Pune
Nickname: Queen of the Deccan
Shaniwarwada, the palace of the
Peshwe, in downtown Pune
Pune (pronounced
/ˈpuːneɪ/,
Marathi: पुणे,
Hindi: पूना, formerly Poona) is the second largest city in the
state of
Maharashtra in western
India, around 160 kilometers southeast of the state capital,
Mumbai. Situated 560 metres above sea level on the
Deccan plateau at the confluence of the
Mula and
Mutha river [1], Pune is the administrative capital of
Pune district and the eighth most populous metropolitan area in India
[2].
Pune is known to have existed as a town since 937 AD.
Shivaji, the founder of the
Maratha Empire, lived in Pune as a boy, and later oversaw significant growth and development of the town during his reign. In 1730, Pune became an important political centre as the seat of the
Peshwa, the prime minister of the
Chhatrapati of Satara. After the town was annexed to
British India in 1817, it served as a
cantonment town and as the "monsoon capital" of the
Bombay Presidency until the
independence of India. In independent India, Pune is known for its educational facilities, having more than a hundred educational institutes and nine universities
[3]. It also boasts a growing industrial hinterland, with many
information technology and
automotive companies setting up factories in Pune district.
//
[
edit] Name
The name Pune (also transcribed Poona, but see below) derives from Punya Nagari (
Sanskrit, "City of Virtue"). The oldest reference to this name is on a
Rashtrakuta copper plate dated to
937, in which the town is referred to as Punya-Vishaya or Punak Vishaya
[4]. By the 13th century, it had come to be known as Kasbe Pune or Punavadi. Although the city's name is sometimes transcribed as Poona in English, a practise particularly common during the
British Raj, the spelling "Pune" has now become standard.
Pune is also known as The Oxford of the East, due to the various educational institutions, and also sometimes referred to as The Detroit of India owing to the many manufacturing companies, particularly automobile giants, having their base within the city's metropolitan area.
[
edit] History
Main article:
History of PuneShaniwarwada, Pune
The circular Nandi mandapa at the
Pataleshwar cave temple, built during the
Rashtrakuta dynasty
Shivaji was a great king
[Early and Medieval
Copper plates dated to
758 and
768 show that, by the 8th century, an agricultural settlement known as Punnaka existed where Pune is today. The plates indicate that this region was ruled by the Rashtrakutas. The
Pataleshwar rock-cut temple complex was also built during this era.
Pune was a part of
Yadava Empire of
Deogiri from the 9th century to 1327. It was later ruled by the
Nizamshahi sultans, until it was annexed by the
Mughal empire in the 17th century. In
1595, Maloji Bhosale was appointed the
jahagirdar of Pune and Supe by the Mughals
[4].
[Maratha and Peshwa rule
In
1625,
Shahaji Bhonsle appointed Rango Bapuji Dhadphale as the administrator of Pune. He was one of the first major developers of the town, overseeing the construction of the Kasba, Somwar, Ravivar and Shaniwar
Peths. Construction also began on the Lal Mahal palace, as Shahaji's son,
Shivaji Bhonsle (later Chattrapati Shivaji) was to move there with his mother
Jijabai. The Lal Mahal was completed in 1640
[4]. Jijabai is said to have commissioned the building of the
Kasba Ganapati temple herself. The
Ganapati idol consecrated at this temple is regarded as the presiding deity (
gramadevata) of the city
[5].
From 1630 to 1647,
Dadoji Kondev, Shivaji's childhood mentor and teacher, oversaw development and construction in the area. As a child, Shivaji is said to have commemorated agricultural activities personally by using specially made golden ploughs[
citation needed]. After Shivaji was crowned
Chhatrapati (King) in
1674, he oversaw further development in Pune, including the construction of the Guruwar, Somwar, Ganesh and Ghorpade Peths.
