From Wikitravel: Understand
From Wikitravel: Understand
From Wikitravel: Understand
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Pune
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Climate
The climate of Pune is quite pleasant. Pune has three distinct seasons: summer, monsoon and winter. Summers are typically hot with maximum temperatures ranging from 35 to 42C. The warmest month in Pune is generally April as compared to the rest of the Deccan Plateau where it is May. Pune does not get very hot, even during peak summer the air is cool and even standing under a tree can give respite form the heat. However, as sunlight can be intense leading Osho Garden, Pune.jpg to skin tan and sun-burn, be sure to carry and use sunscreens (above SPF-30). The nights in Pune are significantly cooler than most other parts in this region owing to its high altitude. The average rainfall is approx 550mm. The city often receives local and heavy thundershowers with heavy downpours in May, which brings down the temperature. The rainy season can sometimes be gloomy, with cloud cover for days together. In winter, day temperatures can be as low as 24 - 28C and temperatures at night as low as 5 - 8C. Winters are generally dry. Normally, the climate in Pune is pleasant during the month of November.
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Attitude
Attitudes in Pune are liberal. The city used to be very traditional and conservative, but times have changed. The city is not the conservative small-town of old, but now is a much more openminded developed city.
Tourist Offices
Maharashtra Tourism (MTDC), Pune Central Building +91-20-26126867/8169 [2] (http://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in) Tourist Info Booth, Pune City Station.
Talk
Pune is a fairly cosmopolitan city. Although Marathi is the official language of the city and also the most common language spoken on the streets, most people also speak Hindi along with English.
Districts
Pune, despite being considered a small city, is growing very fast. Some its prominent areas are:
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Get in
Pune is a major transportation hub for Western Maharashtra. It serves as the gateway for the numerous hill stations in the Sahyadri Hills.
By plane
Pune currently does not have a civil airport to its name. All commercial air carriers operate from the military airport located at Lohegaon. Pune airport [4] (http://www.puneairport.com) is served by almost all domestic carriers. The number of flights is however limited since the airport is under the control of the Air-force. Currently, international flights operate only to Dubai and Frankfurt. If getting a direct flight proves difficult, then taking a flight to Mumbai and then traveling by taxi or train to Pune is a feasible option. A long-distance private taxi journey should take around three hours and costs about Rs 1600. The airport is in Lohegaon, which is around 10km from the city center, and takes about 30 minutes - 1 hour to reach (depending on traffic conditions). Flights connecting Pune: Air India [5] (http://www.airindia.com) : Bangalore, Delhi, Goa and Hyderabad Air India Express: Mumbai and Dubai Go Air [6] (http://www.goair.in) : Bangalore and Delhi IndiGo [7] (http://www.goindigo.in) : Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Nagpur Jagson Airlines: Shirdi Jet Airways [8] (http://www.jetairways.com) : Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Indore, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai Kingfisher [9] (http://www.flykingfisher.com) : Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Goa and Hyderabad Lufthansa (Operated by PrivatAir) [10] (http://www.lufthansa.com) : Frankfurt SpiceJet [11] (http://www.spicejet.com) : Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Jaipur
By train
Pune is well connected to other Indian cities by rail [12] (http://www.indianrail.gov.in) . Pune City Station is an above average Indian station, with an information booth, an internet cafe and computerized ticket booking office. Trolleys are not available, but porters can be hired to help with luggage. Licensed porters wear a red shirt with a metallic arm-band bearing their serial number. The official rates in Maharashtra currently are as follows Rs 25 for up to 10 kgs/3 pieces of luggage (whichever is less) Rs 20 per additional 5 kgs/piece of luggage (whichever is less) A lightweight briefcase not exceeding 300 cubic cm is not included, but carries a Rs 5 surcharge.
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By road
Pune is served by three national highways (NH) and an expressway. 1) NH 4 between Mumbai in the west and Chennai in the south passes through Pune. NH 4, a part of the Golden Quadrilateral of highways connects Pune to Bangalore also. Satara, Kolhapur and Kagal all in Maharashtra are connected to Pune by NH 4. National Highway 4 runs through the villages of Shirwal, Naraspur, Hadapsar, Khadki, Tolegaon, Wadgaon, Lonavala, and Khandala within Pune district. 2) NH 9 connects Pune in Maharashtra to Vijaywada in Andhra Pradesh. Indapur, Solapur,and Umarga in Maharashtra, followed by Rajeshwar, Homnabad, and Mangalgi in Karnataka, and thereafter Zahirabad, Hyderabad, Suryapeta and Vijaywada in Andhra Pradesh are connected by NH 9 to Pune. The villages of Kambhargaon, Bhigvan, Ravangaon, Loni Kaibhor, and Theur within the district of Pune are connected by this highway.
