|
| |
PUNE ATTRACTIONS |
| |
| CITY ATTRACTIONS |
 |
|
|
| PUNE EXCURSIONS |
 |
|
|
| RELIGIOUS PLACES |
 |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
PUNE CITY ATTRACTIONS |
Top |
|
| Aga Khan Palace |
 |
|
Aga Khan's Palace in Pune is one of the popular landmarks of the city. This popular palace was constructed in the year 1892 by Sultan Mohammad Shah Aga Khan. This fabulous palace was built as an act of charity to provide employment to famine hit people in the adjoining areas of Pune. This palace was gifted to India by Prince Karim El Husseni, the Aga Khan IV in the year 1969.
Aga Khan's Palace in Pune comprises of salons, suites and lush green gardens. This Aga Khan's Palace consists of five halls. The palace covers a total area of 19 acres. This popular palace is famous for its picturesque beauty. This memorial palace served as venue for imprisonment for Gandhiji and his wife Kasturba during the popular Quit India Movement in the historic year of 1942.
This palace located near the River Mula is basically a memorial to Gandhiji and his life. Kasturba Gandhi also died in this palace The Kasturba Gandhi Samadhi or Memorial is also located near the Aga Khan's Palace. There is a special shop in this palace which sells hand loomed textiles and khaadi to its visitors.
In this Aga Khan's Palace the visitors can view the clothes and footwear of Kasturba Gandhi. A statue of Gandhiji is also located here. The walls of the palace are ornamented with pictures of Indian Independence Movement. Nowadays in this palace, Embroidery, Fiber, Agarbatti, Candle and Chalk making classes are carried out for the needy and the poor people. |
|
| Shaniwar Wada |
 |
|
The Shaniwarwada in Pune which is one of the historical palaces of Pune was built in the year 1730 by Bajiroa 1st. This historical palace was 13 storey building. It is said that once Thorale (Elder) Bajirao saw a cute rabbit chasing a dog in this venue. So, a palace was built taking inspiration from this event. It was believed that this place would never see defeat. This palace was once the head quarter for the brave Peshwas. While constructing this historical monument main importance was given on the security of the palace. The main gate of the Shaniwarwada in Pune is known as the Delhi Darwaja. The other entrances of the palace are Mastani, Ganesh, Khidki and Jambhal. The visitors will come across the wonderful statue of Bajijrao (1st) on a horse in the ground just located in front of the popular Shaniwar Wada. Inside the palace the visitors will come across Rang Mahal, Ganesh Mahal and Hasti Dant (Elephant Tusk) Mahal. Nowadays light and music show is also organized in this venue. |
|
| Raja Denkar Kelkar Museum |
 |
|
The Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum in Pune contains more than 20,000 exhibits out of which, 2,500 are on display. The exhibits include decorative articles, which are used in day-to-day life. Beside, there are also objects belonging to the 18 th and 19 th centuries. Also, the museum has a nice collection of musical instruments.
The Museum also contains pots, lamps, nutcrackers, pens, ink stands, ritual bowls and other articles like kitchen equipment, foot scrapers, lamps and paan making paraphernalia. The woodcarvings are exquisitely decorated and reflect a fine taste of artistic sensibility. Most of these include carved wooden doors and windows made in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka and Kerela.
The metal objects include locks, rings and many other articles. You can also find paintings and miniature paintings. One of the interesting constituents of the paintings is the additional section on women. This is important in the sense that it reflects some of the vital aspects of the society like the role and position of women in the Indian society.
The museum is open on all weekdays from 10 am to 5 pm. It is open on all weekdays except on government holidays. It is amazing to note that the museum contains the lifetime collection of one man. Altogether, the ambience of the place is pleasant and charming. You can easily take your time out and enjoy the calm and tranquility of the place. |
|
| Bund Garden |
 |
|
The Bund Garden in Pune located at a distance of around 2 kilometer from the Pune Railway Station. In fact, it is a five minutes drive from the railway station. This fabulous garden was built by a gentleman named Sir Jamshedji Jeejeebhoy. The garden is situated on the banks of the Mula-Mutha River. The river also has a small dam built over it. So, in other words, the entire garden is like a huge dam built on this fabulous river. This garden is also referred to as the Mahatma Gandhi Udyan . There is a small bridge, which crosses the river and leads one to the Gandhi National Memorial.
