Pune

Pune is a district of Maharashtra, India. It is considered the heartland of Marathi culture for many reasons, not the least of which is that Pune, the state's cultural capital is there. It has parts of the Western Ghats that run long the western coast and there are multiple hilltop forts in the area.

Cities

• 1 Pune — the cultural capital of Maharashtra, known as the Oxford of the East with old town, museum and excellent restaurants
• 2 Aamby Valley City — a planned city on the Western Ghats, surrounding the Korigad fort
• 3 Chakan
• 4 Kamshet
• 5 Lonavla —
• 6 Pimpri-Chinchwad

Other destinations

• 1 Bhimashankar —
• 2 Lenyadri
• 3 Lohgad
• 4 Morgaon
• 5 Mulshi — a major dam site
• 6 Narayanpur
• 7 Panshet
• 8 Rajgad
• 9 Ranjangaon
• 10 Torna — hill fort southwest of Pune

See and do

Ashtavinayak

Ashtavinayak is a collection of 8 auspicious temples in Maharashtra. Pune is the approximate centre of all 8 Ashtavinayak Temples and is the most convenient city to base in though it is also possible to cover these pilgrimage temples from Mumbai, Nashik and other cities in Maharashtra.

• Morgaon - Mayureshwar or Moreshwar Temple
• Siddhatek - Siddhi Vinayak Temple
• Pali - Ballaleshwar Temple
• Mahad - Varad Vinayak Temple
• Theur - Shri Chintamani Temple
• Lenyadri - Girijatmaj Temple
• Ozar - Vighnahar Temple
• Ranjangaon - Mahaganapati Temple

Itineraries

Hill forts

A day trip from Pune

Pune - Bhuleshwar - Purandar - Sinhagad - Pune

This round trip takes in some of the interesting hill forts around Pune. Total distance is about 220 km and will take 6 hours just to drive the loop, with lunch and sightseeing added on. The full trip could take up to 12 hours so leave a full day. It is suggested that this trip is undertaken either by motorcycle or 4WD due to the state of some of the roads that are encountered. It is possible to make the journey in a regular car (and many do - even auto ricks) but it will take longer and there will be a heavy toll on the cars suspension. To be as safe as possible you would also want some experience on driving on broken or unsurfaced roads and dealing with the challenges of driving in India.

Leave Pune on the National Highway 9 (Pune Solapur Highway) which passes the racecourse. This is a toll road and also very busy with cars and trucks. If you have taken a motorcycle be very careful.

The turn off to Bhuleshwar is about 35 km from Pune and shortly after the second toll booth (about 2 km before Yavat village). A concrete bridge crosses a canal and the turn off is to the right just before the bridge. There is no sign in English, but there is a sign to Deccan Industrial Explosives pte. After 5 km or so the road will climb into some ghats, where the road becomes quite broken. Once you reach the top of the ghats you will see the temple and a prominent radio mast to the right. The turn to the temple is the next right, the road becomes quite steep at some points.

After visiting the temple and fort (allow 30 to 40 min), return to the road and turn right where you turned off. This road will take you to Saswad (or Sasvad on some maps). There are several turnoffs, keep heading west, but also plenty of people to ask the way, nearly everyone knows Saswad. The scenery is quite flat though enlivened by scenes of Indian rural life. The road is paved but quite rough. You can take lunch when you reach the town.

Thereafter, ask the way for Purandar itself or Nasrapur which is where the road goes. Many people know it. The road is the Diwale to Narayanpur road. In fact the hill itself is easy to spot as it towers above Narayanpur. After 5 km after the turnoff from you will reach a left fork which is signed (not in English). Take this and follow the twisty road to Purandar. As of 2009, the majority of the road was totally unsurfaced (awaiting surfacing) so would be muddy during rain and there is also the possibility of dealing with the resurfacing activity. Allow 30 minutes to enjoy the views and look at the abandoned army buildings and another 1½ hours to climb to the top and explore.

It will take about 15 minutes to regain the main road if you have a motorbike. Turn left when you reach it and enjoy the smooth tarmac and twists of the road as you pass between the two hills. Eventually you will reach National Highway 4 (also a toll road), turn right and again pay attention to the road hazards.

Approximately 12 km later at Khed take a left turn towards Shivapur. Pass through towards Kondapur, where you take a right fork, thereafter at the T-junction take the left which leads to Sinhagad Fort.

In terms of time to spend here it is best to gauge your stamina and enthusiasm against the amount of light you have left, as it is better to end the journey in daylight rather than drive at night.

Retrace your steps to NH4 and then follow this back to Pune. You will arrive in the Bibvewadi area in the south of the city.

• Bhuleshwar-a very beautiful 1100-year-old hill temple near Yavat in the Saswad region. The patterns and beautiful stone statues inside the temple are stunning. This place is around 60 km via Saswad-the closest and most beautiful route. This place and the surrounding areas of Saswad are praised by one British General, the Duke of Welligton as “one of the best peaceful place in the Deccan plateau and the region of beautiful temples”
• Nil Kantheshwar

Trekking

Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary in Pune offers a thrilling and amazing trekking experience for the nature lovers. This wildlife sanctuary has two trekking trails available Seedi Ghat and Ganpati Ghat, out of these two Ganpati Ghat is a longer and less dangerous trekking path.