Key Takeaways: 

• Pune beautifully blends rich Maratha history with scenic landscapes, making it a captivating destination for history lovers and nature enthusiasts alike.
  
• Iconic sites like Sinhagad Fort, Shaniwar Wada, and Aga Khan Palace offer deep insights into India’s cultural and freedom struggle heritage.
  
• With easy access via affordable flights and a pleasant climate, Pune invites travelers to explore its hidden gems and vibrant local culture year-round.

Have you ever wondered where history rests beneath the shade of hills? Where culture flows as freely as rivers? Come to Pune, where the calm Sahyadri hills hug the spot where two rivers meet. This city breathes Maratha legends, softly sharing tales from its rich past. Sitting 560 meters high, Pune basks in gentle weather through every season. Affordable flights from Indian Eagle make traveling here easy. These five key attractions give you a glimpse into what makes Pune special. 

Sinhagad Fort:

Sinhagad, formerly Kondhana, stands near Pune. It witnessed Maratha bravery. The 1670 battle led by Tanaji Malusare is just part of its story. Hidden marvels emerge: ancient rainwater systems that defied the siege, and Yashwanti, the fearless monitor lizard, who scaled the fort’s treacherous cliffs alongside warriors. Inside, memorials to Rajaram I and temples dedicated to fierce deities Kali and Hanuman stand as guardians of history.

Shaniwar Wada:

You’ve probably heard of Shaniwar Wada. It’s this old fort in Pune built by Peshwa Bajirao I back in 1732. They wanted to make it a huge seven-story stone palace, but royal rules meant they only got as far as the stone base. The rest was built with bricks. It was the heart of the Maratha Empire’s politics for decades. The fort is famous for its huge walls and teak gates, and the spooky story of Peshwa Narayanrao’s assassination in 1773. Still roaming around, his ghost is said to be. Much of the structure was wiped out by a fire in 1828, yet the stone walls remain.

Also Read: Pune Travel Guide

Parvati Hill:

When you climb, you find calm inside yourself. You climb because the challenge is waiting, rising up ahead. And you climb for those rare moments when you’re high above the city, and everything feels calm and still. At 2,100 feet, Parvati Hill offers all three. The 103 steps are not only a path but a ritual. Temples greet visitors at the summit. They were built by the Peshwas and sit among trees. To Shiva, Ganesh, Vishnu, and Rukmini, four shrines belong. Nearby, old weapons, coins, and portraits are displayed in a small museum. Before you, the city. Around you, the air, still and full of stories.

Aga Khan Palace:

Who was Aga Khan Palace named after? Sultan Muhammed Shah Aga Khan III. It is one of India’s key historical landmarks. Originally erected with the noble intent of aiding the impoverished during times of famine in nearby regions, Aga Khan Palace has since borne witness to myriad historical roles. It acted as a refuge for the underprivileged, a prison for freedom fighters including Mahatma Gandhi, Kasturba, and Mahadev Desai, and now serves as the headquarters of the Gandhi Memorial Society as well as a famous tourist destination in Pune. This is the place where the ashes of Gandhiji are kept.

Spanning 19 acres, the Aga Khan Palace stands majestically with its Italian arches and perfectly maintained green lawns. Inside, five halls preserve portraits of India’s freedom fighters and display personal belongings of Gandhiji. Visitors can also explore a Khadi and handloom textile shop. A beautiful harmony of history and architecture, this palace ranks among Pune’s most important landmarks to explore.

Pune-Okayama Friendship Garden or Pu La Deshpande Udyan:

Nestled in Okayama, Kōraku-en Garden is a stunning traditional garden that has stood for over 300 years. If you haven’t visited it yet or wish to revisit, you can fulfil this wish second-hand while you are in Pune. Yes! The Pu La Deshpande Udyan on Sinhagad Road is inspired by the Japanese culture and ideology of gardening and is the largest Japanese garden in Asia, situated outside of Japan.

