Since the great Maratha leader was raised in Pune which was granted to his grandfather in 1599. Later it became the seat of Power for the Brahmin Peshwa family until 1817when it fell to British and became their alternative capital during the monsoon, Pune has rather more pleasant climate than mumbai. Pune is a contrast of history and modernism. Base of the Great Maratha Emperor, Chhatrapati Shivaji and the Peshwas, the city has been a cultural capital of Maharashtra for centuries. Pune is considered as the Oxford of India – with its many educational and research institutions apart from other institutions for sports, yoga, ayurveda, culture and social services. Pune is nowadays also seen as a potential city for massive growth of Information Technology.
History
Pune came into limelight after legendary
Dadoji Kondadev guardian and tutor of Shivaji drove golden ploughs through Pune.In
Shivaji's reign the area in & around Pune assumed mamooth importance."
Raigad" was made by the Hindu king as its principle headquarter from where all gureilla tactics for the warfare were chalked out.Shivaji's huge popularity among Hindus and Muslims alike helped to fend off the Mughal colossus. He ruled with religious impartiality, recruiting officers from both faiths. He also contributed technological insight, Engineering a network of hilltop forts to maintain control of the countryside, and a navy that could challenge even the European colonial fleets. Even after Shivaji died in 1680, the Maratha confederacy he founded prospored. After Shivaji Raje it were actually the "Peshwas" who brought name & fame to Pune. The Peshwas considered themselves servants to the throne & continued their fights against their sworn enemies like the Nizam of Hyderabad,the Britishers;Pune naturally became their headquarter & a place of great importance.Under the Peshwas reign Pune started shaping into a new properly planned,culturally & knowledge wise rich city.During this time many monuments were constructedd in Pune city itself like Peshwa Bajirao 1 got the famous "ShaniwarWada" done.This city gave the country some great leaders like Lokmanya Bal GangaDhar Tilak,Sane Guruji,the Chapekar brothers & countless other freedom fighters & great personalities. Pune was the city where Shri Lokmaya Tilak started the "The Ganesh Chaturti " festival with the sole aim of uniting people. This festival is till now celebrated worldwide with great pomp & affection, joy.
Cities of Maharashtra
Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Aurangabad, Kolhapur, Nagpur more ....
Tourist attraction of Pune :
Bund Garden, Lal Deval, Shaniwarwada, Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum, The Aga Khan's Palace, Parvati Hill and Temple, Shinde's Chhatri.
How to get there :
By Air :
Indian Airlines and Jet Airways provide regular flights to Pune from Delhi, four flights a week to Chennai and Bangalore and two to three flights daily from Mumbai. Pune city is 12 kms from the Pune Airport
By Rail:
Regular trains – Deccan Queen, Deccan Express, Indrayani, Pragati and Shatabdi all ply to Pune from Mumbai everyday.
By Road :
Pune is easily accessible by bus from any of the major cities of Maharashtra. From Mumbai, regular MSRTC buses and private buses ply to Pune. The bus route also flows through the Western Ghats.