Baji Rao I became Peshwa of the Maratha empire, ruled by Chattrapati
Shahuji, in
1720. By
1730, the palace of
Shaniwarwada had been constructed on the banks of the Mutha river, ushering in the era of Peshwa control of the city. The patronage of the Peshwas resulted in the construction of many temples and bridges in the city, including the Parvati temple and the Sadashiv, Narayan, Rasta and Nana Peths. The Peshwas fell into decline after their loss in the
Third Battle of Panipat in
1761. In
1802, Pune was captured from the Peshwa by
Yashwantrao Holkar in the
Battle of Poona, directly precipitating the
Second Anglo-Maratha War of
1803-
05.
British Raj
The
Third Anglo-Maratha War broke out between the Marathas and the
British in
1817. The Peshwas were defeated at the
Battle of Khadki (then transcribed Kirkee) near Pune, and the city was seized. It was placed under the administration of the
Bombay Presidency, and the British built a large military
cantonment to the east of the city (now used by the
Indian Army). The Pune Municipality was established in
1858. Pune was at one time the "monsoon capital" of the Bombay Presidency.
Nanasaheb Peshwa, the adopted son of the last Peshwa
Bajirao II, rose against British East India Company rule in
1856, as part of the
Indian Mutiny. He was helped by
Rani Lakshmibai of
Jhansi and
Tatya Tope. After the mutiny failed, the final remnants of the Maratha empire were annexed to British India.
Pune was an important centre for the social and religious reform movements of the late 19th century. Many prominent social reformers lived here, including
Mahadev Govind Ranade,
Ramakrishna Gopal Bhandarkar,
Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Maharshi
Vitthal Ramji Shinde and
Jyotirao Phule. The most important political reformer of this era was
Bal Gangadhar Tilak, who dominated the Indian political scene for six decades.
Tilak was a prominent activist early in the
Indian independence movement.
Shivaram Rajguru and
Nathuram Godse, two other important political activists, were both born near Pune.
[Geography
Pune is located at the confluence of the
Mula and
Mutha riversPune is located 560m (1,837 ft) above sea level on the western margin of the
Deccan plateau. It is situated on the leeward side of the
Sahyadri mountain range (the Western Ghats), which separate it from the
Arabian sea. It is a relatively hilly city, with its tallest hill,
Vetal Hill, rising to 800m (2,625 ft) above sea level. Just outside the city, the
Sinhagad fort is located at a height of 1300m.
Central Pune is located at the confluence of the
Mula and
Mutha rivers. The
Pavana and
Indrayani rivers, tributaries of the
Bhima river, traverse the northwestern outskirts of the metropolitan Pune.
Pune lies very close to the seismically active zone around
Koyna Dam, about 100 km south of the city, and has been rated in
Zone 4 (on a scale of 2 to 5, with 5 being the most prone to earthquakes) by the India Meteorological Department. Pune has experienced some moderate-intensity and many low-intensity earthquakes in its history. Although no major earthquakes have originated in Pune itself, an earthquake of magnitude 3.2 took place in the Katraj region near Pune on
May 17, a low intensity earthquake observed on night of 30th July 08,the intensity of the earth quake was meaured at 4.2 as per news resources around 12:41 am[
citation needed]. The epicenter for the Earth Quake was in Koyna Dam field
2004[6].
[
edit] Climate
Climate chart for Pune
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
0
30
11
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32
12
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35
16
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38
20
40
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22
138
32
23
163
28
22
129
27
22
155
29
21
68
31
18
28
30
14
4
29
12
temperatures in °Cprecipitation totals in mmsource:
Weather UndergroundImperial conversion
[show]J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
0
86
52
0.1
90
54
0.1
95
61
0.4
100
68
1.6
99
72
5.4
90
73
6.4
82
72
5.1
81
72
6.1
84
70
2.7
88
64
1.1
86
57
0.2
84
54
temperatures in °Fprecipitation totals in inches
Pune has a tropical wet and dry climate with average temperatures ranging between 20°C to 28°C.
Pune experiences three distinct seasons:
summer,
monsoon and
winter. Typical summer months are from March to May, with maximum temperatures ranging from 30 to 38 °C (85 to 100 °F). The warmest month in Pune is April; although summer doesn't end until May, the city often receives locally developed heavy
thundershowers in May (although humidity remains high). Even during the hottest months, the nights are usually cool due to Pune's high altitude. The highest temperature ever recorded was 43.3°C on
April 30,
1897[7].
