Things to Do in Pune

History of Shaniwar Wada:

 Architecture of Shaniwar Wada:

This red colored palace is one of the most prominent attractions in Pune that you must add to your bucket list when you are visiting Pune. The place was built by the father of Shivaji, Shahaji Bhosale with the intention to revive the recently destroyed city of Pune in 1630 CE. However, the original structure was completely demolished in a series of attacks that befell Pune and now the structure that stands was only a part of original Lal Mahal once.

The new Lal Mahal was thus rebuilt in an entirely new way near the Shaniwar Wada in Pune. When visiting the Lal Mahal, tourists can see a great collection of oil paintings that showcase various events in the life of Shivaji Maharaj. There is also a statue of Shivaji’s mother Jijamata and there is a popular place for recreation for kids at Jijamata Garden. Lal Mahal is also famous as the place in history where Shivaji Maharaj cut the fingers of Shaistekhan, the Mughal invader when he was trying to escape from the Lal Mahal.

Location: Lal Mahal, Kasbapeth area, Pune, Maharashtra, India.

Best Time to visit: Tourists can plan their trip to Lal Mahal any time throughout the year in Pune.

Entry fee:  The cost of entering the place is INR 3/ 0.046 USD Per Person.

Timings: The timings for the mornings are from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM and for the evenings, the timing is from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM

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. 

This is the biggest Japanese garden in the world outside Japan and has also been featured in many Bollywood movies. The garden has become a key attraction in Pune and is also referred to as Pu. La. Deshpande Garden, in fond memory of Pu. La. Deshpande, a renowned Marathi writer.

The Japanese believe that "to have something, there also has to be nothing". This Yin and Yang philosophy of having light and darkness, stillness and motion, soft and hard, warm and cold is depicted in the garden through the composition of natural elements like fire, harmony, line, spirit, world, and water. The Japanese consider gardens as spiritual places to meditate and seek one’s inner self and the Pune Okayama Garden stands perfectly in line with this ideology. 

The verdant lawns and the soothing ambience revitalizes one’s senses and kindles their spiritual call. One can experience unexplained happiness and contentment just as they step into the garden! 

The garden has beautiful natural landscapes and man-made add-ons that make it look so spectacular. The canal running through the garden is filled with colourful fish and the moon bridge over the canal is a great location to spot the bright orange coloured fish swimming around. 

The attractions within the garden include a waterfall, a pond, lanterns, artificial hillocks, and a forest. The landscape of the garden is diverse and as one walks through the serene pathways listening to the rumbling sound of the stream and the chirping of the birds, one can witness the change in the garden landscape. There are Pergolas around this huge garden, where one can sit, relax, and enjoy the tranquillity engulfing this place. 

The park is maintained extremely well and visitors are not allowed to picnic or stroll through the lawn. The tall, thick trees and the numerous varieties of flowering plants at Pune Okayama Garden are undeniably an exhilarating respite to the sore eyes!

Vetal Hill is popularly known as Vetal Tekdi. It is one of the most famous places amongst the locals residing in Pune. Fitness freaks frequent Vetal Hill quite often for either an early morning walk, jog, trek or to cycle. Situated just 10km from Pune railway station, it is easily accessible by road. Vetal Hill is one of the highest points in Maharashtra at an elevation of 2600ft. This is a perfect place for a family picnic, photography, birding or just an outing along with friends on a weekend.

The forest officials have constructed a deck at the top of the hill which offers a spell-bounding landscape of mother nature. Vetal Hill is a popular tourist destination which has a rich flora and fauna along with small lakes, colourful birds, green in every shade and a breathtaking view of the surroundings.

The hill is dotted with chirping birds, peacock, rabbits, falcons and colourful butterflies. Apart from the famous Vetal temple the Chaturshringi temple too finds its place here.

One has to scale close to 100 steps to offer prayers to goddess Chaturshringi along with other gods and goddesses. Birders frequent this place to spot colourful birds like robin, francolin, minivet, bulbuls and many more. Spend a weekend with friends and family at the gorgeous Vetal hills surrounded by fluttering butterflies, chirping birds and distant echo from nearby villages.

An early morning trek to Vetal Hill is highly recommended to witness the gorgeous sunrise. Vetal Hill has a temple at the top of the hill dedicated to the goddess Vetala. Thus the mountain has been named after the temple worshipping the goddess.

