When
one hears the word “Pune”, the eyes brighten up and one thinks of a city with
historic charm of Maratha Empire, plenty of educational institutes a.k.a.
Oxford of East and rich cultural heritage.
Pune
was once considered as the “Pensioner’s Paradise”. Today, things are undergoing
change and it is becoming a cosmopolitan urban and commercial center. It is the
second largest city in Maharashtra.
A
lot of tourists come to visit Pune throughout the year. The best time to visit
Pune is September to June. The weather during that time is pleasant. The winter
is really cool and monsoons showcases heavy showers.
There
are many places to visit in Pune. Some of these sites have historical
significance; some have natural beauty while some have helped in strengthening
the cultural heritage of Maharashtra.
Lets us look at the major tourist
attractions in the city of Pune:
1 Shaniwarwada:
The oldest and historical monument built in the year 1732 by Bajirao Peshwa I. It
was a palace of the Peshwas, rulers of the Maratha Empire. Many parts of the
palace were destroyed by the fire. Today, one can see the five huge wooden
gates, which have intricate carving. One can sees foundation stones, nine
bastion towers and enclosing garden complex. The palace is
located in the narrow winding old part named “Kasba Peth” of the city. The
palace is open from 8 am. to 6.30 pm.
Sinhgad
Fort: One of the most happening tourist attraction for the
young as well as old. The fort is situated almost 25 km. from the city. It has
a great historic significance and has been part of many battles fought by the
erstwhile Maratha Empire. The fort is known for its scenic natural beauty
during monsoon and winters. A lot of trekkers go for trekking on this fort on
week-ends. At the foot hills, the tourists can savour on delicious eatables
like Pithla-Bhakri, Kanda Bhaji, Curd, and Buttermilk in earthen pots and so on
are served here. The local Maharashtrain delicacies are available here.
Dagdusheth
Halwai Ganpati Temple: This is one of the major tourist
attractions in Pune. Hundreds of pilgrims visit this temple on any normal day
but the number increases to thousands during the annual ten-day Ganeshotsav
festival. The devotes visiting this temple come from various strata of society
and distinct fields like politics, bollywood, music, sports and so on. The
devotees make their wishes in this temple and many of the wishes are fulfilled.
This temple is one of the richest temples in the country. The Dagdusheth Halwai
Ganpati temple trust does a lot of philanthropic work.
Rajiv
Gandhi Zoological Park (Katraj Zoo): The zoo is
located in Katraj on the outskirts of the city. The zoo is quite large and has
reptiles, mammals and birds like snakes, white tigers, elephants, monkeys,
peacocks, and so on. The visitors can visit the zoo and enjoy the scenic beauty
of Katraj Lake and hundreds of trees. It is a major tourist attraction for kids
as well as youngsters. It is open for general public from 9.30 am to 5.00 pm.
For more information, you can go through their website: http://www.punezoo.gov.in/
Pula
Deshpande Garden: Pune has many gardens. This
one is latest and newest addition to the list of city gardens. The Pu. La.
Deshpande garden is also known as Pune- Okayama
friendship garden. It is situated on Sinhgad Road. The garden is a peaceful
venue to spend evenings and well-maintained. Mughal gardens have come up
adjacent to this park, which is a must-visit. The natural beauty and use of
slopes to create manicured lawns is highlight of this garden. One can also see
migratory birds, which is a treat for the visitors.
The places mentioned above are just a glimpse of the
city. There are hundreds of such places to visit. Do travel to Pune and get
absorbed in the scenic natural beauty, history of Maratha Empire and cultural
heritage of Maharashtra. You will thoroughly enjoy the experience of touring
this great city named “Pune”
