Pune

Pune (Marathi: पुणे Puṇe), formerly Poona, is the second largest city in the Indian state of Maharashtra with an estimated population of 7.4 million as of 2020. It is also considered the state's cultural capital. Pune is known for its educational tourism and has a blend of cultural, business, health, and cuisine tourism background. The large student population in the city makes for a lively nightlife and vibrant atmosphere. Pune also houses fantastic restaurants, good museums, and hill forts which offer panoramic views.

Understand


Pune (poo-nneh) has a long history that stretches back nearly 1600 years. Pataleshwar caves (near Jangli Maharaj Road) from the 5th century are evidence of Pune's old settlements.

Pune is a gateway to knowledge about the past with opportunities to learn from the help of forts, monuments, museums and higher-learning institutions. From the medieval Maratha history of King Shivaji to a visit to Aga Khan Palace to learn about Mahatma Gandhi's non-violent freedom struggle, there is much to learn here. If the quote "Freedom is my birthright and I shall have it!" sounds interesting, make a visit to the Gayakwadwada museum. If interested in ancient Indian history or Indology, then Deccan College, Bharat Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal, and Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute are places of research and learning and house their own museums as well.

Pune has been called the "Oxford of the East". It is a university town. There are many colleges and institutes here that offer everything from engineering to fine arts. These establishments boast a large number of foreign students in addition to locals.

Climate
The climate of Pune is quite pleasant. Pune has three distinct seasons: summer, monsoon and winter. Summers are typically hot with maximum temperatures ranging from 35 to 42°C. The warmest month in Pune is generally April as compared to the rest of the Deccan Plateau where it is May.

Pune does not get very hot. Even during the peak of summer, the air is cool and standing under a tree can give respite from the heat. However, as frequent sunlight can cause sunburn, be sure to carry and use sunscreens (above SPF-30). The nights in Pune are significantly cooler than most other parts of this region due to its high altitude.

The average rainfall is approx 550 mm. The city often receives thundershowers with heavy downpours in May, which brings down the temperature. The rainy season can sometimes be gloomy, with cloud cover for many days in a row. In winter, day temperatures can be as low as 24 - 28°C and temperatures at night as low as 5 - 8°C. Winters are generally dry. Normally, the climate in Pune is pleasant during the month of November.

Talk
Pune is a fairly cosmopolitan city. Although Marathi is the official language of the city and also the most common language spoken on the streets, most people also speak Hindi along with English.

Get in
Pune is a major transportation hub for Western Maharashtra. It serves as the gateway for the numerous hill stations in the Sahyadri Hills.

By train
Pune has many connections to other Indian cities by train. Check train availability on the Indian Rail website before you go, as train timings are subject to change. There are mainline routes to Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai.

By car
Pune is served by three national highways (NH) and an expressway.
 * NH 4 between Mumbai in the west and Chennai in the south passes through Pune. NH 4, a part of the Golden Quadrilateral of highways connects Pune to Bangalore also. Satara, Kolhapur and Kagal all in Maharashtra are connected to Pune by NH 4. National Highway 4 runs through the villages of Shirwal, Naraspur, Hadapsar, Khadki, Tolegaon, Wadgaon, Lonavala, and Khandala within Pune district.
 * NH 9 connects Pune in Maharashtra to Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh. Indapur, Solapur, and Umarga in Maharashtra, followed by Rajeshwar, Homnabad, and Mangalgi in Karnataka, and thereafter Zahirabad, Hyderabad, Suryapeta and Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh are connected by NH 9 to Pune. The villages of Kambhargaon, Bhigvan, Ravangaon, Loni Kaibhor, and Theur within the district of Pune are connected by this highway.
 * NH 50 connects Pune to Nashik. The cities of Sangamner, Narayangaon, and Khed all in Maharashtra are connected by this highway. Chakan, Rajgurunagar, Malegaon, Mancharo, Kalamb, Narayangaon, and Aleo are the important locations on this highway between Pune and Nashik.

By bus
It takes about three hours to get from the Mumbai airport to Pune via the Pune-Mumbai Expressway. Private and state-owned companies (MSRTC) operate luxury buses on this route and run 24-hour service with buses departing every fifteen minutes. MSRTC buses charge approximately ₹200 (Non AC) and ₹420 (AC) for the journey. The MSRTC A/C "Shivneri" buses operate between 5:30AM - midnight. Below are arrival and departure points for buses from cities and villages outside of Pune.