The monsoon lasts from June to October, with moderate rainfall and temperatures ranging from 10°C to 28°C (50°F to 82°F). Most of the 722mm of rainfall in the city fall between June and September, and July is the wettest month of the year. Pune once received rainfall on 29 consecutive days[
citation needed].
Winter begins in November; November in particular is known as the Rosy Cold (
Marathi: गुलाबी थंडी). The daytime temperature hovers around 28 °C (83 °F) while night temperature is below 10 °C (50 °F) for most of December and January, often dropping to 5 or 6 °C (42 °F). The lowest temperature ever located was 1.7 °C on
January 17,
1935[8].
[
edit] Transport
[
edit] Road
See also:
Roads of PunePune Bypass helps trafic from the north to south bypass easily
A Volo Inter State Bus from Pune to Mumbai
Both public transport (
autorickshaws and buses) and private transport (cars, motorcycles and
scooters) are popular in Pune. According to one study, there were then 400,000 cars and 1.6 million two-wheelers in Pune in 2007[
citation needed]. More than 200,000 vehicles are added to the traffic in Pune every year.
Public buses within the city and its suburbs are operated by the
Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML). A
Pune Bus Rapid Transit system has been proposed, in which dedicated bus lanes would allow buses to travel quickly through the city. Buses to towns within
Pune district surrounding Pune, as well as cities throughout
Maharashtra are run by the
Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation. Private bus companies also run buses to major cities throughout India, especially Mumbai.
Pune is well-connected to other cities by
Indian highways and state highways. National Highway 4 (NH 4) connects it to
Mumbai and
Bangalore, NH 9 to
Solapur and
Hyderabad, and
NH 50 to
Nashik. State highways connect it to
Ahmednagar,
Aurangabad, and
Alandi.
Since 2002, Pune has been connected to Mumbai via the
Mumbai-Pune Expressway, India's first six-lane high-speed expressway. Both pre-paid air-conditioned "cool" cabs and private bus companies ply this route, connecting Mumbai and Pune in three hours.Out of the total distance of 165 km from Mumbai to Pune, the Express Highway part is 96 km.A
ring road is being planned to be constructed for the convienience of traffic.
Pune has witnessed an extraordinary growth in vehicular density and has consequently seen an alarmingly high increase in traffic offenses, accidents, and fatalities resulting from these.
[9][
edit] Rail
Main article:
Pune MetroA
rapid transit system has been proposed in Pune, and is scheduled to begin operations in 2010
[10]. It is being planned in consultation with
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Limited, the corporation which built and operates the
Delhi Metro. Three routes have been identified thus far:
Warje-Chinchwad, via Karve road, Jangli Maharaj road, Shivajinagar, and the Pune-Mumbai road (22 km, elevated)
Shivajinagar-Kalyaninagar, via Raja Bahadur Mill road and the Pune-Ahmednagar road (13 km, elevated)
Agriculture College-Swargate, via Shivaji road (10 km, underground)
The city has two railway stations, one in the city and the other at Shivajinagar. Both stations are administrated by the Pune division of the
Central Railways, which extends from after Lonavala (which is administered by the Mumbai CSTM division) to before Daund (which is under the Solapur division), to Baramati, and to Kolhapur (via Miraj)[
citation needed]. All the railway lines to Pune are
broad gauge, with double electrified lines (1500 volt DC traction) to Lonavala, a double non-electrified line to Daund, and single non-electrified lines to Kolhapur via Miraj and Baramati via Daund.
Local trains (
EMUs) connect Pune to the industrial town of
Pimpri-Chinchwad and the hill station of
Lonavala, while daily express trains connect Pune to Mumbai, Howrah, Delhi, Jammutawi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, and so on.
At Pune, there is diesel locomotive shed (DLS) and electric trip shed (ETS).
[
edit] Air
Pune International Airport is an international airport at
Lohegaon, operated by the
Airports Authority of India. It shares its runways with the neighbouring
Indian Air Force base, the only one of its kind in the world. Apart from domestic flights to all major Indian cities, this airport serves two international direct flights: one to
Dubai (operated by
Air India Express), and one to
Frankfurt (operated by
Lufthansa).
