Pune

Understand

thumb|Pu La Deshpande Garden

Pune (poo-nneh) has a long history that stretches back nearly 1,600 years. The 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 Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (Maratha King) to a visit to Aga Khan Palace to learn about Mohandas Karamchand 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 you are 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". The many colleges and institutes here offer everything from engineering to fine arts. These establishments boast a large number of foreign students in addition to locals.

Get in

Pune is a major transport hub of inner Maharashtra. It serves as the gateway for the numerous hill stations in the Western Ghats.

See

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

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.

Buy

thumb|Pune shopping street 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.

Eat

thumbnail|Chapati with crunchy fried fish

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

Hindavi Swarajya Fruits & Juices, JM Road, Opposite to JM mandir.

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.

Sleep

Pune offers a wide range of accommodation options suitable for all budgets, from simple guesthouses to luxury hotels. Travellers can choose between lively neighbourhoods like Koregaon Park and Viman Nagar, business‑focused districts such as Hinjawadi and Baner, or central areas like Shivajinagar and Deccan that provide easy access to major attractions and transport links. Prices vary widely depending on the season, with higher demand during festivals, conferences, and university admissions, so booking ahead is often advisable.

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 get rid of them.

Chain-snatching has become the most infamous nuisance. Elderly women need to be particularly careful. Preventive measures include not wearing 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 i…

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.