Pune Activities

Pune has plenty of green spaces and there are plenty of good parks and gardens to be enjoyed by the whole family.

Bund Garden
This garden, sometimes called Mahatma Gandhi Udyan, is a two-minute drive from Pune Station and is a good place to indulg in some pedal-boating as it was built across Mula-Mutha River. The garden here is small, but there is a jogging track, horseback rides, and sometimes even magicians.

Empress Garden
The expansive gardens here cover 24 hectares of land near Pune Solapur road. The focus is the many species of fruit and flower trees. Most people come here for a picnic lunch during the day and hang out on the lawns.

Katraj Garden
Normally seen in conjunction with Snake Park, this garden has a tiny lake on one side, with pedal boats for hire. It is a great place to relax and have lunch after a busy morning looking at reptiles.

Peshwa Udyan
This is Pune’s government-run zoo and home to a decent selection of animals. You can also boat and ride some of the animals here. The mini train, called Phoolrani, is a favourite among children.

Sambhaji Park
Noted for its tiny fort and aquarium, which appeals to those under 12, this park is only a kilometre from Deccan Gymkhana.

Sarasbaug
Also called Talyacha Ganpati, this little park is comprised of verdant lawns and a small lake where locals relax in the evening. You can pack a picnic and bring the kids to interact with Indian children and just enjoy the great family atmosphere. The park is highlighted by a Ganesh temple.

Snake Park
Sort of a mini zoo, Snake Park houses reptiles, snakes, turtles and birds. It was opened in 1986 and today displays almost 200 species of snakes. It is eight kilometres from the city centre, near to Katraj bus stop, and you can either take a bus here or hire an auto-rickshaw from Swargate. The highlight of Snake Park is the massive King Cobra.

A key hub in the movement for Indian independence and with a long history, Pune is home to some good cultural sites. While the city is a bit off the beaten tourist path, this makes it all the more interesting. There are some fascinating museums in Pune, along with historic temples and palaces. Some lie on the outskirts of the city, but the pleasant drive through the countryside only adds to the experience.

Babasaheb Ambedkar Museum
The Indian Constitution was written by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, and this museum is dedicated to him and the Indian struggle for independence from the British. The museum is filled with Dr Ambedkar’s personal effects, including the chair he sat in while he wrote the constitution. Phone: +91 20 25659909.

Dehu Temple
Sant Tukaram, a famous saint in Maharashtra, lived and taught people from Dehu. He was one of the most popular saints and worshiped Lord Vitthal. You can see his temple on the banks of the river.

Kelkar Museum
Mughal antiques are the highlight of this charming museum and the top attraction is the Mastani Mahal. Other items on display include musical instruments, traditional lamps, paintings, and an odd nutcracker collection. Phone: +91 20 444466.

Mahatma Phule Museum
Once called Lord Ray Museum, the Mahatma Phule Museum displays a variety of industrial products, as well as articles relating to agriculture, and handicrafts. Launched in 1890, the museum is most noted for its samples of body structures of virtually all animals in existence. Phone: +91 20 56216813.

Samadhi of Sant Dnyaneshwar
This pilgrimage centre contains the famous holy book of Sant Dnyaneshwar, a famous saint in Maharashtra. Alandi, where a holy manuscript is housed in a temple dating from 1570, is located on the banks of the River Indrayani and is quite beautiful. While here, be sure to make side trips to the many other temples in the area, including Muktai and Krishna temples.

Sinhagad Fort
Just 25 kilometres out of Pune city centre, Sinhagad is a favourite destination of the locals, who often pack a picnic to enjoy on the grounds of the fort. The trek from Katraj to Sinhagad is fun for those who like a good hike, as Sinhagad is 700 metres high. Of special note is the Dev Take, a tank with sweet and cold water that can be enjoyed by visitors. The Tower of Doordarshan in the fort offers a spectacular view of Pune city in its entirety.

Theatre
Marathi Theatre is a key part of Marathi culture and you can view a cultural performance at one of the local theatres such as the Su-darshan Rangamanch, run by Maharashtra Cultural Centre, a charitable trust. Plays, as well as music and dance programmes, are on offer.

Tribal Museum
If you are interested in the tribal communities of Maharastra, then you will be delighted by this museum. There are some excellent displays here, including documentation, cultural artefacts and more. Some of the tribal communities covered include those of the Sahyadri and Gondhavana regions.