State Government run Vs Private Buses Tourists traveling between Pune and Mumbai are advised to travel by the state government run buses (MSRTC) wherever possible. These buses cost almost the same (Rs.320) as the private buses and they have less stops on the way as private buses try to pick passengers on the way. Buses run very frequently (every 15 mins) and are also punctual. You can be sure of reaching your destination within the stipulated time. Most of the private buses wait till they get enough passengers before departing - which causes a lot of delay in getting to your destination.
3) NH 50 connects Pune to Nasik. The cities of Sangamner, Narayangaon, and Khed all in Maharashtra are connected by this highway. Chakan, Rajgurunagar, Malegaon, Mancharo, Kalamb, Narayangaon, and Aleo are the important locations on this highway between Pune and Nasik. It takes about three hours to get from Pune to Mumbai airport via the Pune-Mumbai Expressway. Both private and state owned companies (MSRTC) operate luxury buses on this route, and run 24 hours service with buses departing every fifteen minutes. MSRTC buses charge approximately Rs 185 (Non AC) and Rs 320 (AC) for the journey. (The MSRTC AC buses operate between 5:30am - 12:00am). Shared Cabs operate on the popular Pune City Station to Dadar, Mumbai route. These taxis seat 4 to 5 people, and charge Rs. 300 per person using a regular car, Rs. 800 for a Fiat Premier and Rs. 1000 for an Ambassador. Cool cabs (taxis with air conditioning) are also available which charge higher. Bus Stations in Pune Pune Station: This bus stand (located right next to the railway station and also considered to be the main bus stand) mainly serves buses on the Mumbai route. Most services make a stop at Lonavala. Shivaji Nagar: This bus stand serves buses for Vidarbha, Konkan, Marathwada and Northern Maharshtra. A few services connect with other cities in the neighboring state of Gujarat. Buses run by Gujarat Roadways run to Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Surat, Kandla and Rajkot. The bus station is located outside the Shivaji Nagar Railway station. Swargate : This bus stand serves buses covering Western Maharshtra and Konkan Region.
Get around
By PMPML City bus
City buses in Pune are run by the PMPML [13] (http://www.pmpml.org/PMPML/) . Although the vehicles are crowded and smoke-belching, the network is very extensive. Almost all parts of
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By auto-rickshaws
There is also a huge army of three wheeled rickshaws. There are some prepaid rickshaw stands at Shivajinagar, Swargate Bus Depot and Lohegaon Airport. Nevertheless, always demand that they use the meter and that they show you the sheet of paper (referred as Tariff Card) which converts the rickshaw meter readings to the actual cost in rupees. As of Nov 2011 the conversion equation is : Cost = 10 * Reading + 1, where "Cost" is the actual fare in rupees and "Reading" is the meter reading which is supposed to be Kilometers traveled. Thus a 2 on the meter is actually Rs (10*2 + 1) = Rs 21. Or a 3.50 on the meter is Rs (3.5*10 + 1) = Rs 36. The driver may occasionally stop to ask for directions depending on how familiar he is with the area. All rickshaws plying in the Municipal Corporation limits are supposed to charge fare according to tariff card. Most of the times they will try to charge you a little extra but that won't be too much. You can very well argue with them based on the conversion equation stated above, and sometimes they will agree to it. Now a days, many auto rickshaw drivers try to charge extra for long distances or very short distances, or they refuse the fare. If they realise you are not from the city, they may try to take longer routes to the destination to charge extra money from you. Thus, outsiders and foreigners, use your own judgement before boarding any auto rickshaw. Stick to the demand of charging by meter and refuse strongly to pay any extra amount, unless it is midnight. Autorickshaw drivers may also refuse to travel to quite a few parts of the city as per their convenience; however, this is against the law if their meter reads "on hire" in the upright position. If the sign is turned sideways, the rickshaw driver is not technically working and can refuse you. It is very common for rickshaw drivers plying between 11 PM and 6 AM to demand 1.5 times the normal rates for the journey. You are advised to get this cleared with the driver before boarding the rickshaw. It is also sometimes advisable to flag a rickshaw from the streets (if practical and possible) instead of boarding one from the stands as often, rickshaw drivers waiting in stands demand more fare. If you have complaints against auto drivers for not accepting short distance rides (or any rides), asking more meter fare, not using a meter, taking other passengers along the way, carrying more passengers than allowed capacity, stopping at bus stands or other similar complaints of serious nature, you can email or call the Road Transport Authorities at 020-22051414 or 020-27492828 (PCMC) or email rtopune@dataone.in. Traffic cops usually come right away to the spot to book a complaint against the driver. Commuters can also send their MMS pictures at +91 9420218338. The complaints should clearly mention all details including the autos registration number, the time of taking the rickshaw, details of auto fare, the distance commuted, locations, date, time, nature of complaint.