By taxi
Shared cabs operate on a route from Pune City Station to Dadar, Mumbai. These taxis seat 4 to 5 people and charge ₹300 per person using a regular car, ₹800 for a Fiat Premier and ₹1000 for an Ambassador. Cool cabs (taxis with air conditioning) are also available which charge higher. The rates for such doorstep taxi services start from ₹2100 (including toll tax). Uber Intercity also operates between Mumbai and Pune for about ₹2000.

By auto-rickshaw
There is a massive army of three-wheeled rickshaws. Some prepaid rickshaw stands can be found at Shivajinagar, Swargate Bus Depot and Pune Airport. All rickshaws plying in the Pune Municipal Corporation limits are supposed to charge according to the meter.

Drivers will give you endless excuses why they cannot use the meter. They are required by law to have a working meter and use it, and this will almost always be the cheapest for you too. If they still refuse, walk away: there are plenty of other rickshaws on the roads. In fact, drivers of rickshaws that you flag down from the streets (if practical and possible) will often be more agreeable than those waiting in stands, who demand more fare.

The driver may occasionally stop to ask for directions depending on how familiar he is with the area. Nowadays, many auto rickshaw drivers try to charge extra for long distances or very short distances, or they refuse the fare. Stick to the demand of charging by meter and refuse strongly to pay any extra amount, unless it is past midnight. It is very common for rickshaw drivers plying between 11PM and 6AM to demand 1½ times the normal rates for the journey. You are advised to get this cleared with the driver before boarding the rickshaw.

If they realise you are not from the city, they may try to take longer routes to the destination to charge extra money from you. Thus, outsiders and foreigners, use your own judgement before boarding any auto rickshaw. Autorickshaw drivers may also refuse to travel to quite a few parts of the city at their convenience; however, this is against the law if their meter reads "on hire" in the upright position. If the sign is turned sideways, the rickshaw driver is not working and can refuse you.

If you have complaints against auto drivers for not accepting short-distance rides (or any rides), asking more meter fare, not using a meter, taking other passengers along the way, carrying more passengers than allowed capacity, stopping at bus stands or other similar complaints of serious nature, you can email or call the Road Transport Authorities at or 020-27492828 (PCMC) or email rtopune@dataone.in. Traffic cops usually come right away to the spot to book a complaint against the driver. Commuters can also send their MMS pictures at +91 9420218338. The complaints should clearly mention all details including the auto's registration number, the time of taking the rickshaw, details of auto fare, the distance commuted, locations, date, time, and nature of the complaint. After so many calls and complaints, the RTO/police can fine them as heavily as ₹50 for refusal of service.

By bus
City buses in Pune are run by the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML). PMPML has replaced its ageing fleet with CNG buses, and as of March 2023 is replacing them with AC electric buses. But the new buses might not run on unpopular routes. Almost all parts of the city are connected by the PMPML city buses. Major city bus stands include Corporation, Shivaji Nagar, Swargate, Kothrud depot, Nigdi, Hadapsar, Katraj and Deccan. Shivaji Nagar is believed to be the busiest bus stand in the state of Maharashtra. The fare is calculated by distance, and ranges from ₹5 to 30. It is advised to opt for a daily bus pass if you are going to take multiple buses. The pass costs between ₹40 and ₹50. To travel to other cities from Pune, there are many private bus operators available. You can find it on the bus booking sites like Redbus, Abhibus, and Myticketbuddy.

By bus rapid transit
PMPML also operates a bus rapid transit system called Rainbow Bus Rapid Transit System (Rainbow BRTS). It runs on four BRT routes with dedicated infrastructure.

By car
Though there is a lot of traffic in Pune you can't compare it to Cairo or Kolkata. A majority of the vehicles are two-wheelers and apart from the peak hours, the roads in Pune are sparsely filled. There are quite a few car rental agencies in Pune. Most of them charge around ₹2500 a day for a mid-size car. There are extra charges for distances above 100 km. It is recommended to get a driver if you are not familiar with Indian cities and this also helps remove the problem of finding parking. Even in India, the interpretation of traffic conventions is very flexible and not for the inexperienced or faint-hearted. There are also taxis available like Uber, and OLA which charge fairly as compared to auto rickshaws.