The
Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation is responsible for the design and construction of a new Pune International Airport. The area between Chakan and Rajgurunagar, around the villages of Chandus and Shiroli, is currently being considered as a construction site. If constructed here, it will be 40 km from central Pune along the Pune-Nashik National highway (NH-50).
[
edit] Civic Administration
The city of Pune is managed by the
Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). The Corporation consists of 149
directly elected councilors
[11], who are led by the Mayor of Pune, a titular position mainly acting as an ambassador and representative of the city. Actual executive power is vested in the
Municipal Commissioner, an officer of the
Indian Administrative Service who is appointed by the
Maharashtra state government.
Apart from the PMC, four other administrative bodies are active within the Pune metropolitan area:
Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC)
[12], responsible for
Pimpri-Chinchwad and its surroundings,
Khadki Cantonment Board (KCB)
[13], responsible for
Khadki,
Pune Cantonment Board (PCB)
[14], responsible for
Pune Cantonment, and
Dehu Road Cantonment Board, responsible for the
Dehu Road area.
A plan to establish a single Pune Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (PMRDA), consisting of the combined municipal councils, corporations, and other local governments of Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad,
Lonavala,
Talegaon,
Bhor, Shirur,
Saswad, the three cantonments and hundred villages near the city, has been considered since 1997, but might come to fruition this year
[15]. This body will then be the executing authority which will acquire and develop reserve land to improve the infrastruction of the Pune metropolitan area.
The Pune Police is headed by the
Police Commissioner of Pune, an officer of the
Indian Police Service. The Police report to the state ministry.
[
edit] Military establishments
The National War Memorial (Maharashtra)
Pune has been a prominent
cantonment town since the early 1800s. Several important battles were fought in and around Pune, including the
battle of Khadki (1817) and the
battle of Koregaon (1818). Many military establishments have been set up here, including:
The headquarters of the
Indian Army's
Southern Command[16].
College of Military Engineering where the
sappers of the Indian Army are trained.
The
Bombay Engineering Group or the Bombay Sappers, as they are commonly known, have had their Centre in Pune since 1837 and in its present location in Khadki since 1869.
The
National Defence Academy (NDA) at
Khadakwasla, the joint services academy where Army, Navy and Air Force cadets are trained together before they go for their pre-commission training to their respective academies.
The
Armed Forces Medical College trains doctors and nurses for the three services.
Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (previously the Institute of Armament Technology)
High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL)
Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE)
Army Institute of Physical Training (AIPT) and
Army Sports InstituteOrdnance factories - Ammunition Factory (AFK) and High Explosive Factory (HEF), located at
Khadki.
Army Institute of Technology, Pune (AIT) is an engineering college meant for the wards of Indian Army personnel (serving or retired) which is located at Dighi Hills in Pune,
Maharashtra,
India and affiliated to the University of Pune.
An old war memorial built to commemorate all who fought from Poona in the
Great War is located opposite
Sassoon Hospital. A new war memorial, the
National War Memorial (Maharashtra) is located in Pune Cantonment near Ghorpadi. This memorial commemorates the sacrifice of Maharashtrian soldiers of the Indian Armed Forces who lost their lives in the conflicts fought by independent India.
[
edit] Demographics
The population of Pune and its surrounding urban agglomeration have an estimated population of just over 5 million,
[17]. This includes the towns of
Khadki,
Pimpri-Chinchwad and Dehu Road. Growth in the software and education sectors has led to an influx of skilled labour from across India. The migrating population rose from 43,900 in 2001 to 88,200 in 2005
[18]. Around 45% of Pune population is between 15 and 30 years of age[
citation needed].
Marathi is the official and the most widely spoken language, while English is understood and spoken widely. The dialect of Marathi spoken in Pune has been suggested to be the "standard" form of the language
[19]. Pune has many
white-collar professionals thanks to a large number of educational, research and training institutes spread throughout the city.[
citation needed].
The city is home to sizeable religious minorities including
Parsis,
Jews,
Sikhs,
Christians and
Muslims.
