As a tourist destination, Pune is a popular destination in India. This city is visited by many tourists every year. A long list of sightseeing options awaits you once you reach Pune. If you are planning to travel to Pune in coming vacations and don’t have any idea about tourist places in Pune then this blog might be helpful for you. You would be glad to know that Pune is blessed with number of tourist attractions. As there are many Pune attractions and it is difficult to mention all of them here, so some of the famous Pune attractions are mentioned below:
Shaniwar wada:
Shaniwar wada was the stately mansion originally built as the residence of the Peshwas. The foundation of the mansion was laid by Bajirao 1 in the year 1730 AD and construction was completed in 1732 AD at a cost of Rs. 16,120, which was once a seven storied structure was gutted by a fire in the palace. Only the remains can be seen now like the fortification walls with five gateways and nine bastions that enclosed the entire palace.
Aga Khan Palace:
This palace was built in 1892 by Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah Agakhan III. He was elected as the President of the League of Nations in 1938 and was well renowned in the field of politics and sports. The palace was later donated to India by Aga Khan IV in 1969 as a mark of respect to Gandhiji and his philosophy. The Agakhan Palace Pune is a national monument of India’s freedom movement. Following the launch of Quit India movement in 1942, Gandhiji, his wife Kasturba, his secretary Mahadevbhai Desai was interned at the palace from August 9, 1942 to May 6, 1944. Mahadevbhai and Kasturba passed away while in captivity at the Agakhan palace and their samadhis are located in the campus. Situated near the River Mula, the palace is a simple memorial to Gandhi and his life.
Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum:
Kelkar Museum was established in 1962 by Baba Dinkar Kelkar and was donated to the Maharashtra government in 1975. The museum has 20,000 different articles, all personally collected by Baba Kelkar from all over the world. When his son died at the age of seven, he decided to do something in his remembrance and that is how the idea of building this museum was conceived. There is a room in the museum which almost steals your heart. It is a recreation of the Mastnai Mahal which was originally built in 1734 in Kothrud, Pune. It has a luxurious setting, colourful paintings and chandeliers, all to give the feel of a palace.
University of Pune:
The University of Pune is a feather in the cap of Pune’s educaion system, placing Pune as a pemier education destination for students from all over the world. Established in 1948, the university has since become one of the leading centres for research and teaching in the country. It is spread over a 400 acre campus and is located in the north-western part of Pune.
Saras Baug:
The Sarasbaug temple houses the idol of Shree Siddhivinayak. In 1784, Shrimant Sawai Madhavrao Peshwa built a small temple in Sarasbaug and installed the idol of Shree Siddhivinayak Gajanan, the God he worshipped. Sarasbaug has now become a place of worship for people from all over the world and also a popular hang-out for Punekars.
Shinde Chatri
Shinde Chatri houses the Samadhi of Shrimant Mahadji Shinde. He was a man of great deeds. The Shiv mandir in the temple campus was built by Shrimant Mahadji in 1794. The temple has beautiful architectural designs and remains unaffected by the passage of years.
Sinhagad:
Sinhagad is a very popular weekend destination from Pune. Easily the most popular getaway, not withstanding that it’s much closer than the other forts, the Pashan Lake and the lovely drive makes it a much adored and a desired picnic and getaway spot. The Lion Fort, as it would quite literally translate into, is located 25 kilometers South of Pune perched on a steep hill.
National Defence Academy:
The National Defence Academy is an iconic institution, a global brand of excellence in the sphere of military education. Over the years it has emerged as a unique military academy, attracting the best of youth from our nation and also from friendly foreign countries and transforming them into officers and gentlemen.
Karla Caves:
The Karla Caves or Karle Caves are a complex of ancient Indian Buddhist rock-cut cave shrines developed over two periods – from the 2nd century BC to the 2nd century AD, and from the 5th century AD to the 10th century. Karla and Bhaja caves are kind of sister caves, as in most tourists visit both of them in a single day as they are less than 10 kms apart. Karla caves are also of Buddhist origin and look similar to the excavations at Bhaja.
Dagdusheth Ganpati:
Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapati Temple in Pune, India is a temple dedicated to the Hindu God Ganesh. The temple is located a short distance from the historical Shaniwar Wada fort, which was administrative headquarters of Peshwas of Maratha Empire. About Temple, Shreemant Dagdusheth Halwai Sarvajanik Ganpati Trust consistently put effort to celebrate this festival following the thought process of the intellectuals and also satisfying the expectation, hopes and aspirations of the common man.
Other Attractions:
Khandala:
Mulshi dam:
Malshej Ghat:
Lavasa City:
