Discover 20 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Pune (India). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Shaniwar Wada, Aga Khan Palace, and Pataleshwar Caves. Also, be sure to include Pu La Deshpande Garden in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Pune (Maharashtra).
Table of Contents
Shaniwar Wada
Also known as: शनिवार वाड़ा
Fortification in Pune, India. Shaniwar Wada is a historical fortification in the city of Pune, India.
Built in 1732, it was the great seat of the Peshwas of the Maratha Empire until 1818. Following the rise of the Maratha Empire, the palace became the center of Indian politics in the 18th century.
The fort itself was largely destroyed in 1828 by an unexplained fire, but the surviving structures are now maintained as a tourist site.[1]
Address: Shaniwar Peth, 411030 Pune
Aga Khan Palace
Also known as: आगा खान पैलेस
Landmark palace and infamous Gandhi prison. The Aga Khan Palace was built by Sultan Muhammed Shah Aga Khan III in the city of Pune, India.
The palace was an act of charity by the spiritual leader of the Nizari Ismaili Muslims, who wanted to help the poor in the neighbouring areas of Pune, who were drastically hit by famine.
The Aga Khan Palace is a majestic building. The palace is closely linked to the Indian freedom movement as it served as a prison for Mahatma Gandhi, his wife Kasturba Gandhi, his secretary Mahadev Desai and Sarojini Naidu. It is also the place where Kasturba Gandhi and Mahadev Desai died. In 2003, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) declared the site as a monument of national importance.Aga Khan Palace is major attraction of photographers for various kind of photo shoot because of its special architecture, greenery and perfect for photography lighting.[2]
Address: Nagar Road, 411006 Pune
Pataleshwar Caves
Hindu temple in Pune, India. The Pataleshwar Caves, also referred to as the Panchaleshvara temple or Bhamburde Pandav cave temple, are a 8th century rock-cut Hindu temple from the Rashtrakuta period located in Pune, Maharashtra, India. Dedicated to Shiva, it was a monumental monolithic excavation with a notable circular Nandi mandapa and a large pillared mandapa. It is a temple of three rock-cut cave sanctums, likely dedicated to Brahma-Shiva-Vishnu originally, but currently to Parvati-original Shiva-Ganesha. A garden now surrounds the site, new idols have been placed elsewhere in the complex. The interior of the caves have suffered damage from vandalism. Outside, the monument shows the effects of natural elements over the centuries.
The Pataleshwar temple is a protected monument of India and managed by the Archaeological Survey of India.[3]
Address: Jangali Maharaj Rd, 411005 Pune
Pu La Deshpande Garden
City park in Pune, India. Pune-Okayama Friendship Garden or Pu La Deshpande Udyan is one of the largest gardens in Pune located on Tanaji Malusare road in Pune, Maharashtra, India.[4]
Address: Sinhgad Road, Pune
Shinde Chhatri
Shinde Chhatri at Wanawadi in Pune, India is a memorial dedicated to the 18th century Maratha military leader Mahadji Shinde who served as the commander-in-chief of the Maratha army under the Peshwas from 1760 to 1780. It is one of the most significant landmarks in the city and is reminiscent of the Maratha rule. It is a hall that marks the spot of Mahadji Shinde's cremation on 12 February 1794.
In 1794, the complex of the memorial only had a temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, which was built by Mahadji Shinde himself. He died the same year and his last rites were performed in the premises. The memorial to Mahadji was commissioned by one of his descendents.
In 1910, a samadhi (memorial) was constructed outside the sanctum of the Shiva temple, in memory of Mahadji Shinde, exactly where he was cremated. Maharaja Madho Rao Scindia of Gwalior (1876 – 1925) commissioned the building of the complex, along with the memorial of Mahadji Shinde.The Architects of the monument were the firm of Shapurjee N. Chandabhoy of Bombay.
