Alandi can be best visited during the Kartik month (mid-October to mid-November) as the famous festival of Kartika Vadya Ekadashi is held during this time which gives visitors a chance to have a deep look into the vibrant culture of the place. The winter months are also cool and pleasant to visit.
The small and silent town of Alandi is far from the rush of Pune despite being close to it. Known for its spiritual significance, Alandi is flocked by thousands of devotees round the year who arrive to seek inner peace and express their devotion to Saint Dnyaneshwar. Alandi is also known as Devachi Alandi, which translates to god’s place. The beautiful temples built in the 13th century stand to this date attesting to the marvelous architectural design and the deep religious values of the locals. The place is associated with Saint Dnyaneshwar who was a famous poet of the 13th century and is known for the translation of the Srimad Bhagavad Gita in Marathi.

The Temple Town Alandi  The entire place is clean and unpolluted. Traveling to Alandi works great for spiritual rejuvenation and relaxing the mind. Alandi is primarily a rural place and farming communities flourish there. A visit to Alandi gives a magnificent insight into the rural culture, cultivation methods, and cultural ethos of the people. Indrayani River follows through the town and the waters are sacred for the locals as well as people visiting there. The samadhi of Saint Dnyaneshwar is built near the banks of the river. Every year during the Hindu month of Kartik, devotees from all over Maharashtra assemble in Alandi to commence a spiritual journey to the Sant Dnyaneshwar’s Temple. The walk is covered by people of all ages in colorful and vibrant clothes carrying the well-decorated paraphernalia of their saint.

TALJAI HILLS

Taljai is a hill right at the heart of Pune city that has been designated as a wildlife reserve. The road to this hill passes through the Shivaji Maratha College campus with a picturesque mountain path, with sharp turns. Near the entrance of the forest is a temple to Taljai, a Hindu Goddess. Vehicles are prohibited in this area.

The reserve attracts migratory birds and is home to Peacocks. This place is therefore popular with amateur bird watchers. and ornithologists.^[1][2] A recent study concluded that the lake at Taljai is dying due to the dumping of plastic waste.^[3] The park is open for visitors from 5 to 10 in the mornings and from 4:30 to 7:00 in the evenings.

Empress Garden,

The Empress Botanical Garden is named after Queen Victoria back when she held the scepter. Once a favorite among the British officials and thus also named Soldier’s Garden, the place is now sprawling greenery of 39 acres with hundreds of rare species in trees and flowers. Empress Garden makes for a great place to take a stroll in the afternoon, learn about our flora in the flower exhibitions and breathe in some fresh air away from the city traffic.

The garden sustains several plants and flowers of rare origin and is home to various indigenous varieties that are more than a hundred years old. Spanning around 59 acres, the empress garden is regarded as a botanical park where one can go for a casual stroll and gain knowledge about different species of trees, shrubs, vines, and blooming beauties. The garden is a result of the labor of love as the experts spend a good amount of time and invest considerable effort and diligence in the upkeep of this botanical park.

Lavasa Tourism

Known as India’s newest hill station, the Lavasa Corporation is constructing this private city. The city is a beautiful project, stylistically based on the Italian town of Portofino. Spreading across 7 hills, covering an area of 25000 acres, Lavasa is a perfect blend of beauty and infrastructure.

Lavasa is a privately planned hill city located near Pune in Maharashtra. This modern-day hill station is an enjoyable retreat for all its visitors and has a lot to offer to its tourists from picturesque sceneries to an extremely well-developed infrastructure including hotels, resorts, educational institutes, malls, residential property, IT companies, etc. Lavasa is turning out to be a new hangout for people looking for a small trip away from the hustle and bustle of hectic city life. It is absolutely a leisure holiday destination located in the middle of lush green hills. Lavasa city is located in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra and manages to charm one with its mesmerizing views. It is situated in Mose Valley near Pune at a distance of 65 Km, about an hour drive, and from Mumbai, it is approximately 200 Km away. Spread over 25,000 acres of land, it covers 65Km of lakefront that gives the whole city a mesmerizing look.

