Pune is the second-largest city in the state of Maharashtra and its cultural capital which is one of the most important tourist places in Maharashtra. The blend of rich history and modernity makes this city very special. Pune is one such city that never disappoints the tourists visiting here and entertains them to the fullest. Pune offers many picnic spots to travelers, apart from this the city's historic forts, clean beaches, greenery, and many flowing waterfalls make this city a special picnic spot. If you are planning to visit Pune, then read this article carefully because in this we are going to tell you about the information about visiting Pune city and the major places of interest here.
History of Pune City
• Talking about the history of Pune city, different dynasty rulers ruled here. Copper plates dated to 758 AD and 768 AD indicate that the Rashtrakutas ruled the region at one point in time.
• The Pune Gazetteer interprets the word Pune as Punya which means a holy place.
• After the rule of Rashtrakutas, Pune was ruled by the Yadav dynasty. After this, the Mughal rulers ruled the city till the middle of the seventeenth century.
• Pune became very famous with the rise of Maratha ruler Shivaji who spent his childhood in the Lal Mahal in Pune, which was built by his father Shahaji. Shivaji's mother Jijabai lived in this palace for a decade and Aurangzeb's uncle, Shaista Khan was defeated by Shivaji at the Lal Mahal itself.
• After the death of Shivaji in 1680, Aurangzeb renamed Pune as Muhiyabad. Thereafter Pune once again came into importance during the rule of second Peshwa Thorala (senior) Bajirao, who ruled the city from 1720 to 1740. The palace of the Peshwas (Shaniwarwada) was also constructed during this time.
• Nanasaheb Peshwa ruled the Maratha kingdom from 1740 to 1761 and he emphasized the urbanization of Pune city and encouraged the establishment of Paths or wards in Pune. Nanasaheb Peshwa built the special temple here, the Parvati temple complex, which is called the pride of the city of Pune.
• In 1818, the British defeated the Marathas and took control of the city. This was followed by the construction of the Pune-Mumbai rail track and the Khadakwasla Dam in 1857. The first textile mill in Pune was built in 1893 by Raja Bahadur Motilal Pitti.
• Presently Pune is the 7th ranked industrial city of India.
Best places to visit in Pune
Shivneri Fort Pune
Shivneri Fort is the most special place to see in Pune. The fort was the birthplace of the great Maratha emperor Shivaji and it was here that he took his early training in his future role as the undisputed king of the Maratha dynasty. Shivneri Fort is situated on a hill 300 meters high, to reach which you have to cross seven gates. From the gates of this fort, it is known how good the security of this fort was at that time. The most striking attraction of Shivneri Fort is a statue of Shivaji with his mother Jijabai. If you go to see Shivneri Fort, then you can also see other forts of Shivneri hill including Bhairavgarh, Chavand Jeevdhan, and Jumper here.
Western Ghats Pune
The Western Ghats located near Pune is a pleasant and special place for nature lovers, which has got the status of 'UNESCO World Heritage Site'. Places to visit around Pune The Western Ghats have mountains, dense forests, breathtaking valleys, a wide range of flowers to see, which attracts tourists visiting here. If you have come to the city of Pune and want to see the natural scenery, then do not forget to enjoy the beauty of the Western Ghats.
Aga Khan Palace
A place to visit in Pune The Aga Khan Palace is completely different from its name. The Aga Khan Palace housed Mahatma Gandhi, Kasturba Gandhi, and Mahadev Bhai Desai (Gandhi's secretary) in prison between August 1942 and May 1944. The Aga Khan Palace was built by Sultan Muhammad Shah Aga Khan III in the year 1892. The palace was built to help the residents of the neighborhood, but it faced the ill effects of a famine. The Aga Khan donated this palace to the people of the country as a mark of respect to Mahatma Gandhi. With lush greenery surrounding this palace, tourists can see the monuments of Mahatma Gandhi, Kasturba, and Gandhi's secretary here.
Parvati Hill
Parvati Hill is a very famous hill station in Pune city which is home to ancient temples. The four temples here dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu, Ganesh, and Kartikeya date back to the 17th century. Parvati Hill Peak, situated at an altitude of 2100 feet above sea level, offers many spectacular views. In the Parvati Museum, built on the hill, you can see the collection of many old manuscripts, swords, guns, coins, and paintings. The paintings of Peshwa rulers can also be seen in this museum.
Rajgarh
On a hill at an altitude of 4600 feet in Pune is the Rajgarh Fort, which has been the capital of Shivaji for more than 25 years. If you go to see the Rajgarh Fort instead of visiting Pune, then you can have a great trekking experience. This fort is situated at a very high altitude, so after trekking, it would be good for you to stay overnight here, after which you can take a good tour of the fort in the morning. Rajgarh Fort has been a witness to many historical events. If you are interested in knowing about history then you will be quite impressed by visiting this place. If you are going to visit Pune, then definitely visit this historical fort.
Lal Mahal
Lal Mahal is such a red brick structure located in the middle of Pune city that attracts you. This palace is very popular among the tourists visiting Pune. The Lal Mahal was built in 1643 AD by Emperor Shivaji's father Shahaji for his wife and son. Shivaji stayed at this place till he won the first fort. This place is witness to the incident when Shivaji cut off the fingers of Shaista Khan. The walls of the Lal Mahal in Pune are decorated with some paintings depicting some important events in the life of Shivaji.
Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum
Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum is one of the most visited tourist places in Pune, which has collections of artifacts from different parts of India. Dr. DG Kelkar is the main man behind this museum. The Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum has been built in the memory of the king whose only son was tragically killed. This museum is the second largest museum in the country, representing more than 21000 different eras, castes, cultures, and traditions. The museum houses a variety of wooden objects, coins, textiles, weapons, sculptures, ivory objects, stationery, paintings, and various other items.
Sinhagad Fort
If you look at the earth from 4300 feet above sea level, then this tourist place of Pune will be very special for you. A visit to Sinhagad Fort on the Sahyadri Hills can prove to be very memorable for you. While visiting this fort, you can enjoy the lush greenery, beautiful waterfalls, and wonderful serenity present here. Let us tell you that Shivaji's younger son Rajaram had died in Sinhagad Fort, apart from this, there is much to be said in this fort. If you go to see this fort, then you will be amazed to see the scenic beauty around it.
Best Time to Visit Pune
If you want to visit Pune, then you can go here in both the monsoon and winter seasons. The weather of Pune is quite pleasant from July to February, so it is the best time to visit this sprawling city of Maharashtra. Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Mahotsav is organized in Pune in the month of December which attracts all the Indian classical music lovers. The temperature of Pune is high during the summer season, so it would be better to avoid going here in summer.