Bund Garden is one of the most popular recreation spots of the city. You can go for boat rides on the backwaters of the Mula-Mutha River . You can take a boat and sail across the river while enjoying the view of this marvelous garden. It is a great way to spend a romantic date with your beloved also. The garden is huge and is filled with a large number of trees under whose shade you can sit and enjoy the beauty of this garden. The biggest attraction of this garden is the wide variety of migratory birds that one gets to see over here. This is much more prevalent during the winter months. During this season, the garden becomes home to a large number of migratory birds. Bird lovers can come over here and enjoy themselves by looking at these birds and listening to their twitter. |
|
| Vishram Baug |
 |
|
The Vishram Baug in Pune is a three-storey building and its fame rests on the fact that it has unique entrance, which is surrounded by balcony. The place was founded by Peshwa Baji Rao II 300 years back. Indeed, till this date, the place has a great of history in its every wall.
One of the striking features of the Vishram Baug in Pune is its carved woodwork of the balcony, which overlooks the building. This is a fine example of the ancient Peshwa art. The wood used for the construction of this masterpiece was purely processed Saag. The dimensions of this wood are 78 feet in breadth and 66 meters in length.
With the end of the Peshwas, this place was no longer under their possession. As a result, the Vishram Baug in Pune was later on used as a prison house. In fact, the Pune Municipal Corporation is planning to reform this place and turn it into a heritage museum.
The Vishram Baug in Pune is a 3-floored building and is situated at the center of the city of Pune on the Baji Rao Road, which is adjacent to the Laxmi Road , the latter being famous for having a large market of clothing and garments. It is interesting to note that even 300 years back, it took Rs.1 lakh to construct the building. In fact, the entire construction is made of bricks. |
|
|
|
| |
|
| Sinhagad |
 |
|
Sinhagad -- where valour is etched on every stone and the soil has turned red seeped by the blood of martyrs! From the time when a Koli chieftain, Nag Naik stoutly defended this fort (AD 1328) against the might of Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq for nine months to Jaswant Singh, Aurangzeb's commander, who dragged his guns up the fort's steep shoulders to avenge the insult to Shaista Khan, who was rebuffed by Shivaji, this fort has been infused by tales of bravery. |
|
| Raigad |
 |
|
This is the very heart of Maratha country -- Raigad, the capital of Shivaji's kingdom. Strategically perched atop a wedge-shaped block of hill, split off from the Western Ghats and inaccessible from three sides. Stories of incredible valour and heroic deeds are etched on every pebble at Raigad. It was here that Shivaji built his capital city in the 17th century, and here that he crowned himself Chhatrapati. For six years upto his death, Raigad remained the capital of the Marathas with its broad gates and magnificent monuments. There was only one pathway leading to the top, and prizes were offered to those who scaled the fort through unconventional methods. Though parts of Raigad are in ruins, yet they inspire an aura of grandeur. You can also visit Gangasagar Lake or worship at the nearby Jagadishwar Temple or pay your respects to the great Maratha warrior at his Samadhi. |
|
| Bhimashanker |
 |
|
Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga, situated near Pune, is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of India. Lying at a distance of 128 km from the city, the temple is believed to be the resting place of Lord Shiva after the Tripurantaka samharam i.e., the annihilation of Rakshas Tripurasura by Lord Shiva. It is also said that the sweat drops of Lord Shiva fell to the ground and got converted into stream, which is presently known as the Bhima River. The lingam inside the temple is 1.5 feet in length. Goddess Kamalaja is also worshipped at the Bhimashankar temple, near Pune.
The Legend
The legend surrounding the Bhimashankar temple goes that King Kamrupeshwar, the king of Kamrup, was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. One day, a demon appeared at Kamrup and started troubling people. He attacked King Kamrupeshwar also, but instead of the king, his sword fell on the Shiva Lingam. Lord Shiva appeared at the place and destroyed the demon. At that time, Lord Shiva's sweat got converted into Bhima River, giving the temple the name of Bhimashankar.