If you are driving a car always be careful, since motorbike riders may overtake you from left or right and cut lanes without warning.

By taxi
Several radio taxi companies operate in Pune. Uber and Ola are easily available throughout the city.
 * WheelocityTaxi, Viman nagar, Pune. Professionally Managed by an engineer. Call +91 8459581857. ( Updated May 2024)
 * WheelocityTaxi, Viman nagar, Pune. Professionally Managed by an engineer. Call +91 8459581857. ( Updated May 2024)
 * WheelocityTaxi, Viman nagar, Pune. Professionally Managed by an engineer. Call +91 8459581857. ( Updated May 2024)
 * WheelocityTaxi, Viman nagar, Pune. Professionally Managed by an engineer. Call +91 8459581857. ( Updated May 2024)

By two-wheeler
This city was once known as the city of bicycles, but now it has turned into the city of motorcycles. Most traffic rules are completely ignored in Pune and there are ten times as many two-wheelers as there are cars. The general attitude towards riding motorbikes in the city is that of total ignorance of any set-forth traffic regulations along with complete disregard for one's safety (including not wearing a helmet). Here people ride motorbikes as if they are riding a war horse and will generally try to overtake every vehicle in front. Minor accidents on motorbikes are common; You are advised to be careful even when your signal is green as the traffic flow from other directions generally does not stop immediately. Wearing a helmet is compulsory in Pune. The fine for driving without a helmet has been increased from ₹100 to ₹500, which includes both the rider as well as the pillion.

Pune's roads might turn to horrid potholes from the smooth tarmac in a matter of seconds when it rains. Always be on the lookout. The addition of new bicycle tracks all over has made an improvement in two-wheeler traffic.

If you do want to hire a two-wheeler, there are two outfits that rent these vehicles in Pune. A 100cc Bajaj Platina will cost ₹200 a day and an automatic Honda scooter will cost ₹300. If you are planning on day trips from Pune you would be best with the larger wheels and light weight of a motorcycle rather than a scooter. Both outfits will most likely deliver to your accommodation if you ask nicely.

By train
The Pune Suburban Railway is the suburban railway network connecting Pune to its adjoining suburbs. As of June 2023, it has three routes:
 * Pune Junction–Lonavala
 * Pune Junction–Talegaon
 * Pune Junction–Daund–Baramati, used by Diesel Electric Multiple Units (DEMUs)

By metro
Pune Metro is the metro system serving the city. As of 2023, it has two lines:


 * Purple Line (PCMC Bhavan–Phugewadi)
 * Aqua Line (Vanaz–Garware College)

See
Pune is the cultural capital of Maharashtra. The Marathi film industry is also based here.

Places of worship
Temples: Synagogues:

Scenery




Do

 * Bird Watching: Enjoy boating and bird viewing in some of the city parks of Pune. Migratory parks can be viewed throughout the year in Pune. At the right time, you can see many migrated birds in the parks.
 * Bird Watching: Enjoy boating and bird viewing in some of the city parks of Pune. Migratory parks can be viewed throughout the year in Pune. At the right time, you can see many migrated birds in the parks.

Festivals
Pune has a full calendar of events, ranging from Classical Music to Rock Concerts. However, Pune's most famous festival is the Pune Festival, which is held during the Ganesha Mahotsav.


 * The Chatushrungi Fair is an annual event. It is held overnight on Navratri at Senapati Bapat Road. Giant-wheels are the main attractions but the food sold at the stalls is delicious too.
 * The Ganesh Utsav or Ganeshotsav initiated by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, today is celebrated with great enthusiasm, as city interiors almost remain blocked for ten days. This is usually around the month of September and dates vary based on Hindu calendar. Pune has more than 2000 mandals with Dagdusheth Halwai being the biggest and most famous one.
 * The Osho Festival is another international crowd puller in Pune. Held in the Osho Aashram in Koregaon Park, disciples and followers of Bhagwaan Rajneesh make it a point to attend this festival.
 * The Pune International Film Festival - takes place annually and attracts some splendid films from around the world. This festival which generally takes place in January, lasts for a week and is a treat for film lovers in the city. Passes for single day or for entire duration are available at any of the multiplexes hosting the festival at reasonable rates.
 * Sawai Gandharva classical music festival, which started back in the 1960s, has had every Indian and international artist perform and has given rise to a number of budding ones too. It is held in the months of December from dawn to dusk over three days.

