Pune is a modern metropolis city in the state of Maharashtra, India known for its greenery. It was once the base of the Peshwa (prime ministers) of the Maratha Empire, which lasted from 1674 to 1818. It’s known for the grand Aga Khan Palace, built-in 1892 and now a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, whose ashes are preserved in the garden. Also called Puna t is known as the cultural capital of Maharashtra. Pune is widely regarded as the second major “IT hub of the state and the top “automobile and manufacturing hub of India”.
It is known as the Oxford of the East with the presence of a wide range of educational institutions that attract students from across India. One of Pune’s best-known landmarks is the Osho Ashram, a so-called “meditation resort” which has drawn visitors from around the globe for decades. The companion Osho Teerth Park is also well worth a visit, and with its bamboo forests and pretty walking trails, offers another kind of meditative escape. Another famous landmark is the 8th-century Pataleshwar Cave Temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.
During the Rashtrakuta dynasty, the city was referred to as Punnaka and Punyapur, whilst the copper plates of 758 and 768 CE show that the Yadava dynasty had renamed the city Punakavishaya and Punya Vishaya. Vishaya means land and Punaka and Punya mean holy. Pune was part of the Jagir (fiefdom) granted to Maloji Bhosale in 1599 for his services to the Nizamshahi (Ahmadnagar Sultanate). Pune was ruled by the Ahmadnagar Sultanate until it was annexed by Mughals in the 17th century.
Maloji Bhosale’s grandson, Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha Empire, was born at the fort of Shivneri, about 90 km from Pune. It changed hands several times between the Mughals and Marathas in the period 1680 to 1705. After the destruction of the town in raids by the Adil Shahi dynasty in 1630 and again between 1636 and 1647, Dadoji Konddeo, the successor to Dhadphale, oversaw the reconstruction of the town. In 1720, Baji Rao I was appointed Peshwa (prime minister) of the Maratha Empire by Shahu I, the fifth Chhatrapati of the Maratha Empire.
As the Peshwa, Bajirao moved his base from Saswad to Pune in 1728, marking the beginning of the transformation into a large city. He also commissioned the construction of the Shaniwar Wada on the right bank of the Mutha River. The construction was completed in 1730, ushering in the era of Peshwa control of the city. Bajirao’s son and successor, Nanasaheb constructed a lake at Katraj on the outskirts of the city and an underground aqueduct to bring water from the lake to Shaniwar Wada and the city/ The aqueduct is still in working order.
The city of Pune was known as Poona during British rule after -Peshwa was defeated in the 3trd Anglo Maratha war. Pune was prominently associated with the struggle for Indian independence. After Indian independence from the British in 1947, Pune saw enormous growth transforming it into a modern metropolis. Since the 1990s a number of landmark integrated townships and gated communities have been developed in Pune. Well connected by railroad and air, Pune has the fifth largest metropolitan economy and the sixth-highest per capita income in the country.
The key sectors of the local economy are education, manufacturing, and information technology. A major sporting hub, the city is home to numerous educational and research institutions. A major economic hub the city is famous for Bajaj, Kirloskar and Kinetic group, and well as many other companies. There are numerous tourist places worth visiting around the city, these are Osho Ashram, Karla caves, Sinhagad Fort, Dagaduseth Halwai Ganapati Temple, Pataleshwar Cave Temple, Aga Khan Palace, Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum, Shaniwar Wada, and many more.
Tourism in Puna is not just about places, there are many other things that make it unique. Malshej Ghat and Rajmachi are the best places to visit as hillstation in the vicinity. Bhuleshwar, Nil Kantheshwar are well-known temples atop hills in the vicinity. Adventure seekers can enjoy time at paragliding school & flying club, Horse riding, birdwatching, or trekking. There are numerous hotels, resorts, lodges that provide luxurious, mid-range, and budget accommodation. The restaurants sever a variety of cuisine. Streetfood scene is amazing with vendors selling a variety of snacks.
The city is a great shopping destination with numerous shoppingmalls and markets selling a variety of local and branded products. The city is wearing a festive look during Diwali,Ganeshpuja,Navratri, Chrismas, and Eid. The nightlife of the city is amazing with numerous bars, bightclubs, and watering holes where youngsters flock to let their hair down and enjoy. Pune is sometimes known to attract spill-over talent from overcrowded Mumbai. Overall the city is worth visiting on an extended weekend visit