Spreading across 10 acres, this tourist attraction in Pune is the perfect spot to find peace. Although walking on the lawn is not permitted owing to maintenance reasons, the walking paths take you through the diverse landscape of the garden comprising artificial ponds, waterfalls, hills, forest, well-cared green lawns, and plants. The waters of a natural canal flow through the garden. You can watch the colorful fish residing in the waters from a bridge dramatically built in the center of the garden. This garden is named in honor of the famous Marathi writer and humorist, Pu La Deshpande and its other name ‘Pune-Okayama Friendship Garden’ illustrates the friendly ties between India and Japan.

Also Read: Outdoor Activities in Pune

Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum:

You push open the museum door and step into another time. There’s the gentle curve of an old sitar, polished to a soft shine. A towering wooden door stands beside it, every groove telling tales of forgotten artisans. And then, the jewel of the place: a majestic recreation of a royal chamber that makes you forget you’re in the middle of modern Pune. It’s packed with over 20,000 items collected by one man in memory of his son. There’s art, history, culture, and basically everything cool about India in one spot. Even if you’re not a “museum person,” this one’s worth checking out. Trust me, you’ll come out amazed (and probably with lots of photos too).

Want to visit Pune’s historic gems? Indian Eagle offers cheap flights. Sinhagad Fort, Shaniwar Wada, and Aga Khan Palace are closer than you think. 

FAQs 

What is the best time to visit Pune?
Pune enjoys gentle weather year-round due to its elevation (560 meters). However, the most pleasant time to visit is from October to February when the climate is cool and comfortable.

What are the top historical places to visit in Pune?
Key historical attractions include Sinhagad Fort, Shaniwar Wada, Aga Khan Palace, Parvati Hill, and Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum.

Is Sinhagad Fort suitable for a day trip?
Yes! Sinhagad Fort is located near Pune and makes for an excellent day trip. It offers beautiful trekking routes, historical sites, and scenic views.

Is the Pune-Okayama Friendship Garden kid-friendly?
Yes! The garden is a peaceful, safe environment with walking paths and beautiful water features. However, walking on the lawns is prohibited to maintain the garden’s upkeep.

Can I visit Aga Khan Palace to learn about India’s freedom struggle?
Absolutely. Aga Khan Palace holds great historical significance, as it was once a prison for Mahatma Gandhi and other freedom fighters. It houses portraits, personal items, and Gandhi’s ashes.

The post Looking for Hidden Gems in Pune? Uncover Attractions You Didn’t Know Existed appeared first on Travel Blog | Travel Inspiration, Tips and News | Travel Diary.

The city of Pune in the Indian state of Maharashtra is famed for its significant student population and thriving nightlife scene. Known as the ‘Oxford of the East’, Pune is worth paying a visit for exploring the rich cultural heritage and history of the Maratha kingdom.  From the iconic Agha Khan Palace of Pune and the magnificent Shaniwar Wada Fort built by the Peshwas of the Maratha Empire, there’s no dearth of historical landmarks to sightsee in Pune. Here’s a compact Pune travel guide for travelers who would like to explore the city’s wealth of attractions including best nightlife, top-notch restaurants and must-visit places in Pune.

What is Pune Famous for?

Besides marvelous monuments, the city allures the incoming tourists with top night clubs, awesome shopping markets, an array of fine-dining restaurants, and pretty beaches. The vibrant city’s close proximity to the Sahayadri Hill Range in the Western Ghats makes Pune a perfect location for adventure junkies who like to go on short road trips from Pune for adventure sports like hiking and trekking.