A number of college festivals have become very commercialised, but still attract big crowds and a very high degree of competition from colleges all over Pune. Verve organised by Express Youth Forum is the biggest inter-collegiate cultural festival in India while Concepts organized by the Pune Institute of Computer Technology (PICT) is a very popular engineering (technical) event. The College of Engineering, Pune also organizes a technical festival which attracts participants from all over India. So all year round, there is enough excitement to keep the Punekars and tourists on their toes!

Parks and stadiums

 * MCA Stadium is not fully complete, but is scheduled to host matches at the Cricket World Cup in Oct 2023. It doesn't have a resident team. It's 25 miles north of the city along the highway to Mumbai.
 * MCA Stadium is not fully complete, but is scheduled to host matches at the Cricket World Cup in Oct 2023. It doesn't have a resident team. It's 25 miles north of the city along the highway to Mumbai.

Learn
One of Pune's nicknames is Oxford of the East because of the presence of many renowned educational universities and colleges. Some of the prominent ones are:


 * BJ Medical College - Affiliated with the University of Pune
 * College of Engineering, Pune - Affiliated with the University of Pune
 * Fergusson College
 * Symbiosis International University
 * University of Pune

Buy
Pune is a city where you will find an excellent range of streetside shops as well as a few outstanding malls. Pune is a good place to pick up some Indian slippers made of rubber. Soft, comfortable Kolhapuri chappals (leather sandals), that are manufactured in the town of Kolhapur, can be found in many of the street shops in Pune.

Budget
All the places listed here are places where you can bargain hard and get some good stuff off the pavement for rock-bottom prices. There are several roads and areas that have clusters of shopping in them.


 * Fashion Street. In the Pune Camp Area, near M.G. Road. This market has lots of inexpensive readymade garments, footwear, leather items and fashion accessories. Be sure to bargain to get the best prices.
 * Hongkong Lane. In Deccan, near the Garware Bridge. The lane has a blink-and-you-will-miss-it entrance. This small street has large offerings, including bags, clothes, accessories, books and footwear.
 * Juna Bazar. Near the Pune Railway Station (en route to the Pune Municipal Corporation). The market is held every Wednesday and Sunday on the street approx 9AM to 6PM. It is similar to a flea market and you can purchase a variety of interesting objects for throw-away prices including old rare coins, gramophone records, and other such unique paraphernalia.
 * Koregaon Park. One of the several boutiques on North Main Road and its by-lanes in Koregaon Park. These are small, exclusive boutiques and have a good collection. Expect to pay more for these clothes, but you may find the occasional great bargain.
 * Laxmi Road. A very huge market selling gold jewellery and clothes.
 * M.G. Road. Any items such as shoes, clothing, pots, pans, electronics, stationary, furniture, kitchen sinks etc. can be found at Modelina Grant Road, known to locals as M.G. Road.
 * Tulshi Baug. On the Bajirao Road, near Maharashtra Bank. It is a must visit and also favourite household items such as crockery, vegetable stands. Very cheap ladies garments, footwear and other items required for daily use are available at low prices.
 * Vishram Baug Wada. There is a shop inside Vishram baug wada where you get variety of decorative as well as daily use items. The highlight of this shop is all the goods are created by small groups of women (Mahila Bachat Gata). Most of the items are handmade and exclusive variety. We must support such groups of women who are fighting against all odds to become independent.

Books
Puneites are crazy about books. This shows in the number of excellent bookshops scattered throughout the city. The area known as 'Appa Balwant Chowk' is famous for various big and small book shops. Some of them specialize in subjects like law, management, religion, computer, or music.