Sri Balaji Mandir

Sri Balaji Mandir of Pune is a close replica of the renowned Venkateshwara temple at Tirumala, Tirupati. Not only the architecture and the look of the sanctum deity, but the temple also follows its influencer in rituals and religious activities as well. With beautiful, lush green surroundings, free meals, and a calm environment, Sri Balaji Mandir is a great alternative for those who cannot make the journey to the original.

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Located in Wanwadi in Pune, Shinde Chhatri is a memorial dedicated to the 18th-century military leader Shri Mahadji Shinde who served as commander-in-chief under the Peshwas from the 1760s to the 1780s. Flanked by Bhairoba stream on the right, the imposing monument stands tall as a memoir and reminiscent of the gala Maratha period. The memorial aka the ‘chhatri’ meaning umbrella, is situated right next to an ancient Shiva temple and boasts of Anglo- Rajasthani architecture with carvings on black and yellow stone. The central hall is the cremation point of the Mahadji Shinde who was cremated here on the 12th of February, 1794 CE.

The main section is enclosed in 15 feet tall sturdy fortifications and boasts of intricate architecture. Till 1794 CE, the complex only consisted of a temple enshrined by Lord Shiva that was constructed by Mahadji Shinde himself in the same year that he passed away. In 1965, a memorial i.e. a samadhi was constructed for the commander-in-chief by the descendants and successors of Mahadji Shinde- Shrimant Maharaja Madhavrao Scindia of Gwalior and Daulat Rao Scindia of Gwalior. The chhatri was constructed following the Vaasthu rules. Today, the monument is managed by Shinde Devasthan Trust, Gwalior and it still boasts of exuberant architecture, elaborate colored window panels, pillared halls, and carved ceilings, etc.

Pataleshwar Cave Temple

Situated on the Jangli Maharaj Road in Pune, Pataleshwar Cave Temple is enshrined by Lord Pataleshwar- the God of the Underworld, who is a form of Lord Shiva. Carved out of a single magnanimous rock, this spellbinding monolithic find is located right in the heart of the city and is a revered Hindu shrine that is thronged by hundreds of devotees and pilgrims on an everyday basis. What is more, the temple has an exuberant architecture with elaborate carvings on the walls and miniature paintings. Other than Lord Shiva, the temple is also dedicated to Nandi and has idols of other Hindu gods and goddesses as well including Lord Ram, Sita, Lakshmi, Lakshman, Ganesh, etc. The construction of the temple was inspired by the majestic Elephanta Caves but it was left incomplete. For the same reason, the temple has no real entrance; the only major entrance is next to a banyan tree in the courtyard. The temple is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Aga Khan Palace

The mighty edifice of Aga Khan Palace is situated in Pune and was built by Sultan Muhammed Shah Aga Khan III in the year 1892. It is one of the most important landmarks in Indian history and has been instrumental in many defining moments of India’s independence. It was once the site where Mahatma Gandhi, his wife Kasturba Gandhi, as well as Sarojini Naidu and Mahadev Desai were held, prisoners. Aga Khan Palace is well known both for its architectural excellence as well as its historical significance. Spread over a vast land of 19 acres, the palace is now the headquarters of the Gandhi National Memorial society. Here, making khadi is still one of the prime activities.

The Sultan built the palace to support the poor in the neighboring areas who were hit by a famine. In the memory of Kasturba Gandhi and Mahadev Desai, architect Charles Corea had their memorials built on the premises of the palace. The palace houses a museum that holds a rich collection of pictures. There are also other items like the personal belongings of Gandhi. The Palace also has the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi buried in its ground. In 2003, the monument was declared to be of national importance.

