khandala, romanticized in the Aamir Khan- Rani

Mukherjee song Aati kya Khandala, is another popular hotspot for visitors to Pune and Mumbai,

situated conveniently in between the two cities, easily reachable on the Mumbai-Pune

expressway. While in Khandala, or in Pune for that matter, don’t miss the Lonavla chikki.

Coming to what one can eat here, Pune is a vegetarian’s delight offering some signature

dishes that are loved all over the country. For one, there’s the famous dabeli – the Indian

burger that has at its core a mix of spicy mashed potatoes, peanuts and pomegranate seeds,

set inside two halves of a bun and served with some spicy chutney. This is the main dish whenit comes to street food and is sold on street corners as well as hotels and fast food joints.

Traditional Pune food also includes Misal Pav, a variation of the Pav Bhaji and Mastani, a thick

dried fruit milkshake, named after Mastani, the wife of Baji Rao, a Peshwa during the

17thcentury.

Pune might well have been known as Mumbai’s country cousin, but it has stayed true to its

style and offers a great mix of city comfort as well as small town joie de vivre. You truly have

to be blessed to visit this city of virtue.

Book you Holidays to Pune at http://www.makemytrip.com/