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.

Amongst the most famous ‘tekdis’ and hillocks in the town of Pune, Maharashtra, Parvati Hill offers visitors gorgeous and stunning views of the surrounding valley. With a history dating back to almost 250 years, Parvati Hill is famous for its temples and museums, in addition to being one of the oldest structures in Pune.

Built in the early mid-17th century, the Parvati Hill Temple Complex can be found on Parvati Hill. The temple is located at the top of the hill and enshrines the idols of Lord Ganesha, Goddess Parvati, Lord Vishnu, Lord Karthikeya as well as Devateshwar. It is also said to have served as the sole place of worship of the Peshwa rulers in the bygone eras.

Situated at an elevation of almost 640 metres above sea level, it is also one of the most beautiful locations in the whole city of Pune and offers a great view of the entire city. One can reach the top of the hill simply by climbing 103 steps which are marked by specialised stone architectural works of the Maratha style.

Moreover, the hillock also has the Parvati Museum, which boasts of age-old manuscripts, rare weaponry and one-of-a-kind coins. Located near the museum are the Sati Monument and Vetal Chabutra. Additionally, the museum complex also houses the Samadhi Sthan of Shrimant Nanasaheb Peshwa.

The Parvati Hill Temple Complex is one of the oldest heritage structures in the city, still serving as a gentle yet magnificent reminder of the rule of the Peshwas in the region. Many old legends suggest that Balaji Bajirao, the Peshwa ruler, used to watch the Battle of Kirkee and the subsequent defeat of the British from this hill.

Originally a dam used for irrigation and hydroelectricity generation, Mulshi Lake and Dam is now one of the most notable attractions in Pune. The place attracts a number of visitors who wish to relax in the serene ambience of nature and rejuvenate their soul away from all the hubbub of city life. Mul shi Lake and Dam gets its picturesque landscape as it is nestled beautifully between two hills and verdant forests.

Gear up to be fascinated by an amazing collection of Indian artefacts at Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum in Pune. The museum boasts of having more than 20,000 artefacts which Baba Kelkar collected during his lifetime to leave behind a legacy for the future generations. One can see various paintings, handicrafts, musical instruments and a number of other objects of art collected from all over the world.

A must visit for all the tourists in Pune, Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum showcases various items that will leave you spellbound. One can see anything and everything here from door frames to musical instruments. For lovers of history, there are many artefacts which date back to the 18th and 19th century and makes for a wonderful revisit down the lanes of past.

Location:  Bajirao Road, near Abhinav Kala Mandir, Pune, Maharashtra.

Best time to visit: The museum is great for visiting throughout the year.

Entry fee: The ticket fees to enter here are INR 15/ USD 0.23

Timings: Raj Dinakar Kelkar Museum can be visited any day of the week from 9 am to 6 pm 

Maharashtra is blessed with a number of picturesque travel destinations that has a magnetic pull to nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts. Whether it is the verdant hills or dense forests, monsoon adds a mystical charm to these places when they look rejuvenated and green. 

Taljai Hills is a popular weekend getaway in the city of Pune, which is a favourite of tourists for its abounding natural beauty and exotic fauna. Tucked in the Western Ghats with a pleasant climate virtually round the year, the place has a number of attractions for environmentalists and shutterbugs. The open forest area provides a relaxing haven for morning and evening walks.

Taljai Hills is popular among the Punekars for the famous temple of Taljai Mata Devi located atop the hill. The road to the temple is a zigzag bituminous trail along the forest area which you have to hike as no vehicles reach up to the summit of the hill. Since the forest is not dense, you have a good opportunity to explore the place as you hike up to the temple. 

During your trip you can spot number of migratory birds, rare species of butterflies, peacocks and rabbits in their natural habitat. The temple area is well maintained with paved sitting area where travellers can sit and rest for a while. En route the Taljai Mata temple you will come across a pond where you can see ducks swimming in playful moods.

It is a rare sight to delight! Taljai Hills is a perfect spot for outdoor picnic and excursions where you can be one with nature and unwind your fetters for some time. From the temple top, you can enjoy a 360 degree panoramic view of the Pune city at the backdrop of the emerald green Western Ghats.