Pune Okayama Friendship Garden,

Welcome to the Japanese Garden in Pune. One of its kind, the Pune Okayama Friendship Garden is the largest Japanese garden outside of Japan, in Asia. Also called the Pu. La. Deshpande Udyan, it was named after the famous Marathi writer and humorist, Pu La Deshpande who received the Padma Bhushan in 1990. This garden reflects on the Indo-Japanese relationship, as it is inspired by the 300-year old Okayama Korakuen Garden in Japan.

Located on Sinhagad Road in Dattawadi, this park offers the perfect blend between nature and concrete, with a natural canal passing through the garden whilst having man-made ponds and waterfalls. Right from lush green plants, Pergolas to sit at, and lawns, beautiful flowers, and artificial hills, this garden have everything that will take your breath away. Visitors come here to take a stroll after a stressful day or even better, plan a trip to this garden to explore the wide variety of flora. The garden perfectly resembles the Japanese Yin and Yang theory, emphasizing motion and stillness, light and darkness, warmth and cold, representing the authentic Japanese culture.

Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park,

Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park is a famous tourist and recreational attraction in Pune. The zoo expands over an area of 130 acres. The Central Zoo Authority thus identifies the Zoological Park as a considerably large Zoo. Its location near Katraj Lake makes it a preferred attraction for picnics and outings. It is, therefore, flocked by the locals, especially the animal and nature lovers, at least every weekend. The Zoo is also considered an educational attraction as people get to learn more about the animals in the Zoo and also spend quality time with their dear ones.

Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park has been home to various species of animals for quite some time. Here, they are provided an environment as close as possible to their natural environment and they are taken care of till they live there. To ease the maintenance, the Zoological Park has been divided into four sections – the Katraj Lake, the Zoo, an Animal Orphanage, and the Snake Park. At present, over 100 personnel are involved in maintaining the Zoo that houses a total of 362 animals including endangered species. Visitors can explore all these sections and see the animals to their heart’s content.

ISKCON NVCC Temple,

ISKCON NVCC (New Vedic Cultural Center) is located in the less congested area of Kondhwa near Pune. ISKCON NVCC is a temple devoted to Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha. The temple has lavish green hills in the background and provides its visitors with a great ambiance. Once you enter the prayer hall, you will be awe-struck by the stunning idols of Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha. The idols are elegantly embellished with beautiful outfits and colorful garlands. The ceilings of the dome and the walls of the temple are artistically adorned with colorful paintings. The temple houses activities like youth training programs and Bhagvat Gita reading classes, women and family empowerment activities, etc. apart from being the residency of Radha, Krishna, and Balaram.

The ‘International Society for Krishna Consciousness’ abbreviated as ISKCON, is also commonly known as the ‘Hare Krishna movement’ is a spiritual organization that was established by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in the July of 1966 in New York. ISKCON matches the schoolings of the Vedic scriptures and the Vedas, which includes the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam. These holy scriptures teach ‘Vaishnavism’ or the service to Lord Krishna.

Chaturshringi Temple,

One of the revered temples of Pune, the Chaturshringi Mandir should be on your list of places to visit when you’re in Pune. Located on Senapati Bapat Road near Pune University in Gokhale Nagar, this temple has been the place for the devotees of Mahakali and Shri Chaturshringi for ages. The word “Chaturshringi” is derived from the word “Chattu” which means “Mountain with four peaks” and represents faith and power. The main temple also includes idols of Goddess Durga, Ashtavinayaka, and Ganesha.

The temple is placed on a slope, 90 ft high and around 125 ft wide. It is looked after by the Chaturshringi Mandir Trust and has been well-maintained for ages. In 2013, a proposal for a ropeway to the Mandir was made to enable a smoother 100-step journey till the Mandir for the elderly and the physically challenged. This proposal was rejected by the Charity commissioner’s officer a few times. It is now that the Mandir Trust has finally decided to make escalators till the Temple. Chaturshringi Mandir is not only one of the largest and well-known Mandir’s in India, but it is also one of the most sacred places visited by hundreds of devotees.