Apart from a famous pilgrim destination, Bhimashankar is also renowned for its scenic beauty. The lovely landscape of the place draws nature lovers in large numbers. It is also quite popular amongst bird watchers as well as trekking enthusiasts. Bhimashankar also boasts of a wildlife sanctuary, where one can see a variety of birds, animals, flowers, plants, etc. Other places worth visiting in and around Bhimashankar are Hanuman Lake, Gupt Bhimashankar, Origin of River Bhima, Nag Phani, Bombay Point, Sakshi Vinayak, Buddha style carvings of Amba-Ambika, Bhootling, etc. |
|
| Fort Lohagad |
 |
|
Draped in history, the fort is a very nice place to visit. The fort is situated in Lohagad, which is just 7 kms away from the Malavi Station .
The history of the place dates around 2000 to 2500 years back. At that time, Lohagad was one of the major forts of the Satwaahan dynasty. The fort owes its name to the sage Lomesh who was meditating on Lohagad. It was mainly built to keep Nana Maval , Andhra Maval and Korbaarse Maval in check. But after the collapse of the Bahamani kingdom , the fort Lohagad in Pune was captured by Nizamshahi in 1489. Thereafter, the fort passed into different hands. The seventh brother of the Nizam who ruled from1590 to 1594 was imprisoned here. In 1630, the fort was captured by Adilshah, and Shivaji Maharaj took it under his control in 1648.
In the year 1665, the fort was successively attacked by Mirza Raja Jaysingh who invaded Purandhar and by Kutubuddin , who looted the villages surrounding the fort Lohagad in Pune. Shivaji Maharaj captured it again in 1670, Aurangzeb , in 1700 and Balaji Vishwanath in 1720. Bajirao II ruled the fort in 1802 until it went finally to the British hands under Colonel Prother in 1818.
Surprisingly, the fort is still intact till date. There are some inscriptions on the walls, which reveal vital information about its history. There are two go downs here. They are called the Narayan and the Hanuman Darwaaja . The Laxmi Kothi is the only place to rest in the fort. Besides, the tomb of Sheikh Umar , Vinchu Kata and the Ganesh Darwaaja are also worth visiting. |
|
| Bhaja Caves |
 |
|
The entrance to the Bhaja caves in Pune leads you to the temple of the Goddess Ekvira . To the left of this temple is a lofty column, which supports three lions at its top. The caves were the dwelling place for the Buddhist monks. The architectural design of the caves was mainly based on woodwork. In fact, the caves depict the various stage of the life of the Buddha during the occupation of the caves by the Mahayana sect of the Buddhists.
This includes the lotus or elephant, which symbolizes his birth and the bodhi tree under which he attained salvation, better known as nirvana. Also, the wheel of law which he set in motion, a mound, better known as the stupa symbolizes his death and, a throne which symbolizes that he was once a prince, are fine creations of art that adorn the walls of the Bhaja caves in Pune.
The Great Chaitya or the cathedral is a magnificent piece of art. The other important features include columns or pillars, a vaulted roof and a majestic sun window. The roof reflects a close parallel to the Gothic architechture. There is also a funeral mound close by over which stands an umbrella. The umbrella is undoubtedly a symbol of royalty. There are a total of 18 Bhaja caves in Pune in Pune. The place looks beautiful because of the magnificence of the waterfalls situated close by. |
|
|
|
| |
RELIGIOUS PLACES IN PUNE |
Top |
|
| Pataleshwar Cave Temple |
 |
|
Pataleshwar Cave Temple, dedicated to Lord Pataleshwar - God of the Underworld, dates back to the eighth century. It is situated on the Jangali Maharaj Road in Shivaji Nagar. One of the major attractions of the Pataleshwar Cave Temple of Pune is its exquisite rock-cut architecture. The cave temple was modeled on the rock temple of Elephanta. However, the construction of the temple never got fully completed and the resemblance remained partial only. There is a cave in the vicinity of the temple, the reason for the temple getting its name as the 'Pataleshwar Cave Temple'.