By two-wheelers
This city was once known as the city of bicycles, but now it has turned into the city of motorcycles. Most traffic rules are completely ignored in Pune, since there are ten times as many two-wheelers as there are cars. Lane discipline is generally tough to follow because of this reason. The general attitude towards riding motorbikes in the city is that of total ignorance of any set forth traffic regulations along with complete disregard of one's safety (not wearing a helmet). Here people ride motorbikes as if they are riding a war horse and will generally try to overtake every vehicle in front. Minor accidents on motorbikes are common; You are advised to be careful even when your signal is green as the traffic flow from other direction generally does not stop immediately.
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By suburban rail
The Pune Suburban Railway connects Pune to Lonavala, a small town en-route to Mumbai. There is only one line with seventeen stations; a second monorail line is under consideration by the government. Here is a list of all the stations, east to west. The places of interest are listed in brackets. Italics indicate the various modes of transport available at the destination station. Pune City (MRSTC, City Bus Stand, Autos, Taxis, PMC) Shivaji Nagar (MRSTC, Shivaji Nagar Bus Stand, Autos, PMC) Khadki (Ammunition Factory, BDL, Ring Sights India Pvt Ltd) Dapodi (CME Museum) Kasarwadi (Air Vents & Glass Factory) Pimpri (Pimpri Plant, TATA Plant) Chinchwad (Bride Industries Ltd) Akurdi (Force Motors Plant, Bajaj Tempo) Dehu Rd (Army AOC & ASC 512 Base repair Depots) Begdewadi (Loco Sheds) Ghorawadi Talegaon (Muhammad Ali Rd, CRPF) Wadgaon (PWD bungalow) Kanhe Kamshet Malwali
By car
There is quite a lot of traffic on Pune roads and driving through the narrow lanes is not easy. Even if you have driven before in Cairo or Kolkata, driving on Pune's streets isn't child's play. There are quite a few car rental agencies in Pune. Most of them charge around Rs 2500 a day for a mid-size car. There are extra charges for distances above 100 km. A reliable way of booking your cab is to book it online. There are a couple of popular sites where you have the luxury of choosing from a variety of options www.savaari.com and Clear Car Rental , [14] (http://www.clearcarrental.com/pune)
See
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Pataleshwar Caves, [20] (http://www.placesnearpune.com/2011/01/pataleshwar-cavetemple-and-jangli-maharaj-mandir-in-shivaji-nagar/) - This 8th century rock cut temple is hidden in the heart of the city, in the midst of modern high rise structures and developments, at Shivajinagar. Reminiscent of Ellora, the temple has been carved out of a single boulder of awe inspiring size which includes massive pillars, a Shiva shrine and a Nandi bull. The temple is used by worshippers even today. Bund Garden - This garden is also known as the Mahatma Gandhi Udyan. It was built by Sir Jamshedji Jeejeebhoy, on the right bank of the Mula-Mutha to provide the poor with water during summer. Main attraction here is the evening boat rides, horse rides etc. The garden is famous for Bhel-Puri and Pani-Puri. It is situated on the Airport road and very close to the Camp area. Sinhagad and Khadakwasala, [21] (http://www.placesnearpune.com/2009/07/sinhagadfort-in-pune-the-lion-fort/) - This is a fort nearby which is a beautiful place to see. This is also a historic place in King Shivaji era. Khadakwasala has a dam and this place is famous for natural beauty around. A lot of folks flock here during rainy season. Bhimshankar Wildlife Sanctuary: It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1974 and situated at an altitude of 2100 feet to 3800 feet, spread over three districts of Pune, Raigad and Thane. Bhimashankar wildlifes vegetation comprises of semi-evergreen forests as well as western tropical hill forests. Two major Tributaries of Krishna River named Bhim and Ghod, originate from this area.
Cultural Centers
Alliance Francaise de Pune, 270/D, Patrakar Nagar Rd. [22] (http://www.afindia.org) Goethe Institut, 14/3B, Dhole Patil Rd. [23] (http://www.goethe.de) Pune Music Cultural Centre, 459/1, Sadashiv Peth. Fortune Art Gallery, 86/1, Erandwana, Deccan Gymkhana.
