Pune, India: travel guide
Maratha forts, old wadas and a youthful cafe culture
Maharashtra's cultured second city — home to the Aga Khan Palace, Shaniwar Wada, vibrant café culture, and the OSHO International Meditation Resort.
About Pune
Pune is a large city in Maharashtra that mixes history, universities and a lively cafe and music scene. It was the seat of the Peshwas, and traces of Maratha rule are scattered through the old quarters.
Things to do in Pune include seeing Shaniwar Wada, the Peshwa-era fort-palace, visiting the Aga Khan Palace with its Gandhi associations, and stopping at Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Temple. Pataleshwar Cave Temple is a rock-cut shrine in the middle of town, while Sinhagad Fort makes a popular early-morning hike or drive outside the city. Food ranges from Maharashtrian snacks to modern cafes.
Pune suits weekend visitors from Mumbai, food lovers and history fans. The best time to visit Pune is from October to February, with the monsoon months turning surrounding hills green.
- Country
- India
- Currency
- INR
- Time zone
- Asia/Kolkata
- Nearest airport
- PNQ
Last updated
Top places to visit in Pune
Sinhagad Fort
Fort · 4.5 rating · about 3 h · free entry
A historic hill fort ~30 km from the city, scene of the legendary Tanaji battle, with bracing monsoon views, ramparts and famous pithla-bhakri stalls.
Aga Khan Palace
Heritage · 4.4 rating · about 1.3 h · entry ₹300
An elegant 1892 Italianate palace set in gardens, where Mahatma Gandhi and Kasturba were interned; now a Gandhi memorial and museum.
Khadakwasla Dam
Nature · 4.2 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
A scenic reservoir and dam ~20 km out, a favourite weekend spot for lakeside snacks, monsoon overflow views and breezy sunsets.
Parvati Hill Temple
Viewpoint · 4.3 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
A hilltop 17th-century Peshwa-era temple complex reached by 103 steps, offering panoramic city views and a small Peshwa museum.
Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum
Museum · 4.5 rating · about 1.3 h · entry ₹400
A delightful museum of everyday Indian arts — carved doors, lamps, musical instruments and the famed Mastani Mahal — collected over a lifetime.
Shaniwar Wada
Heritage · 4.3 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate
The grand 1732 fortified palace of the Peshwa rulers, its mighty gateways and ruined courts steeped in Maratha history, with an evening sound-and-light show.
Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Temple
temple · 4.7 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
Pune's most beloved temple, home to a richly adorned gold-bedecked Ganesh idol, thronged especially during the spectacular Ganesh Chaturthi festival.
Pataleshwar Cave Temple
temple · 4.4 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
An 8th-century Rashtrakuta rock-cut Shiva temple carved from a single basalt outcrop in the city centre, with a circular Nandi pavilion.
Saras Baug & Peshwe Energy Park
Nature · 4.3 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
A popular garden with a lakeside Ganesh temple on an island and the adjoining Peshwe Park, a relaxed family green space in the city.
Osho International Meditation Resort
Activity · 4.2 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
A famous landscaped meditation centre in Koregaon Park founded by Osho, with Zen gardens, pyramidal halls and structured meditation programmes for visitors.
Things to do
- Sinhagad Fort Trek Activity · 4 h · from INR 800 per person
- Pune Old City Heritage Walk Cultural · 2.5 h · from INR 800 per person
- Osho Meditation Day Visit Activity · 4 h · from INR 1,700 per person
- Khadakwasla Sunset Drive Activity · 2.5 h · from INR 1,000 per person
Day trips and tours
- Pune City Highlights Tour 8 h · from INR 1,500
- Sinhagad Fort & Khadakwasla Trip 6 h · from INR 1,500
- Lonavala–Khandala Day Trip from Pune 9 h · from INR 2,200
Where to stay in Pune
- Kalyani Nagar about INR 4,500 per night
Upscale residential area with restaurants and shopping
- Kothrud about INR 3,500 per night
Central residential area with boutique hotels
Hotels
- JW Marriott Pune 5-star · INR 9,000 to INR 18,000 per night
- Conrad Pune 5-star · INR 8,500 to INR 16,000 per night
- The Westin Pune Koregaon Park 5-star · INR 8,000 to INR 15,000 per night
- Hyatt Pune Kalyani Nagar 5-star · INR 7,000 to INR 13,000 per night
- Hotel Sunderban (Koregaon Park) 4-star · INR 4,500 to INR 8,000 per night
- Hotel Shreyas 3-star · INR 3,500 to INR 6,000 per night
Where to eat
- Vaishali South Indian, Cafe · about INR 250 per person
- Cafe Goodluck Sweets... Bakery, Irani, Snacks · about INR 150 per person
- Malaka Spice Thai, Pan-Asian, Malaysian · about INR 1,100 per person
- Shabree (Hotel Parichay) Maharashtrian · about INR 500 per person
- Goodluck Cafe Irani, Cafe, Mughlai · about INR 200 per person
- Shree Krishna Bhuvan / SP Biryani House Mughlai, Biryani, North Indian · about INR 300 per person
- German Bakery (Koregaon Park) Continental, Cafe, Bakery · about INR 450 per person
- Durvankur Dining Hall Maharashtrian · about INR 300 per person
Getting to Pune
Airport: Pune (PNQ)
Getting around
- Auto Rickshaw
- Metro
- Ride Hail
- Walking
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Frequently asked questions about Pune
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Pune?
- The highest-rated places in our Pune guide are Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Temple, Sinhagad Fort, Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum, Aga Khan Palace, Pataleshwar Cave Temple.
- Where should I stay in Pune?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Pune: Kalyani Nagar, Kothrud.
- How do I get around Pune?
- Ways to get around Pune covered in our guide: Auto-rickshaw, Metro, Ride-hailing app, Walking.
- Which airport is nearest to Pune?
- The nearest airport to Pune has the code PNQ.