The Scindia of Gwalior are the descendants of Daulat Rao Sindhia, adopted son of Mahadji Shinde. It is maintained by Shinde Devasthan Trust, Gwalior.[5]
Kirkee War Cemetery
The Kirkee War Cemetery is a cemetery in Khadki, a town near Pune in Maharashtra, India. The cemetery was created to provide graves for the fallen from central and western India in the Second World War, where there could not be certainty about their graves elsewhere being permanently maintained.
The cemetery holds the graves of 1,668 Commonwealth service personnel from World War II, and 629 from World War I who were reburied here from Bombay's Sewri Christian Cemetery in 1962. The graves from Sewri are unmarked and their names listed on the Kirkee (1914–18) Memorial.
The Kirkee (1914–1918) Memorial is dedicated to 735 Commonwealth service personnel who died in India in World War I and whose graves were in various locations where they could not be maintained, to the 629 whose remains were reburied within the cemetery in 1962 from Sewri Christian Cemetery, and to about 193 soldiers of East and West African origin who died from 1939 to 1945 in various non-operational areas around the country. There is also the Kirkee (1939–1945) Memorial to 197 Commonwealth service personnel (excepting East and West African) who died in World War II and whose graves in other parts of India and in Pakistan are unmaintainable.
There are two special memorials erected by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.[6]
Mahatma Phule Mandai
Mahathma Phule Mandai is the biggest retail vegetable market in the city of Pune, India. The market is housed in an iconic building from the British colonial era in the Shukrawar Peth locality in the center of the city.[7]
Address: Pune, Shukrawar Peth, Pune
Parvati Hill
Hillock in India. Parvati Hill is a hillock in Pune, India. The hillock rises to 2,100 feet above sea level. Atop the hillock is the Parvati Temple, one of the most scenic locations in Pune. The temple is the oldest heritage structure in Pune and was built during the rule of the Peshwa dynasty. For visitors, Parvati hill is also an observation point that offers a panoramic view of Pune. It is the second highest point in Pune. The hill has 108 steps leading to the top of the hill where the temple is situated. The hill was owned by the Patil named Taware. Peshwa purchased the hill to build a temple of Shiva. The Devi temple was believed to be of Taware's kulswami whose angara was able to cure a leg ailment of Kashibai, mother of Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao. Thereafter, the Peshwa built a temple complex there.
The main temple, Devdeveshwara, is made of blackstone. It was completed under Balaji Baji Rao in 1749, and a gold pinnacle was added to the temple in 1760. Other temples are dedicated to Vitthal and Rukmini, Vishnu, and Kartikeya.[8]
Address: Wagh Jai Rd, Parvati Darshan,Pune, Maharashtra, Pune
Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Mandir
Hindu temple in Pune, India. The Dagadusheth Halwai Ganapati temple is a Hindu Temple located in Pune and is dedicated to the Hindu god Ganesh. The temple is visited by over hundred thousand pilgrims every year. Devotees of the temple include celebrities and chief ministers of Maharashtra who visit during the annual ten-day Ganeshotsav festival. The main Ganesh idol is insured for sum of ₹10 million. The Temple is 130 years old. It celebrated 125 years of its Ganapati in 2017.[9]
Address: N C Kelkar Road, 411030 Pune
Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum
Former personal collection of artifacts. The Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum is in Pune, Maharashtra, India. It contains the collection of Dr. Dinkar G. Kelkar, dedicated to the memory of his only son, Raja. The three-storey building houses various sculptures dating back to the 14th century. There are also ornaments made of ivory, silver and gold, musical instruments, war weapons and vessels.[10]
Address: 1377-78, Natu Baug, 411002 Pune
Lal Mahal
Also known as: लाल महल, पुना
Historical landmark in Pune, India. The Lal Mahal of Pune is one of the most famous monuments located in Pune, India, where Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, founder of the Maratha Empire spent his childhood.[11]