Mahatma Phule Museum

Situated on the Ghole Road, Shivaji Nagar in Pune, Mahatma Phule Museum was originally the residence of the Maratha social activist and a prominent promoter of women’s rights- Mahatma Jyotiba Phule. However, in 1890, the residence was transformed into a museum and was named Lord Ray Museum. An important tourist attraction in town, the museum boasts of artifacts and displays dating back to the bygone era in the fields of industrial, agricultural, handicrafts, textiles, geology, stone carvings, marble statues, arms, armory, seals, etc. However, the highlight of the museum is the taxidermy of animals including elephants, sea fish, etc. In addition to that, the museum also houses a library that boasts of a very rare and unique collection of books. Besides, the museum also conducts frequent shows, seminars, workshops, and educative talks which are pretty popular among the people and attract a significant crowd.

Parvati Hill Temple

Brought into existence by the great Peshwa ruler Balaji Baji Rao in the 17th century, and rising to over 2,000 feet, Parvati hill offers a sweeping view of the city of Pune. It is located in the south-east part of Pune. The hill in itself brags of beautiful views away from the hustle and bustle of the city with a pleasant climate throughout the year. It serves as a shrine for several Hindu Gods- God Shiva, Goddess Parvati, God Vishnu, Goddess Rukmini, and God Vitthalla, and God Vinayakar. Parvati temple, however, is dedicated to Goddess Parvati and God Shiva.

The hill is accessed by climbing 103 stone steps which were originally designed to allow elephants to ascend and descend from the hill. It doesn’t take anyone longer than 10 minutes to reach the top. Resting atop Parvati hill, is a black stone structure, the Parvati temple – settled among the scattering of four other temples, the Peshwa Museum and the Parvati water tank. The Parvati temple is a daily visiting place for several local citizens. It is the highest point in Pune. The gates of the temple open at 5.00 am and 8.00 pm.

Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Temple

A divine place of worship devoted to Lord Ganapati, Shreemant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapati temple is extremely famous for its religious festivities and is located in Pune, Maharashtra. The temple receives a considerable crowd of devotees every day who come to attend the daily pooja, abhisheka, and the Arti of Lord Ganesh. The idol of Lord Ganapati is 2.2 meters high and 1 meter wide and is adorned with almost 40 kilos of gold. The temple receives offerings of gold and money from Lord Ganapati’s devotees every day which goes into the temple’s trust. The temple is open daily from 6 am to 11 pm. The inception of the temple took place over 125 years ago by Shri Dagdusheth Halwai (sweet maker) and his wife, Lakshmibai. Even today the temple celebrates Lord Ganesh with utmost devotion and grandeur and is visited by celebrities and politicians of Maharashtra. The temple is splendidly decorated with colorful lights during the Ganesh festival and attracts both locals and tourists who come to witness the marvelous celebrations. The Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapati temple trust does not just worship the deity of Lord Ganpati but also serves humanity through various means. The trust is one of the richest in Maharashtra and is utilized to serve humanity by building old ages homes, housing orphan children, establishing cooperative banks, organizing medical camps and ambulance services, facilitating E-learning in school, and much more. Atharvashirsha recital which takes place on the fourth day of Ganeshotsav witnesses a gathering of thousands of women for the chanting.

Vishram Bagh Waada

Situated at Sadashiv Peth, at the intersection of the Bajirao Road and the Laxmi Road in Pune, Vishrambaug Wada is a three-storeyed magnificent mansion built in 1811 by Peshwa Bajirao the Second. The mansion was the residence of the Peshwa and it took over six years to be constructed with a whopping cost of INR 200,000. Boasting of a Maratha style of architecture, the building has been done in tones of earthy red, brown, and white. Although in a little neglected state now, the historic architectural wonder is thronged by several tourists as it still stands strong as a testimony to the rich culture and grandeur of the bygone era. Tucked up in the heart of a busy market place, the monument boasts of finely carved teak pillars, cypress shaped columns, decorated ceilings, teak wood gallery, and stone floors, etc.

