Pune · 2 min read
Things to do in Pune — a local guide
By The Elephant House team · · updated
Pune gets written off as the city you pass through on the way to Lonavala. That is a mistake. It has Peshwa-era history in the old town, rock-cut caves in the middle of the city, a fort you can climb before breakfast, and a café culture that rivals anywhere in the country.
This is the list we give guests at check-in, grouped by the kind of day you want. Nothing on it is more than ninety minutes away.
History & culture
Shaniwar Wada
The Peshwa seat of power, burnt down in 1828 but still imposing. There is a light-and-music show most evenings.
Source: Pune District Government
Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Mandir
The city's best-known temple, in the old quarter. Busiest and best during Ganesh Chaturthi.
Lal Mahal
A reconstruction of the house Shivaji spent part of his childhood in, next to Shaniwar Wada.
Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum
One man's collection of Indian craft and everyday objects — far better than that description suggests. Allow two hours.
Source: Maharashtra Tourism
Pataleshwar Cave Temple
An eighth-century rock-cut temple sitting in the middle of modern Pune, free to enter.
Source: Incredible India
Nature & outdoors
Sinhagad Fort
The classic Pune outing: an hour's climb, big views, and pithla-bhakri with hot kanda bhaji at the top. Go early.
Source: Maharashtra Tourism
Parvati Hill
103 steps and the whole city laid out below. Twenty minutes from the centre.
Source: Maharashtra Tourism
Khadakwasla Dam
A relaxed drive and a good sunset, especially after rain.
Osho Teerth Park
A quiet, well-kept green corridor in Koregaon Park. Free, and open mornings and evenings.
Empress Botanical Garden
Old trees, lots of shade, and very few people on weekdays.
Food, cafés & city life
Pune eats well at every price point. These are the areas rather than single addresses, because the good places move.
Balewadi High Street & Koregaon Park
Cafés, restaurants and bars. Balewadi is ten minutes from our Baner houses.
Source: Incredible India
FC Road & JM Road
Student Pune — street food, bookshops and cheap, excellent sandwiches.
Source: Maharashtra Tourism
Camp, Deccan and Tulshibaug
The old-city food streets. Come hungry and eat misal, bhel and kothimbir vadi standing up.
Evenings
Koregaon Park, Balewadi High Street & Kalyani Nagar
Where the pubs and clubs are. Most places stop serving around 01:00.
Day trips
Lonavala & Khandala
Ninety minutes out. Spectacular in the monsoon, crowded at weekends — go on a weekday if you can. We have a villa there.
Karla Caves
Second-century BCE Buddhist rock-cut caves, with the finest chaitya hall in the country. Near Lonavala.
Shivneri Fort
Shivaji's birthplace, near Junnar. A longer day, but a quieter and more rewarding fort than Sinhagad.
Source: Maharashtra Tourism
If you have just one day
- Morning
- Shaniwar Wada → Dagdusheth → walk the old city
- Afternoon
- Kelkar Museum → Koregaon Park
- Evening
- Dinner on Balewadi High Street