The cave temple also comprises of a shrine, dedicated to Lord Shiva. The rocks of the cave, cut into pillars, seating areas and akin rooms, are as old as 700-800 AD. The Shiva lingam is situated in a cube-shaped room, located in the middle of the Pataleshwar Temple of Puna, India. Adorned with ornate carvings, the temple also houses the idols of Lord Rama, Sita, Laxmana, Lord Ganesh and Goddess Lakshmi. The brass bell hanging outside the basalt entryway of the temple adds to its magnificence. |
|
| Osho Commune Internaional |
 |
|
Osho Commune International is an ashram founded by Rajneesh Chandra Mohan Jain, popularly known as Osho. Situated in the Koregaon Park of Pune, Osho Ashram is mainly famous for the meditation courses it offers. Away from the hectic pace of city life, the ashram comes as a welcome relief for the people. Since people come here to heal themselves through self-discovery, the ashram is also known as 'Spiritual Disney Land' also. The eight faculties of Osho Multiversity provide a range of courses, each suiting a different type of person.
Osho Rajneesh left the world on 19 January 1990, leaving behind his legacy in the form of Osho Ashram of Puna, India. The welcome center of the commune remains open to the visitors from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm. Numerous facilities are provided at Osho Commune International of Pune. These include massage parlors, beauty parlors, swimming pool, sauna, tennis courts, basketball courts, etc. The ashram complex also has a number of beautifully landscaped gardens, which remain open to the general public in the mornings as well as evenings.
|
|
| Parvati Temple |
 |
|
This famous landmark is located on the southern end of the city. A climb of 108 wide stone steps rewards you with a beautiful round view of the city and an invigorating draught of cool, fresh air. It also takes you to the group of four temples of Shiva, Ganesh, Vishnu and Kartikeya. The Parvati Temple used to be the private shrine of the Peshwa rulers. Also take a look at the Parvati Museum, which houses replicas of ancient paintings, old manuscripts. |
|
| Omkareshwar Temple |
 |
|
Omkareshwar Temple in Pune was known as the Partvati Temple in the seventeenth century. The temple was built about 250 years ago, during the time of Sadashiv Bhau. Omkareshwar Temple has strong foundations which have survived the dangerous floods of Panshet in 1962. It is situated in Shaniwar Peth and is widely known for its gem-structured construction.
The panoramic view of the place includes beautiful gardens, other small temples, cafeteria and other amusements. You can also find sculptures of Hindu Gods carved in the temple. They are either gold or copper plated. The architectural design of the temple is an authentic work where you may find paintings of shrines and other motifs. As per the pattern, typical Hindu based designs and paintings are reflected. One can easily understand the themes by taking a closer look at these beautiful paintings. Omkareshwar Temple in Pune is decorated in a gorgeous style, which attracts a large number of tourists. Special occasions provide beautiful arrangements of light, which gives a grand and effective beauty to the temple. The temple is quite spacious, where large number of worshipers come to visit. The temple is committed to the Hindu deity Shiva, who is the God of 'power', the God of 'Shakti'. Amruteshwar and Omkareshwar are the two Shivalayas in Pune. You can visit both the temples while you are at Shaniwar Peth. You can also find worshiping centers of Lord Shiva, where classes are taken on the preachings of spiritualism and eternity. |
|
| Chaturshringi Temple |
 |
|
The popular Chaturshringi Temple in Pune is located on the slopes of a mountain on Senapati Bapat Road, in the northwest part of the city. It is a popular destination for sightseeing in Pune. The deity of Goddess Chaturshringi is widely considered the reigning deity of Pune and is worshipped by hundreds of devotees. The goddess is also known by various other names including Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, Mahasaraswati, and Ambareshwari. On a scenic natural beauty of the rising mountain slopes, the temple stands ninety feet high, a symbol of power and faith. This magnificent structure of the building was constructed in the era of Shivaji, the Maratha warrior and king. The Chaturshringi Temple in Pune is looked after and maintained by the Chaturshringi Devasthan Trustees with full dedication. An annual Navaratri fair is held here to celebrate the event of the mother's celebrations.
|
|
|
|
|
|