[
edit] Economy
The
HSBC Global Technology Center at Kalyani Nagar develops software for the entire HSBC group
[20].
Infosys office
As one of the largest cities in India, and as a result of its many colleges and universities, Pune is emerging as a prominent location for
IT and manufacturing companies to expand to.
Infosys, Hinjewadi
[
edit] Automotive
The automotive sector is particularly prominent. All sectors of the automotive industry are represented, from
two-wheelers and
autorickshaws (
Bajaj Auto,
Kinetic Motor Company) to cars (
Volkswagen,
General Motors,
Tata Motors,
Daimler-Chrysler,
Fiat,
Peugeot,
John Deere) to
tempos and trucks (
Force Motors). Automotive components (TATA Autocomp Systems Limited TACO, Visteon, Continental Corporation, ITW, SKF, Magna) are also manufactured here. Other automotive companies including
General Motors,
Volkswagen, and
Fiat have set up greenfield facilities near Pune, leading
The Independent to cite Pune as India's "Motor City"
[21].
[
edit] Other Manufacturing
Engineering goods manufactured in Pune include forges (
Bharat Forge) and engines (
Cummins). Other major manufacturers include
Alfa Laval,
Thyssen Krupp and
Black & Veatch.
Other goods are also manufactured in the area. Electronic goods are manufactured by multinational companies such as the
Whirlpool Corporation and the
LG Group. Food giants like
Frito Lay and
Coca Cola have food processing plants. Many small and medium-sized companies are also active, producing components for larger companies and creating unique components for the Indian marketplace.
[
edit] Software and Information Technology
The Cybercity Business Park at Magarpatta, Pune
Pune has a rapidly growing software industry as well, with multinational companies such as
Tata Consultancy Services,
Tech Mahindra,
Wipro and
Infosys having large offices here. The growing software industry has led to the construction of
IT parks to encourage new IT companies. This includes the Rajiv Gandhi IT Park at
Hinjawadi, the
Magarpatta Cybercity, the MIDC Software Technology Park at Talawade, the Marisoft IT Park and Kumar Cerebrum IT Park at Kalyani Nagar, the International Convention Centre (ICC), Weikfield IT Park and many others.
Business process outsourcing companies have also seen significant growth here, with companies like
Convergys,
Infosys BPO, EXL,
Wipro BPO, Next, vCustomer, Ventura and Mphasis setting up operations here.
[
edit] Education and Research
Main article:
Education in PuneFergusson College is one of the oldest colleges in India.
Pune has more than a hundred educational institutes and nine universities
[3], and has acquired a reputation as 'The Oxford of the East', with students from all over the world studying at the colleges of the
University of Pune. Pune has more schools, colleges and universities than any other city in the world.
[
edit] Basic and Special Education
Main article:
Schools in PunePublic schools (known locally as municipality schools) are run by the
PMC, and are affliated with the
MSBSHSE. Private schools are run by educational trusts or individuals. They are usually affliated to either the
state board or to national education boards, such as the
ICSE or
CBSE boards.
Pune is the largest centre for Japanese learning in India[
citation needed].
JLPT exams are held every December. Instruction in Japanese is provided by many educators, including the University of Pune. Other languages including German (taught at the Max Muller Bhavan) and French (at the Alliance Francaise de Poona) are popular in the city.
[
edit] University Education
Main article:
List of colleges and universities in PuneThe
University of PuneMost colleges in Pune are affiliated to the
University of Pune, established in
1948. Seven other deemed universities have also been established in the city
[22].
The
College of Engineering, Pune, founded in 1854, is the third-oldest engineering college in Asia. The
Deccan Education Society was founded by several local citizens in
1884, including social and political activist
Bal Gangadhar Tilak[23], and was responsible for founding
Fergusson College in
1885. This society currently maintains and operates 32 institutes in Pune.
The
University of Pune, the
National Defence Academy,
Film and Television Institute of India,
National Film Archives,
Armed Forces Medical College and
National Chemical Laboratory were established in Pune after the
independence of India.