Baneshwar, Pune-Satara Rd. A favorite picnicking spot. Shirgaon, Mumbai-Pune Expressway. Chateau Indage Winery, Narayangaon. A pleasant 80 km drive through toll roads and ghats. The Chateau has a good restaurant as well. Shirdi, Pune-Nashik Highway. Shirdi famous for Sai baba temple. Also residence of Sai baba. Appu Ghar Dehu NDA (National Defence Acadamy), [24] (http://nda.nic.in) Osho Ashram[25] (http://www.osho.com) Pashan Lake
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Forts and trekking destinations near Pune Hill Stations near Pune
Malshej Ghat: Malshej Ghat is among the most popular outing spot from Pune. This place is located amidst the sahyadri Hills. This place is popular among the local as well as other tourists. It is a perfect place for nature lovers, where they can spend their holidays. Malshej Ghat is one of the beautiful Hill stations of Maharashtra. There are many beautiful locations and some beautiful waterfalls which tourists to fall in love with this place. Rajmachi Rajmachi (Udhewadi) is a small village in the rugged mountains of Sahyadri in India. There are two forts which were built by Shivaji Emperor during 17th century. It is a famous spot for trekking. It is about 15 km treking distance from Lonavla. Rajmachi can be reached by 2 ways, the tough route from Kondivade village near Karjat and the other easy but long way route from Lonavala. In rainy season this place is filled with giant waterfalls and greenery.
Do
Gliding Centre Pune, [26] (http://www.glidingcentre.in) . Go for a joy ride in a glider and experience flying like a bird. Get an aerial view of Pune at a very nominal cost of Rs 187 only. You can also learn to fly gliders at the Gliding Centre, which is India's oldest and till date the most active hub for gliding. The centre is located at Hadapsar on the eastern side of the city. Flying activity is conducted from Sunday through Thursday. Paragliding School & Flying Club, [27] (http://www.flynirvana.com) . Located an hrs drive from Pune at Kamshet Learn to para-glide with Nirvana India's oldest and largest residential paragliding school . Flying activity is on from October - June . Panshet Water Park At a nearby dam, the tourism department has setup a water sports park. Horse riding and go out for horse treks with Digvijay Pratishthan [28] (http://www.digvijaypratishthan.com) . Tekdi - is the Marathi word for hill. There are many small scenic hills in the city used for trekking and birdwatching Notable among are Taljai(Near Parvati), Hanuman &Vetal Tekdi(near Law College Road, Paud Phata) Bird Watching:Tourists can enjoy boating and bird viewing in some of the city parks of Pune. Migratory parks can viewed throughout the year in Pune. If tourists can make it on the right time they can view many migrated birds in the parks. 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. Japalouppe Equestrian Center (Talegaon Dabhade), somatne phata, mumbai pune highway, talegaon Dabhade, 9890920183, [29] (http://japalouppe.net) . 6:00 am to 7:00 pm. Punes Premier Riding school, Japalouppe is spread out over a picturesque 19 acres,
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Festivals
Pune has a full calendar of events, ranging from Classical Music to Rock Concerts. However, Pune's most famous festival is the Pune Festival, which is held during the Ganesha Mahotsav. The Ganesh Mahotsav initiated by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, today is celebrated with great enthusiasm, as city interiors almost remain blocked for ten days. Pune has more than 2000 mandals with Dagdusheth Halwai being the biggest and most famous one. Sawai Gandharva, which started back in the 1960s, has had every Indian and international artist perform and has given rise to a number of budding ones too. It is held in the months of December from dawn to dusk over three days. The Osho Festival is another international crowd puller in Pune. Held in the Osho Aashram in Koregaon Park, disciples and followers of Bhagwaan Rajneesh make it a point to attend this festival. The Chaturshringi Fair is an annual event. It is held overnight on Navratri at Senapati Bapat Road. Giant-wheels are the main attractions but the food sold at the stalls is delicious too. The Pune International Film Festival [30] (http://www.puneinternationalfilmfestival.com/) - takes place annually and attracts some splendid films from around the world. This festival which generally takes place in January, lasts for a week and is a treat for film lovers in the city. A number of College festivals have become very commercialised, but still attract big crowds and a very high degree of competition from colleges all over Pune. Verve organised by Express Youth Forum is the biggest inter-collegiate cultural festival in India while Concepts organized by the Pune Institute of Computer Technology (PICT) is a very popular engineering (technical) event. So all year round, there is enough excitement to keep Puneites and tourists on their toes!
