Planning a trip to Pune? Skyscanner gives you a low down of things to do in Pune if you are alone, travelling with friends or travelling with family.
1. Go trekking early morning
Sinhagad is an ancient hill fortress located on the outskirts of Pune, India. The trek to the top of the fort is ideal even for beginners and can take from 40 minutes to two hours depending on your speed. The fort is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. At the fort, do not forget to devour onion bhajjis and a zunka-bhakar meal.Distance from Pune: The base of the trek is at Sinhagad village or Atekar Vasti 38 kilometres away from Pune.
Rajmachi trek is easy , you will take about thirty minutes from Udhewadi village to reach the Rajmachi Fort. You will be rewarded with scenic views of the waters of Shirota Dam.Distance from Pune: 79 kilometres away from Pune
Lohagad trek, also known as the ‘Iron Fort’ trek, is an easy climb (up about 450 steps) lasting three hours. The trek is particularly enjoyable during the monsoons, with great views of the verdant Sahyadri hills. Start from Lohagad village.Distance from Pune: 63 kilometres away from Pune
By Kandoi.sid (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
2. Visit Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum in the morning
Heard the adage, ‘each drop makes an ocean’? Seems Dinkar Kelkar made it his motto. He collected 20000 odd objects across all aspects of life in India, including toys, doors and window frames, utensils, puppets, lamps and what not.Distance from Shaniwada: 1.6 kmTip: The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.
3. Spend three hours in the day exploring the history and heritage in and around Shaniwarwada
Shaniwarwada was the seat of the mighty Peshwas of the Maratha Empire until 1818. A devastating fire in 1828 reduced it to ruins of stone and wood.Tip: A heritage walk is a great option to learn more about the history of the area as well as appreciate the architecture that drew influences from Maratha, Mughal and the British empires. Janwani, a Pune based NGO offers a guided walk from Pune Municipal Corporation building to Vishrambaug Wada.
By Haripriya 12 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
4. In the afternoon, enjoy strolling at a Japanese Garden
Inspired by the Ying and Yang philosophy, the Pune-Okayama Friendship Garden has varied landscapes that can be viewed as you stroll around on designated walking paths. There is a play area for children as well.Distance from Shaniwada: 1.6 km
5. Head to Koregaon Park in the evening
On a walk down the leafy lanes, you will cross many old bungalows and parks. Do not forget to pick up a few Osho chappals and Kolhapuri chappals from the flea stalls in the lanes of Koregaon. You can also visit the Tribal Cultural Museum in the area to learn more about the daily life and artefacts used by the tribals living in remote areas of Maharashtra.Distance from Shaniwada: 6 kmTip: For a nice meal, head to Malaka Spice, Arthur’s Theme or Kargo – for casual dining, and Dario’s – for delectable desserts.
6. At night, visit the microbreweries for a pint or two
A lot of good microbreweries have cropped up in Pune. Choose from Independence Brewing Company at Mundhwa (for home brewed and global beers), Effingut Brewerkz at Koregaon Park (for bespoke beers), The 1st Brewhouse (Doolally) at Kondhwa and Flambos Microbrewery & Brewpub at Bund Garden Road (try the designer beers).Distance from Shaniwada: Independence Brewing Company – 8 km, Effingut Brewerkz – 6.3 km, The 1st Brewhouse – 12.6 km, Flambos Microbrewery & Brewpub – 3.5 km
By Pujakedia2010 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Spend at least three days in Pune so that you have adequate time to do things in and around Pune.The Pune International Airport is well connected to major cities of India and abroad. It’s also easily accessible by train and intra city buses within Maharashtra and adjoining states.