Symbiosis International University, which operates 33 different colleges and institutions in the city, is one of India's largest private universities. Its institutions Symbiosis Institute of Business Management and Symbiosis Center for Management and Human Resource Development are amongst the top management institutes in the country.
ILS Law College, established by the Indian Law Society is one of the top ten law schools in India. Established medical schools such as the
Armed Forces Medical College and
Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Medical College train students from all over Maharashtra and India and are amongst the top medical colleges in India. Military Nursing College (affiliated to the AFMC) ranks among the top nursing colleges in the world[
citation needed].
[
edit] Research Institutes
National Chemical LaboratoryIn addition to the University of Pune, Pune is home to several research institutions of national importance. Located adjacent to the university is the
National Chemical Laboratory, one of the
Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER) and the
Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology (C-MET), while the university campus houses the
Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC),
Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, the
National Centre for Radio Astrophysics and the
National Centre for Cell Science.
The
KEM Hospital Research Centre,
Central Water and Power Research Station (CW & PRS),
National Institute Of Bank Management (NIBM), NIC [National Informatics Centre], the
Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, the
Agharkar Research Institute and the
Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), and the
National AIDS Research Institute are all in or around Pune.
YASHADA, which is the Administrative Training Institute of Maharashtra is situated next to the Raj Bhavan in Pune.
The
Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute was established in 1917 and is a world-renowned institute for research and instruction in the
Sanskrit and
Prakrit languages and houses more than 20,000 ancient manuscripts. The
National Institute of Virology and
National Insurance Academy are located in Pune. Pune also houses the
Tata Research Development and Design Centre, a research unit of Tata Consultancy Services, working in the areas of computer science and modeling/simulation for materials processing.
Several military and armament research organizations are also located in Pune (see the
Military establishments section in this article).
[
edit] Culture
Main article:
Culture of PuneAs the largest city with a predominantly
Marathi-speaking populace, Pune is closely associated with Marathi art, literature, drama and religious beliefs. Many Marathi writers, poets, actors, singers and other celebrities live in Pune. In recent years, cinemas, discos and clubs have also opened up as the younger, westernized college students and young professionals make their presence felt.
[
edit] Literature and Theatre
The form of
Marathi spoken in Pune is held as the standard form of the language.
[24]Lisa Klopfer, librarian at
Eastern Michigan University,
[25] observed in her overview of district libraries that the city's metropolitan area "has an estimated population of over five million, but retains [its] older neighborhoods and the aura of an intellectual center."
[26] Corporate roles in city growth strategies necessarily "invite and include collaboration" with local self-governments;
[27] as the agro-pharmaceutical business has dwindled in recent decades, immigation from erstwhile tribal peoples now accounts for seventy percent of population growth and education syllabi have not adjusted in accordance with other industrialised regions.
[28][29]This has created what has become an "exclusive environment" in the government's expansion of education infrastructure,
[30] and Marathi
literati have have received a number of grants in areas that were previously ignored. Marathi theatre (नाटक or रंगभूमी in Marathi) is an integral part of Marathi culture. Both experimental (प्रायोगिक रंगभूमी) and professional theatre receive extensive patronage from the Marathi community. The Tilak Smarak Mandir, Bala Gandharva Rangmandir, Bharat Natya Mandir, Yashwantrao Chavan Natyagriha and
Sudarshan Rangmanch are prominent theatres in the city.
[
edit] Music
Every December, Pune hosts the three-day long
Sawai Gandharva Music Festival. It presents
Hindustani and
Carnatic classical music.
Pune has given many famous artists to the traditional Indian music world. Well known names are great vocalist Pandit
Bhimsen Joshi in earlier generation to gifted Sitarist
Pandit Chandrakant Sardeshmukh.
As per wish of
Pandit Bhimsen Joshi Pandit Chandrakant Sardeshmukh has initiated an under graduate department of Music Dance and Drama on
University of Pune campus as a student founder in 1980. This is named as Lalit Kala Kendra and started formally in 1987 with
Pandit Chandrakant Sardeshmukh as first joint coordinator. This department is currently lead by Prof. Satish Alekar. This department has Gurukul and formal education system combined. Well known artists like great vocalist
Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, well known Kathak Dancers
Rohini Bhate and
Manisha Sathe ,renowned Bharatnatyam dancer
Sucheta Bhide Chapekar, renowned viloinist
Atul Upadhye and so many artists teach here as University Teachers and Traditional Gurus.