Learn Buy
Laxminarayan Best Chiwda they are famous for their Rice flakes Chiwda, Cornflakes Chiwda, Potato chiwda, Chitales's Bakarwadi and Mango Barfi. Pune is a city where you will find an excellent range of streetside shops as well as a few outstanding malls. Pune is a good place to pick up some Indian slippers made of rubber. Kolhapuri chappals can also be bought off the pavement. They tend to be soft and comfortable, and are manufactured in the Maharashtrian town of Kolhapur a few hundred miles south of Pune.
Budget
All the places listed here are places where you can bargain hard and get some good stuff off the pavement for rock-bottom prices. M.G. Road. Any items such as shoes, clothing, pots, pans, electronics, stationary, furniture, kitchen sinks etc. can be found at Modelina Grant Road, known to locals simply as M.G. Road. Laxmi Road. A very huge market selling gold jewelry and clothes. Tulshi Baug. Located on the Bajirao Road, near Maharashtra Bank. It is a must visit and also a favourite middle-class family market. Very cheap ladies garments, footwear and other items required for daily use are available at low prices.
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Books
Puneites are crazy about books. This shows in the number of excellent bookshops scattered throughout the city. The area known as 'Appa Balwant Chowk' is famous for various big and small book shops. Some of them specialize in special subjects like Law books,management books,religious books,computer books,music books etc. Birds of Pune available from Centre for Environment Education [31] (http://government.wikia.com/wiki/Centre_for_Environment_Education) and Kalpavriksh [32] (http://www.kalpavriksh.org) Ajit Law Book Depot [33] (http://www.law-all.com) , Appa Balwant Chowk. The Crossword chain of bookshops has 8 branches in Pune. The WORD bookshop, Boottee St, Camp. Book World, Basement, Sagar Arcade, FC Road. Book Space, 593, Ganesh Peth. Landmark [34] (http://www.landmarkonthenet.com) , SGS Mall, Molendina Rd. Manney's Book Centre, Molendina Rd, Pune Camp Area. Popular Book Shop, Deccan Gymkhana. Utkarsh Book Depot, Deccan Gymkhana, Near Garware Bridge.
Electronics
Pune is a technology hub and is home to IT/ITES/BPO professionals. Pune also has one of the highest densities of Engineers and Management graduates pursuing studies. Sony World, House of Laptops, Croma are electronics chains dishing out the goodies.
Eat
Pune is undoubtedly a great place to eat. Fergusson College Road is full of budget eateries serving delicous hot food at nominal charges. For a range of multi-cuisine restaurants, visit ABC Farms, Koregaon Park, which houses the city's best restaurants. Almost all restaurants open and close at similar This guide uses the following price ranges for a typical meal for one, including soft drink:
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Budget
Laxminarayan Best Chiwda they are famous for their Rice flakes Chiwda, Cornflakes Chiwda and Potato Chiwda Chitale Bandhu Mithaiwale outlets in the city are also a must go for a variety of sweetmeats and snack items. The Gulabjamun with sprinkled sugar which is a desert dish and the famous Bakarwadi which is a fried chickpea flour preparation, are something worth trying while visiting Pune. Good Luck Cafe,Good Luck Chowk(Square), F.C Road. One of the oldest and among the most popular resturants in Pune, it serves Iranian/Punjabi dishes, but is well know for its tea and butter bread. mostly frequanted by collegians it's a cool place to hang out. Vohuman, 34, Sassoon Rd. An awesome Iranian place serving delicious omelettes. Good for breakfast. Right next to the Jehangir Hospital. Chaitanya(vegetarian)/Tawas and Tandoors(non-vegetarian) at F.C. Road. Serves quite cheap stuffed parathas(layered chapattis), rice.Has combos of chicken/mutton/fish curries and dal(lentils)+parathas;biryanis;tandoor snacks on offer at very reasonable prices. Delhi Kitchen,Near Kotbagi Hospital,Aundh/Deep Bungalow Chowk. Serves cheap and delightful punjabi food.Curries available in different serving sizes;a 'quarter' curry being sufficient for one person. Manmeet Chat Center, On east side of F.C. Road next to Subway and opposite F.C. College Junior wing entrance, near Sant Tukaram Chouk. Tel: 64001088. Delicious chat. 'Popular basket chat' is INR 50 and is a tasty filling meal or great for sharing. The 'extra special'costs INR 5 more. Ande Ka Funda, Paud road. The only place for eggeterian. Serves 26 egg items. Vaishali, 1218/1, Shivaji Nagar, Fergusson College Rd. A popular youth joint serving amazing South Indian dishes. Their Sambhar is arguably the best in the City. Wadeshwar, Fergusson College Rd. Another popular eating place. The best fast food you will get here inlcludes appe, vada-sambhar, and pav bhaji. Another branch of wadeshwar is also there on Bajirao road, Shukrawar peth, which serves very good idlis and uttapa, and alu paratha.worth a try. Baan Thai Bakers Point,NIBM Road.Pretty good variety of Prawns and Chicken preperations.