Birds of Pune available from Centre for Environment Education and Kalpavriksh


 * Book Space, 593, Ganesh Peth.
 * Book World, Basement, Sagar Arcade, FC Road.
 * The Crossword chain of bookshops has 8 branches in Pune.
 * Popular Book Shop, Deccan Gymkhana.
 * Utkarsh Book Depot, Deccan Gymkhana, Near Garware Bridge.
 * The WORD bookshop, Boottee St, Camp.
 * L.Bhagwandas & Co, Shivaji Market, Camp.
 * The WORD bookshop, Boottee St, Camp.
 * L.Bhagwandas & Co, Shivaji Market, Camp.

Food






Electronics
Pune is a technology hub and is home to IT, ITES, and BPO professionals. Pune also has one of the highest densities of Engineers and Management graduates pursuing studies. Sony World, House of Laptops, Croma are electronics chains dishing out the goodies.

Haircut
Being a student town, Pune has a good selection of mid-priced hair salons.



Eat


Pune is undoubtedly a great place to eat. Fergusson College Road and JM Road which runs parallel, are full of budget eateries serving delicious hot food at nominal charges. Almost all restaurants open and close at similar hours. 10AM-11PM is usual. Of course, restaurant bars stay open till at least midnight. Misals are a Pune favourite, if you can stomach the spice in them. They are a tasty meal and a visit to Bedekar Misal or Shree Uphar Gruha is a must. They are in the Peth areas and are famous. Shree Uphar Gruha is at Tulsi Baug. It is a small joint but dishes out tasty Misal and fritters.

For more exotic variety, head out to Koregaon Park. North Main Road is a lane with more than 50 restaurants. It offers a choice of cuisine including Italian, French, Mexican, Thai, Japanese and a variety of local Indian food; there is a restaurant to fit every taste and mood. ABC Farms in Koregaon Park has many restaurants in one place - ideal when you cannot decide before leaving for dinner. Koregaon Park is known as the Restaurant Suburb, and holds a similar status to Pune that Bandra holds to Mumbai.

Drink
Refreshing Indian drinks such as Jal Jeera (a cumin seed drink) and Nimbu Pani (lemon water/soda) are sold on the sidewalk for around ₹5 per glass.

Alcohol is easily available all over town, though most of the bars are in Koregaon Park and upmarket areas. Most bars open in the afternoon and close an hour or two after midnight.



Also check out the major hotel bars such as at the Sheraton Grand, Sagar Plaza, JW Marriott, Deccan Rendezvous and The Westin (see below sleep section).



Tea and coffee
There is no lack of coffee shops in the city. Some of the restaurants listed above serve good coffee or head to a branch of the Barista or Cafe Coffee Day chains, both of which have numerous locations around town. The FC Road and MG Road branches of Barista are Wi-Fi hotspots.



Splurge
Pune has a small but good range of top-end hotels. Prices are generally more than those in the US. A double room tends to be priced at US$200-400 per night. During the lean season, good discounts are available.





Stay safe
Pune is by and large a very safe place. Violent crime is low, although it's important to keep an eye on your belongings in public, as petty theft can occur. Do report any such activity to the police. Keep away from the touts and beggars. At times, on Fergusson Road, JM Road or in touristy places, plain-clothed people may approach you, pretending to be tourists who ran out of money or missed their bus or train, asking for money to buy a ticket to go home or to feed their children (who may be accompanying them). Most likely it is going to be a scam. A polite but firm "No" will suffice to rid them.

Chain-snatching has become the most infamous nuisance. Especially elder women need to be careful. Preventive measures include curbing the desire to wear and flaunt jewellery even in the daytime.

Locals are by and large friendly and mild-mannered, though incidents of mugging have been reported on the outskirts of Pune, especially on highways and desolate stretches. If you face a vehicle breakdown after dark, it's best to stay in the vehicle and phone for help.

Although Pune is generally safe for women, it's advisable not to venture out alone into dark and isolated places. Hiring cabs at night without one or more companions is not recommended. Climbing the surrounding hills alone is tempting but unwise-and this goes for both sexes! Having said that, women can confidently walk the streets or visit the shops/pubs/restaurants in popular residential or commercial areas after sunset.