[
edit] Religion
Chaturshringi Temple
Hinduism is the most commonly practised religion in Pune, although many mosques, gurudwaras, Jain temples and other religious buildings are found throughout the city[
citation needed]. The most prominent Hindu temple in Pune is the
Parvati temple, located on Parvati hill and visible from most of the inner suburbs. The most famous is likely the
Chaturshringi Temple, located on the slopes of a hill in the northwest of the city. During
Navratri (which usually falls in the month of September), there is a large procession to this temple and worshippers gather from around the country to pray here.
The presiding god of Pune city is the
Kasba Ganapati, whose temple is found in
Kasba Peth in central Pune.
Dagdusheth Ganpati
Since
1894, Pune has celebrated
Ganesh Chaturthi as a ten-day long festival, in which most neighborhoods put up a pandal (tent) with an idol of Ganesha, often amidst a religious setting, complete with decorative lights and festive music. This festival culminates with a parade of Ganesh idols from across the city carried to the local rivers to be immersed (Ganesh visarjan). The Kasba Ganapati, as the presiding deity of the city, is the first in this parade. The idea of a public celebration was initiated by
Lokmanya Tilak in Pune, and has since spread to many other cities, particularly
Mumbai, which has a massive parade every year.
Significant religious leaders
Sant Dnyaneshwar (born in
Alandi in the 13th century) and poet
Sant Tukaram (born in
Dehu in the 17th century) were born near Pune. Their link to the city is commemorated with an annual pilgrimage to
Pandharpur, 300 kilometers away, consisting of a
palkhi of both figures being carried to the
main temple of the Hindu god
Vithoba. The pilgrimage is timed to end on the auspicious day of Aashadhi Ekadasshi.
Pune was once home to a group of the
Bene Israel, a
Jewish community in western India. Although many of them migrated to
Israel after
Indian independence, it remains home to Asia's largest
synagogue, the
Ohel David Synagogue (known locally as the Lal Deval, or Red Temple).
The
Shrutisagar Ashram, located at Phulgaon village off Ahmednagar road, houses the
Vedanta Research Centre and a unique temple of Lord
Dakshinamurthy, located near the confluence of the Bhima, Bhama and Indrayani rivers. It was established in 1989 by Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati. Here one can find detailed explanations of
śruti and
smrti (including the
Vedas,
Bhagwat Gita,
Upanishads and
Puranas) in Marathi and English.
With 200,000 visitors annually, the Osho International Meditation Resort in Pune is one of the largest spiritual centres in the world
Pune has been associated with several significant spiritual teachers.
Osho (known earlier as Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh) lived and taught in Pune for much of the 1970s and 1980s. The
Osho International Meditation Resort, one of the world's largest spiritual centers, is located in the Koregaon Park area. It has visitors from over a hundred countries
[31]. Pune is also the birthplace of spiritual guru
Meher Baba, although pilgrims usually travel to
Meherabad.
The
ISKCON movement also has a presence in the city, with the Sri Radha Kunjbihari Mandir.
B. K. S. Iyengar, an internationally known
yoga master, established the
Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute in Pune in
1975, in order to train students in the
Iyengar Yoga System.
[
edit] Museums, Parks and Zoos
Pu. La. Deshpande Garden
Prominent museums in Pune include the
Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum,
Mahatma Phule Museum,
Babasaheb Ambedkar Museum,
Pune Tribal Museum and the
National War Museum.
Pune has a number of public gardens, such as the
Kamala Nehru Park,
Sambhaji Park,
Shahu Udyan,
Peshwe Park,
Saras Baug,
Empress Garden, and
Bund Garden. The
Pune-Okayama Friendship Garden, now renamed
Pu La Deshpande Udyan, is a recreation of the
Korakuen Garden in
Okayama, Japan
[32].
The
Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park is located at Katraj, close to the city
[33]. The zoo, earlier located at Peshwe Park, was merged with the reptile park at Katraj in 1999.