Pune Travel Guide:

Best historical monuments and places in Pune

Make sure you don’t miss out on visiting the famous tourist places in Pune outlined in our Pune travel guide. A vital point to keep in mind is certain historical landmarks may require you to hire a tourist guide for learning about the significance and history of the landmarks under tour. The must-visit monuments in our guide to Pune are:

• Shaniwar Wada Fort- A wall fortification and a top haunted place in Pune. There is an entrance fee of INR 5 per person for Indians and INR 125 per person for foreigners
• Aga Khan Palace- A magnificent palace attraction built in 1892 by Sultan Muhammed Shah Aga Khan. There is an entrance fee of INR 5 per person for Indians and INR 100 per person for foreigners
• Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Temple – A top religious site dedicated to Lord Ganesh. There is no entrance fee for visitors
• Empress Garden- A botanical garden with rare flowers. The annual flower show in January at the garden is a thing to look for. There is an entrance fee of INR 15 per person for visitors
• Osho Ashram- The place is a top attraction for transcendental meditation and gaining inner peace. It’s more like a paid resort than an ashram and you need to pay for your accommodation, food and learning the art of meditation from well qualified instructors. There is an entrance fee of INR 870 per person for Indians and INR 1790 per person for foreigners

Weekend getaways from Pune

Pune’s close proximity to the Sahayadri Range of mountains in the Western Ghats and the rich coastline of the Arabian Sea makes it a top location for taking short road trips from Pune to hilly mountainous landscapes and nearby beaches. The must-visit weekend getaways near Pune in our Pune travel guide are also the top tourist places in Pune like Tarkali Beach for soaking up the hot sun, Lonavala hill station for trekking & hiking, Kolad for white water rafting in the Kundalika River, and Malshej Ghat for admiring the spectacular waterfalls, scenic lakes and royal forts. The short road trips to the top weekend getaways near Pune can be very thrilling and the ride itself makes up for half the fun and excitement of the weekend getaways near Pune.

Pune’s Nightlife

Pune is the second largest city in the Indian state of Maharashtra after Mumbai. The city of Pune has a thriving nightlife scene due to the presence of a significant number of students and academic institutions. From expensive pubs and lounges at luxury 5-Star Hotels like Mi-a-Mi at JW Marriot and Oak Lounge at Marriot Suites Pune to stand-alone pubs and restaurants like Penthouze near Westin Hotel and Euriska near Koregaon Park Plaza, the bustling city of Pune has so much to offer for the night owls who like to sample some quality cocktails along with great tasting finger-foods. No trip to Pune is complete without exploring its awesome nightlife and is a standard inclusion in any Pune travel guide.

Where to stay in Pune

From luxury 5-Star hotels to economy and budget hotels, from comfortable resorts to cheaper B&B style accommodations, there are plenty of options to choose for your night’s stay at Pune. Whatever kind of accommodation you choose for your night stay in Pune, you can be assured of the best holiday experience as most of them are equipped with the best amenities for delighting the travelers. Our Pune travel guide compiles some of the best hotels in Pune for your accommodation: Malhar Machi Resort, Le Meridien, Vivanta by Taj-Blue Diamond, and Phoenix Hotel.

Pune for Gastronomy

There is no better way of exploring Pune than going on a food spree at the city’s high-end restaurants and cheap hole-in-the-wall food joints. When it comes to gastronomy, Pune has its own signature style eateries for alluring the foodies. Be it Italian food, Mexican food, Asian food, authentic street food from Maharashtra or the utterly famous south Indian breakfast foods, Pune has a myriad of great tasting restaurants catering to the tastes of every foodie on this earth. Our Pune travel guide recommends these top restaurants in Pune: Arthur’s Theme in Koregaon Park for French Cuisine, Little Italy near Pune Central Mall for Italian cuisine, Mainland China near Pyramid Mall for Chinese cuisine, and Southindies near Pune Central for South Indian breakfast foods like idly and idiyappam.

Now that you have got a bigger picture about the must-visit places in Pune, things to do in Pune and the excellent nightlife scene in Pune by reading our compact Pune Travel Guide, don’t you think it’s about time you took a travel plunge to Pune to get enchanted by its beautiful attractions? Have your cheap flights to Pune booked with IndianEagle.com right away for huge savings on airfares.

-Travel Diary

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