Eating is a well-embraced pastime in Pune and sweets are especially popular with local residents. Some of the best places to try traditional candies, ice creams and milkshakes are Bhavnagari, Kaka Halwai, Karachi Regal Sweets and Chitale Bandhu Mithaiwale.

Pune itself is best known for milkshakes that are very thick and creamy, and you shouldn’t miss out on trying these. Additionally, an excellent way to cool off is to eat a mastaani, or ice cream topped with chopped dried fruits, at venues like Kavre Cold Drinks, Sujata Cold Drinks and Gurjur Mastani.

Snacking on salty and spicy treats is also a popular pastime and you should try the wafers, essentially freshly made potato chips. Fried spicy snacks called chiwda are sold at street stalls, as are fried potato paddies served in a bun called vada pav.

If you are keen to sample the Maharashtra cuisine, one staple is mistal; served with gravy (called tarri) and bread, this is a mix of spicy flattened rice and sprouted cereals. South Indian food is served all over Pune and you can try places like Southern Spice and Vaishali Restaurant. Many other types of Indian cuisine can be found in Pune, ranging from Rajasthani to Kolhapuri. There’s also no shortage of Western food, from pizza to burgers, to Italian and Spanish. Fast food chains are all over Pune, so you won’t be without your Subway, KFC or McDonald’s if that’s what you like.

With such a large student population, Pune offers an impressive selection of dining halls all over the city that are popular not only with college-goers, but also with local office workers. They are usually modest dining establishments serving all-you-can-eat buffets at very affordable prices. In Pune, these dining halls are very competitive, so the food is not what you might expect from your local school chow room; the selection is quite delicious and varied.

Shopping in Pune is also varied and visitors enjoy strolling through the Mahatma Phule Mandai, a market in the heart of Pune city. More than 500 stalls sell fresh fruits and veggies, and even if you only buy a couple fruits, the atmosphere is well worth the visit. You can spend time interacting with the friendly locals and take some incredible photos.

If you’re looking to buy more than fruit, then head for Deccan Gymkhana where items on sale range from toys and embroidery, to clothing and sweets. This market is just over the Sambhaji bridge, and is considered a shopper’s paradise. For more clothing and jewellery, make your way to Laxmi road at the very core of Pune city. Shops line both sides of the road and the crowds here are dense, creating quite an amazing if somewhat hectic shopping experience.

Furniture can be purchased at Bajirao road, about two kilometres long. Gifts and souvenirs can be found along Mahatma Gandhi road (MG road), while the local ‘Fashion street’ is located just off East street, with 450 stalls selling all the latest clothing.

Pune’s higher altitude has blessed it with some truly lovely weather, especially in the winter, and you’ll definitely want to pass most of your days here in the great outdoors. Activities vary from cycling and walking to swimming and, of course, cricket. It’s also rewarding to venture outside the city on daytrips into the beautiful surrounding countryside.

Bicycling
One of the best ways to see Pune and the surrounds is by bicycle, and many tour companies hire out mountain bikes. One good place to go, if you are a hearty biker, is to Bhuleshwar, around five kilometres from Pune. The temple here dates from the 13^th century and there are beautiful carvings in the walls. Still relatively off the beaten tourist path, Bhuleshwar is quiet and a great place for a picnic.

Bird-watching
Malshej Ghat is an ideal place to seek out some feathered friends. It is situated on the borders of Pune, Thane and Ahmednagar districts, and the misty flowing waterfalls are highlights of the area. The dense woods here are full of many species of animals, including leopards, peacocks and tigers. Khireshwar is known for its Hemingo birds that pass through every year from Siberia between July and September.

Boating
There are three major dams near to Pune: Khadakwasla, Panshet and Varasgaon. Khadakwasla is usually packed on Sundays and holidays as many people from Pune flock here for evening relaxation. Panshet is the place to go for water sports, and the drive here is especially delightful through verdant, lush woodlands. This dam, along with Varasgaon, offers speed boating and water scooters are for hire.

Pune International Marathon
Each year, Pune hosts a marathon that sees international athletes from around the world racing their way through the city and the outskirts. Some contestants come from as far away as the USA, Kenya, Ethiopia and Russia.

Sports
The top sport in Pune is cricket and just about everyone here either plays it or watches it. There are plenty of leagues belonging to the Maharashtra Cricket Association, housed in the Nehru Stadium, and you won’t have trouble finding a game to watch. Other sports that are quite popular in Pune include tennis, football, hockey and badminton. You could also take time to learn a couple of Indian games, like kho-kho and kabaddi.