Driving in Pune is not for the weak-hearted. Like other Indian metros, Pune's vehicle traffic has expanded considerably, and the infrastructure is struggling to keep pace. Lack of discipline especially during overtaking and driving on the wrong side is rampant in the city and on highways. It's common to see rude and impatient drivers at intersections honking away at pedestrians. Enforcement of traffic rules leaves a lot to be desired, unlike Mumbai or other major cities. Road conditions deteriorate especially in heavy traffic areas during monsoon. If you are driving, it's a good idea to drive defensively. Be courteous to fellow motorists and maintain lane discipline. Though the helmet rule is not strictly enforced, it's always a good idea to wear a helmet while riding a two-wheeler. In cars or SUVs, wearing a seatbelt is mandatory.

Respect
Attitudes in Pune are liberal. The city used to be very traditional and conservative, but times have changed. The city is not the conservative small-town of old but now is a much more open-minded developed city.

Phone

 * Pune is well covered by mobile phone networks including Reliance Jio, Airtel, Vodafone Idea & BSNL.
 * The format of a Pune landline number is +91 20-2xxxxxxx (BSNL) / 3xxxxxxx (Reliance) / 4xxxxxxx (Airtel) / 6xxxxxxx (TATA Indicom)
 * To call a Mumbai number, the phone does not require STD. Simply dial 022 followed by the 8-digit number.
 * STD/ISD booths, which are public pay phones are more or less extinct.

Internet
A large number of internet cafes dot the city. Most private internet cafes charge ₹10-25 an hour.

Emergency assistance

 * Police -100
 * Fire -101
 * Ambulance - 102
 * Maharashtra Emergency Medical Services (Ambulance) - 108
 * Accident and trauma - 1099

Nearby




Go next

 * Bhimashankar — Wildlife Sanctuary
 * Jejuri — A 49-km drive to the southeast of Pune, this small city's best-known landmark is the Khandoba Temple.
 * Lavasa - Lavasa is a private, planned city being built near Pune. It is stylistically based on the Italian town Portofino, with a street and several buildings bearing the name of that town.
 * Lohgad — 52 km northwest of Pune, this fort's walls and structures are more intact than other, neighboring forts. The fort rests on the top of a hill and is beautiful in the rainy season.
 * Lonavla — the second-most visited hill station in Maharashtra. It is on the way from Pune to Mumbai.
 * Mahabaleshwar — This is the largest hill station in the Sahyadri mountains and is about 115 km southwest of Pune.
 * Malshej Ghat — Amidst the Sahyadri Hills, it is about a 119-km drive from Pune. This beautiful hill station has many scenic vistas and beautiful waterfalls.
 * Mulshi — To the west of Pune lies Munshi, near the town of Lonavala. Mulshi and the surroundings are abundant with natural beauty that includes a dam, the hilly region of Sahyadri's deep forests and forts like Dhangad and Koraigadh. The water from the dam is used for generating electricity.
 * Narayanpur (Purandar Fort) — 40 km southwest of Pune.
 * Nashik — An ancient holy city about 210 km from Pune.
 * Neel Kantheshwar — 35 km from Pune, this hill temple is near the source of the Mutha river. At this hill station are hundreds of statues that describe scenes from Hindu scriptures and Puranas. The scenery offers a view of three major dams from its top.
 * Rajgad — This is a hill fort about 50 km southwest of Pune.
 * Rajmachi (Udhewadi) — This small village is a roughly 78-km drive from Pune, in the rugged mountains of Sahyadri. There are two forts which were built by Shivaji Emperor during the 17th century. In the rainy season there are giant waterfalls and an abundance of greenery. Rajmachi can be reached by 2 ways, the tough route from Kondivade village, near Karjat, and the other easy but long route from Lonavla. It an excellent place for trekking and is about a 15-km hike from Lonavla.
 * Shirdi — Shirdi is a town in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra in India. There are many buses connecting Shirdi to Pune which is 200 km away, about a 5-hour trip. Shirdi is where the saint Sai Baba lived till his samadhi in 1918. Today, it is a pilgrimage center and millions of his devotees from all over the world pay their respects each year.
 * Torna — To reach this fort requires a steep climb. The village Velhe, at the base of the climb, is about 50 km southwest of Pune.
 * Visapur Fort — It is less than 4 km from Lohgad and about 60 km from Pune.


 * Alibag
 * Aakshi
 * Diveagar
 * Harihareshwar
 * Kamshet
 * Kashid
 * Matheran
 * Murud
 * Nagaon
 * Shrivardhan