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Mid-range
Satguru Punjabi Rasoi Best Nort Indian Food in Pune located on Viman Nagar Chowk opposite Giga Space IT park. 2kms from Koregaon Park on Nagar Road. Try it good place hangout in eveinings and night. Also located at Destination Center,Magarpatta City,Hadapsar. Vohuman, 34, Sassoon Rd. An awesome Iranian place serving delicious omelettes. Good for breakfast. Right next to the Jehangir Hospital. Chaitanya(vegetarian)/Tawas and Tandoors(non-vegetarian) at F.C. Road. Serves quite cheap stuffed parathas(layered chapattis), rice.Has combos of chicken/mutton/fish curries and dal(lentils)+parathas;biryanis;tandoor snacks on offer at very reasonable prices. Delhi Kitchen,Near Kotbagi Hospital,Aundh/Deep Bungalow Chowk. Serves cheap and delightful punjabi food.Curries available in different serving sizes;a 'quarter' curry being sufficient for one person. Manmeet Chat Center, On east side of F.C. Road next to Subway and opposite F.C. College Junior wing entrance, near Sant Tukaram Chouk. Tel: 64001088. Delicious chat. 'Popular basket chat' is INR 50 and is a tasty filling meal or great for sharing. The 'extra special'costs INR 5 more. Ande Ka Funda, Paud road. The only place for eggeterian. Serves 26 egg items. Vaishali, 1218/1, Shivaji Nagar, Fergusson College Rd. A popular youth joint serving amazing South Indian dishes. Their Sambhar is arguably the best in the City. The Green Villa Perched in Lane-C, Koregaon Park, this is an Arabic themed restaurant quite popular with the youth and foreigners. They serve authentic Mughlai and Lebanese food along with Hookah. Wadeshwar, Fergusson College Rd. Another popular eating place. The best fast food you will get here inlcludes appe, vada-sambhar, and pav bhaji. Another branch of wadeshwar is also there on Bajirao road, Shukrawar peth, which serves very good idlis and uttapa, and alu paratha.worth a try.
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Splurge
Barberque Nation, Kalyani Nagar. Offers a vast & Delicious variety of concept dining menu for around 500 bucks only. Really worth paying for, specially for the unlimited servings of Prawns, Crabs, Chicken, Mutton, Fish and also equally delicious Veg food. Good 8-10 variety of desserts to finish your meal. Flags, INOX Multiplex, Bund Garden Rd, Camp. Has a very interesting menu. Kangan Indian restaurant (dinner), Plot no 36/3B, Mundhawa Road, Ghorpadi Kabab Factory package, Package comes in both Veg and Non-Veg formats costing Rs. 325 (approx $7.36) and Rs. 375 (approx $8.50) + taxes, respectively. Package include unlimited delicious kababs (6-7 different types), Roti, Dal, Biryani and desserts (4-5 different types to choose from) every item listed is unlimited. La Dolce Vita, City Point, Dhole Patil Rd. Serves authentic cuisine from Tuscan, Italy. The menu has an extensive list of Italian wines. La Pizzeria, 361/5, Bund Garden Rd, Camp. Newly opened Opp E-Square in Hotel Srimaan. Tel. (020) 26133535; (020) 40077000. Has amazing Italian cuisine, pizzas and garlic bread, and it is run by an Italian. Has a fine-dining ambience. Le Meridien, Mill Rd. Pune's most luxurious hotel offers numerous dining options. Malaka Spice, Koregaon Park. Lip smacking Continental food.
