Best Places to Visit in Pune
Table of Contents
Once the capital of the illustrious Maratha empire, today Pune is one of the most beautiful and sprawling cities of Maharashtra. It has emerged as a major educational hub of India. Apart from being home to some of the best universities in India, Pune is also known for its art, culture and historical monuments. The city also hosts many cultural activities all around the year. Because of the rich geographical splendour and its vast history, it holds some of the best gardens, museums, forts and palaces in this part of the country. All this makes the city a popular destination amongst tourists. Whether you are visiting Pune for a weekend or to spend your vacations, here is a list of some of the best places to visit in Pune.
1. Raigad Fort:
This is a huge fort built by Shivaji Maharaj. It proudly stands on the rocky hills of Pune and is considered as one of the most eminent places to visit during a tour of Maharashtra. It holds valuable relics from Shivaji’s time and is a perfect tourist destination for friends, families and kids. Surrounded by lush green forest, the fort looks heavenly during monsoon and winters. You can take climb steps to reach the fort or get there by ropeway. The charges of the ropeway are ₹185 per person. It is a good to hire a guide. He will charge approximately ₹350 for a group of 5-10 people. If you go down by steps, it will take approximately 2 hours.
2. Diamond Water Park:
This is one of the most popular water parks in Maharashtra to spend some fun time with friends or family. The park offers some of the best water rides, wave pools, rain dance, splash fun, outdoor activities and food options. Timings of the parks are from 10 am to 5.30 pm and tickets start from ₹750. If you book your tickets via the online portal, there is a possibility that you may grab a good discount. It is advisable to not wear uncomfortable dresses, sarees, flowy gowns and dhotis. Nylon swimwear is a must and smoking on the premises is prohibited. Outside food is also not allowed inside the park.
3. Shaniwarwada:
Over 286 years old, this fort was built in 1732. It is a magnificent building of 7 floors that represents the architecture and royalty of the Maratha Empire. Despite the fact that just ruins remain of the great fort, it is known as an architectural masterpiece of India. The light and sound show of Shanivarwada is one of the major attractions here. The show narrates the great tales of Shivaji Maharaj in two languages: Hindi and Marathi. Entry fees of ₹ 5 for Indians and ₹ 25 for foreigners is applicable. Timings are 9 am to 5.30 am. No one is allowed to visit the fort at night, as it is said to be one of the most haunted locations of India. Although it is dreaded for its paranormal activities, it stills remains one of the most visited places in Pune.
4. Agha Khan Palace:
The palace was built in 1892 to generate employment in the region after the famine. It took 5 years to build this palace. It is historically important because Mahatma Gandhi, along with his wife Kasturba Gandhi and Secretary Mahadev Desai, stayed in this palace as a prisoner. The ashes of Mahatma Gandhi are also kept here near the memorials of both his wife and secretary. The palace also holds Gandhi museum which opens at 9 am and closes at 5.30 pm. Tickets are priced at ₹5 for Indian adults, ₹2 for Indian children and ₹100 for foreigners.
5. Shopping and cuisine:
Pune offers some excellent shopping and dining options. FC market, Hongkong lane, Laxmi road, Fashion Street Camp, Cover Centre, Koregaon Park, Abc Pune and Juna bazaar are some of the best places to shop in Pune. At these places, you will get everything you want, including clothes, jewellery and gadgets. Pune is famous for its local Maharashtrian food such as misal pav, vada pav, sabudana khichdi, sheera etc. but it also has a number of restaurants serving excellent international cuisines.
This is just a glimpse of the places to visit in Pune. To enjoy all the flavours of Maharashtra, sightseeing, culture and rich heritage of Pune, you must visit the city for at least 5 days. This city offers some of the best hotels in India. You can find budget hotels, boutique hotels, 3-4-5 star hotels, independent villas and holiday homes to stay in Pune. Hotels in Pune are available to suit all budgets and you must compare the price on a reliable travel website before booking them to grab the best deal.