Sarasbaug
Sarasbaug is a major landmark in the city of Pune in India. The place where the park now stands was once occupied by a small lake. However, the lake dried up and was later developed into Sarasbaug. The whole 25-acre complex is known as Sarasbaug. The Ganesh temple in Saras Baug is also known as Talyatla Ganapati which translates as the Ganapati of the lake.[12]
Address: Saras Baug Rd, 411030 Pune
Vetal Hill
Hill in India. Vetal Hill is a prominent hill in the city limits of Pune, India. The hill is the highest point within the city limits, with an elevation of 2600 ft. There is a temple of Vetala located on the top of the hill from which the hill derives its name. The Indian Forest Department maintains an observation deck near the temple. The hill is also known by its Marathi name, Vetal Tekdi.[13]
Savitribai Phule Pune University
Public university in Pune, India. Savitribai Phule Pune University is a collegiate public state university located in the city of Pune, India. It was established in 1949, and is spread over a 411 acres campus in the neighbourhood of Ganeshkhind.[14]
Address: Ganeshkhind Rd, Ganeshkhind, Pune
Chaturshringi Temple
Hindu temple in Pune, India. The Chattushringi Temple also spelt as Chattushrungi Temple is a Hindu temple in the city of Pune in Maharashtra state of India. The temple is located on the slope of a hill on Senapati Bapat Road. It is said to have been built during the reign of the Maratha kingShivaji. The temple is looked after by Chattushringi Devasthan trustees.
Chattushringi (Chattu means four) is a mountain with four peaks. The Chattushringi temple is 90 feet (27 m) high and 125 feet (38 m) wide and is a symbol of power and faith. One has to climb more than 170 steps to reach the shrine of Goddess Chattushringi. In the temple premises there are also temples of Goddess Durga and Lord Ganesh. This includes eight miniature idols of Ashtavinayaka. These small temples are located on the four separate hillocks.[15]
Address: Nr. University of Pune, 411037 Pune
St Patrick's Cathedral
Catholic cathedral in Pune, India. St. Patrick's Cathedral is a Roman Catholic religious building located adjacent to the 'Empress Garden' in Pune, India). Built in neo-gothic style in the middle of the 19th century, it was adopted as 'cathedral' church when Pune was made diocese, of which it is still the main church. It also has the highest number of parishioners of the Pune diocese.[16]
Address: Prince Of Wales Dr, Wanowri, Pune
Kasba Ganapati
Hindu temple in Pune, India. The Kasba Ganapati refers to both a particular murti of the god Ganapati in Pune, India, as well as to the temple built around the murti. The Kasba Ganapati is the presiding deity of Pune.[17]
Address: Ramganesh Gadkari Path, 411011 Pune
Pashan Lake
Lake in Haiti. Pashan Lake is an artificial lake near the suburb of Pashan, about 12 km from the city center of Pune, India. The lake was built in the British era to accommodate the water requirement of the neighbourhood. The main inlet of the lake is a small river, which is even controlled by the barrage located to the north of the lake. The river originates from Bavdhan and flows via Pashan, Sutarwadi, Baner to Someshwarwadi before flowing into the main Mula river. Pashan lake has a total catchment area of 40 square kilometres, and serves as a source of water to the old Pashan village, and the Governor's residence, as well. Recent urbanisation around the lake has led to the fall in the quality of the water.[18]
Address: Pashan Road, Pune
Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park
Zoo with a snake park, birds and mammals. The Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park, commonly known as the Rajiv Gandhi Zoo or Katraj Zoo, is located in Katraj, Pune district, Maharashtra State, India. It is managed by the Pune Municipal Corporation. The 130-acre zoo is divided into three parts: an animal orphanage, a snake park, and a zoo, and includes the 42-acre Katraj Lake.[19]
Address: NH 4, Katraj, 411046 Pune
Ohel David Synagogue
Synagogue. Ohel David Synagogue, also called Laal Deval or Laal Deul is a synagogue in Pune, India.[20]
Address: Moledina Road, Pune