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Drink
Refreshing Indian drinks such as Jal Jeera (a cumin seed drink) and Nimbu Pani (lemon water/soda) are sold on the sidewalk for around Rs 5 per glass. Yoko's, G-3 5th Avenue, Dhole Patil Road, Pune. A must have when in Pune. If you are a sizzler freak you will enjoy this place, excellent ambience and very economical... one also -to-see place is "the place" edit CAD-B Ice-cream Magic, Near Karishma Society, Kothrud, Pune or Opp. Kamala Nehru Park, Bhadarkar Road, Pune.ice cream magic,e-square food court level 2. A must have when in Pune..For chocolate lovers.. edit Mastani, Sujata Mastani, Nimbalkar Talim Chowk, 1260, Sadashiv Peth, Pune, +912024474641. A must have when in Pune..For icecream lovers. Its like milkshake with icecream.. edit Spice Kitchen, Pune Marriott Hotel & Convention Centre, 66833333. 24.
edit
Alcohol
Alcohol is easily available all over town, though most of the bars are in Koregaon Park and upmarket areas. Most bars open in the afternoon and close an hour or two after midnight. 7 Bamboo, koregaon park Apache - The Livid Lounge, F.C. Road and Banjara Hills, Chandani Chowk. One rocking place. Good heavy music. Recommended for a rock/ metal head. Carzonrent, ABC Farms, Koregaon Park. The Easy Bar, Taj Blue Diamond, 11, Koregaon Rd, Koregaon Park. Club Nirvana, INOX Multiplex, Bund Garden Rd, Camp. Elysium Koregaon Park, (Mind Circus Innovations project). Entresol Bar, Le Meridien, Mill Rd. Hard Rock Cafe [37] (http://www.hardrock.com/locations/cafes3/cafe.aspx? LocationID=512&MIBenumID=3&WT.mc_id=LocationName) , Plot No. 81/82 East Main Road, Koregaon Park. Open daily 12:00PM - 11:30 PM. phone: 20-4015-8888
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Sleep
Budget
Trimurti Lodge, Fergusson College Rd. It's not particularly clean. Under Rs Shreyas Hotel, Apte Road. Basic facilities. Budget 800 Suyash Lodge,Tilak Road. Very cheap, but almost basic Mid-range Rs 800-1500 facilities. Splurge Rs 1500 + Yatri Lodge, Karve Road. Clean but basic facilities. Sumangal Youth Hostel, Jambhulwadi road 60/1 plot 2 (Behind Dalavi Vasti), 9822010217, [40] (http://www.youthhostelpune.com) . Clean three star facilities nice lake view. (for students and families). edit Hotel Studio Estique, Near Inox, Bund Garden Road, +91-20-40188444 (reservations@studioestique.com, fax: +91-20-40188445), [41] (http://www.studioestique.com/) . Offers five categories of contemporary design room and more than 10 different room sizes, to suit your budget. edit Living Beautifully, Koregaon Park, 9326030310, [42] (http://livingbeautifully.weebly.com/) . Accommodation exclusively for people visiting the Osho International Meditation Resort. edit This guide uses the following price ranges for a standard double room:
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Mid-range
Deccan, 202/3 Apte Road (near the Gymkhana area), 91 20-2561 2345 (info@deccanrendezvous.com), [43] (http://www.deccanrendezvous.com/) . A small 3 star business hotel, which tries to lure business travelers away from the larger chains with 24 hour check out (i.e. check in at 7pm, leave at 7pm), complimentary stay for accompanying spouse, free airport transfers & free high speed internet connectivity. Has a small pool and basic gym, a restaurant and bar and helpful staff edit Alcove Service Apartments Pune, Geras Greenville, Villa no Carnation 57, Kharadi,Pune 411014, +91-9900578231 (stay@alcove.co.in), [44] (http://www.alcove.co.in/) . Single room, or independent 3 BHK Apartments,AC bedrooms with double beds and independent bathrooms,TV with Cable & DVD Player,Fully Furnished Kitchen with refrigerator, microwave, toaster, coffeemaker,mixer grinder and gas stove, Utility with fully automatic washing machine, iron and ironing board, a large swimming pool with Children area, Sun deck, A swim up bar & Jacuzzi, Club House with Gym, Lounge/Party room, Steam Sauna & Massage room, 24hrs Security, Power Back up, Basket ball & Badminton court, complimentary Breakfast,free Wi Fi internet edit Hotel Mandakini Ambience,Wakad, Survey No. 208/3/2, Kalewadi Chowk, Above Good Home Stores, Wakad, Pune, Maharashtra, 91 9810068858,9235605005 (mail@kukrejagrouphotels.com), [45] (http://www.kukrejagrouphotels.com/hotel_detail.aspx? HotelID=22&D=Hotels+in+Pune/Hotel+Mandakini+Ambience,+Wakad) . Four Star Executive Suite Business Hotel with 60 well-equipped international standard Executive Suites. The Multi-cuisine restaurant,with Indian, south Indian,Chinese,continental and Thai cuisine for Breakfast,lunch and dinner. Business Center with secretarial assistance, Travel desk, Cab on call. Facilities extended are,all rooms are centrally air conditioned,carpeted,running Hot and cold water,satellite TV,mini Bar,direct dial facility.other facilities includes travel service,currency exchange,doctor on call,fridge,iron box,hot & cold water,travel desk,Hospitality desk,Gym,internet etc. edit
Splurge
Pune has a small but good range of top-end hotels. Prices are generally more than those in the US. A double room tends to be priced at USD 200 to 400 per night. During the lean season, good discounts are available. Le Royale [46] (http://www.leroyale.in) The Westin Pune Koregaon Park[47] (http://westin.com/punekoregaonpark) Taj Blue Diamond [48] (http://www.tajhotels.com) Le Meridien [49] (http://www.starwoodhotels.com) Sun n Sand [50] (http://www.sunnsandhotel.com) Hotel Brookside [51] (http://www.hotelbrookside.com/) Hotel St Laurn Hotel Sagar Plaza, Camp Area Hotel Aashirwad, Station Area Hotel Sayaji. Wakad
Camping
There are many spots near Pune in which you can go for camping. Camping can be done safely on spots such as Lonavala, Tungarli Lake,Valvan Lake, Rajmachi ,Mahableshwar, Panchgani,Kashid & Phansad. Rappelling,Lake Crossing,Adventure Sports,paint ball in Jungle setup.