The first floor with a durbar, balcony, and hall is also completely done up in teak and is known to be the place where the musicians of the Peshwa performed. This floor does not allow visitors anymore. Only some parts of the ancient monument are open to the public, the rest being used up as offices. When Pune was annexed by the British, Vishrambaug Wada was used as a prison for a long time. Later it was also used to house the office of Pune Municipal Corporation from the year 1930 to 1958. However, it is still visited by tourists owing to its impeccable architectural finesse and designs. Several offices still operate from the building even today. One part of it is also used as Post Office and another part of it is occupied by SMILE (Savitri Marketing Institution for Ladies Empowerment).

Lal Mahal, Pune

Lal Mahal located near Shaniwar Wada in Pune is a historic landmark of the 16th century. Subject to innumerable attacks and initial revival, the palace has significant stories to tell. It was first restored by Shivaji’s father Shahaji Bhosle for his family to stay in the 1630s. From being a childhood home for Shivaji to taking Shaistekhan head-on, this red-colored structure is an architectural marvel depicting the craftsmanship and culture of that time.

With a glorious past, The Lal Mahal highlights the valor of the rulers and leaders of that time. It elucidates the lives and heroic acts of the Maratha Kings – something that the Peshwas were known for. There is nothing much that this place exhibits or explains because of continuous harm to the building. Consequently, it leaves much to the imagination like how big it was, how many rooms, etc. However, things like a Peshwa on guard – protecting the Mahal and a Maratha soldier surmounting a horse take you back in time.

Saras Baug, Pune

Saras Baug is a popular attraction in Pune which was initially a lake at the foothills of Parvati. As the water of the lake dried up, the exposed land was developed into a park and was named Saras Baug. The attraction expands over an area of 25 acres and also has a temple in the center. The shrine is dedicated to Lord Ganesh and because it was built in the middle of a lake, it is also called Talyatla Ganpati. The baug and the temple also have some historical significance as they were built during the time of the Peshwa. The temple, in particular, has been an important venue for several historical events too.

At Saras Baug, one can explore the lush green lawns which are often trimmed and well-maintained. People can also walk across the entire park through well-paved pathways.

They can hang out at all the sections of the garden kept open for the public as long as they keep the surroundings clean. It, therefore, has a very relaxed sort of ambiance that draws locals in large numbers. The attraction is located at the foothills of Parvati, so, travelers can cover these two attractions in just a few hours. The park also has a small museum dedicated to Lord Ganesha. Saras Baug used to have a zoo also called the Peshwe Park which has been relocated now.

Shaniwar Wada, Pune

Shaniwarwada, once the seat of the Peshwa governance in Pune is a 286-year-old mansion and is one of the finest examples of architecture in the city. It is now one of the most popular tourist destinations in Maharashtra. This grand mansion was built by the Peshwa Bajirao I himself as the residence of the Peshwas. Although the Wada currently covers an area of 625 acres, in its heyday it covered almost the entire area of the city itself. The place never fails to amaze the visitor with its various forts and fountain, and the majestic statue of Baji Rao I that greets the visitor at the entrance of the palace. Although most of the Wada was destroyed by an unexplained fire in 1828, what remains of it is equally thrilling and majestic.

The Shaniwar Wada, although ridden with tales of treachery and deceit, is one of the last standing testimonies to the grandeur, valor, and the just rule of the Peshwas. The entire old part of the city of Pune is laid out in a chaotic yet ironically, orderly fashion all around this historical structure. It is around Shaniwar Wada that you will find the oldest markets of Pune including Laxmi Road, Tulshibaug, Ravivar Peth, etc. It is said that on a full moon night the fort is haunted by the ghost of a former Peshwa king Narayanrao as he was murdered in the palace by his aunt and uncle – Anandi and Raghunathrao. However, there is not a shred of evidence to support such claims. So, you can get a glimpse of history and some drama as well! This was after all the site of the famed romance between Peshwa Bajirao and Mastani Sahiba. In fact, one of the gates has also been named after her!