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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 220km 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/ 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 35km from Pune and shortly after the second toll booth (about 2km 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 5km 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 mins), 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 5km 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. At time of writing (October 09) the majority of the road is 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 1.5 hours to climb to the top and explore. It will take about 15 minutes to regain the main ro phone=ad 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 12km 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.
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Contact
Phone
Pune is well covered by mobile phone networks. Idea (GSM), Airtel (GSM), BSNL (GSM),Vodafone (GSM), Tata (GSM/CDMA), Reliance (GSM/CDMA), Uninor (GSM),Aircel. To call a Mumbai number, the phone does not require STD. Simply dial 022 followed by the 8 digit number. STD/ISD booths are scattered throughout the city. The fare is calculated on a digital meter and the payment is done after the call. These booths are much cheaper than hotel phones. The format of a Pune landline number is +91-20-2xxxxxxx (BSNL) / 3xxxxxxx (Reliance) / 4xxxxxxx (Airtel) / 6xxxxxxx (TATA Indicom)
Internet
A large number of internet cafes dot the city. Most private cafes charge about Rs 10-25 (35-55 US cents) an hour. However, the Reliance World chain of cyber cafes run by Reliance Communications offer fast broadband connections at around a dollar per hour. There are 8 branches in Pune Plot 69, Sec 27A, Nigdi. Plot 19/20, Swajos Complex, Aundh. Ishwarlal Palace, Plot 293/294, Pimpri. Hotel Regency, Dhole Patil Rd. 19/20, Rahul Complex, Paud Rd. 917/2A, FC Rd, Deccan Gymkhana. 1358/A, Shukrawar Peth, Bajirao Rd. Shop 4, Sterling Centre, M.G. Rd, Camp.
Stay safe
Pune is by and large a very safe place. Violent crime is low, although it's important to keep an eye on your belongings in public, as petty theft can occur. Do report any such activity to the police. Keep away from the touts. Locals are by and large friendly and mild mannered, though incidents of mugging have been reported on the outskirts of Pune, especially on highways and desolate stretches. If you face a vehicle breakdown after dark, its best to stay in the vehicle and phone for help. Driving in Pune is not for the weak-hearted. Like other Indian metros, Pune has seen an virtual explosion in traffic in recent years, and the infrastructure is struggling to keep pace. Lack of discipline especially during overtaking and driving on the wrong side is rampant in the city and
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Emergency assistance
Police - 100 Fire - 101 Ambulance - 102 Accident and trauma - 1099
Get out
Neel Kantheshwar - hill based temple near source of our Mutha river. 35 KM from Pune, It is a good hill station with hundreds of statues installed there describing scenes from Hindu scriptures and Puranas. This place also offers you to watch scenes of three major dams from its top, which is very exciting for nature lovers. Mulshi - To the west of Pune lies Munshi, near the town of Lonavala. Mulshi and the surroundings are abundant with natural beauty that includes a dam, the hilly region of Sahyadri's deep forests and forts like Dhangad and Koraigadh. The water from the dam is used for generating electricity. Matheran Mahabaleshwar Rajgad Lohagad & Visapur Torna Jejuri Raireshwar Narayanpur (Purandar) This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow! Retrieved from "http://wikitravel.org/en/Pune" Category: Usable articles This page was last modified 20:24, 10 March 2012. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
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