The College of Military Engineering has a small rail museum as part of their larger Corps Equipment Museum. A large railway museum is also coming up in
Lonavala about 60 kms away from the city on the Mumbai railway line.
[
edit] Food
Common street food in Pune includes
bhakri (flattened millet pancakes) with
pitla (a flour-based curry),
chivda,
bakarvadi,
vada pav,
bhelpuri,
misal and
kacchi dabeli. The
mastani, a thick milkshake containing
dried fruit, is a speciality of the city. It is named after Queen
Mastani, the controversial wife of the Peshwa
Baji Rao I in the 17th century.
Like any other cosmopolitan city, food from all over the world is available in the city's restaurants. A large number of
Udupi,
Kolhapuri and
Maharashtrian restaurants may be found, along with many low-priced dining halls catering to students and office goers. Popular fast-food franchises in the city include
Pizza Hut,
McDonalds,
Subway,
KFC,
Smokin' Joes and
Papa Johns. There are several coffee houses (including
Irani cafes) and modern chains such as
Cafe Coffee Day,
Mocha's and
Barista Lavazza Coffee.
[
edit] Sister cities
Pune has
sister city agreements with the following cities:
-
Bremen,
Germany-
San Jose,
California USA (since 1992)
-
Toyota, Aichi[
edit] Neighborhoods
Main article:
Pune NeighborhoodsThe city of Pune can be divided into the following zones:
Central Pune: consisting of roughly seventeen peths, or neighborhoods. These were established and developed during the Maratha and Peshwa rule, and are referred to as the old city.
Inner Pune: consisting of Deccan Gymkhana, Erandwane and Shivajinagar in the west, Camp, Dhole-Patil Road, and Koregaon Park in the east, and Swargate, Parvati, Mukundnagar, Maharshinagar, Gultekdi, and Salisbury Park in the South. On the north, the inner city is bounded by the
Mula-Mutha river.
Outer Pune: including the newer developed areas of Aundh and Ganeshkhind in the northwest, Kothrud and Paud Road in the west, Dattawadi, Sahakarnagar and Dhankawadi in the southwest, Bibvewadi, Lullanagar, and upper Kondhwa in the southeast, and Ghorpadi, Fatimanagar, Wanowrie and Hadapsar South in the east.
Suburbs: including Baner and Pashan in the northwest, Bavdhan and Warje in the west, Wadgaon, Dhayari and Ambegaon in the southwest, Katraj, Lower Kondhwa, Undri and Mohammedwadi in the southeast, Hadapsar North, Mundhwa, and Manjri in the east, Wadgaon Sheri and Kharadi in the northeast and Vishtrantwadi, Alandi Road, Dhanori and Kalas in the north.
The Pune metropolitan area also includes the following areas, located roughly to the northwest of Pune city. These are administered by the
Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation.
Pimpri and its surroundings: Chikhli, Kalewadi, Kasarwadi, Phugewadi, and Pimple Saudagar.
Chinchwad and its surroundings: Thergaon, Tathawade, and Talawade.
Sangvi and its surroundings: Dapodi, Wakad, Hinjewadi, Pimple Nilakh, and Pimple Gurav.
Bhosari and its surroundings: Moshi, Dighi, Dudulgaon, and Charholi Budruk.
Nigdi-Akurdi and its surroundings: Ravet, Dehu Road, and Somatne.
[
edit] Media and Communication
Marathi newspapers such as
Sakal,
Loksatta,
Lokmat,
Kesari, Maharashtra Times and
Pudhari are popular. English dailies such as
The Times of India,
Indian Express and
Sakaal Times (formerly the
Maharashtra Herald) have editions based in Pune, with additional local supplements.
Star Maajha,
Zee Marathi, Doordarshan Sahyadri and ETV Marathi, Me Marathi, are popular television channels. Many English and Hindi entertainment and news channels are watched as well. Pune has FM Radio services as well running for last few years. Though
Radio Mirchi (98.3 MHz) tops the popularity rating,
AIR FM (101.MHz),
Radio City(91.10),
Radio One (94.30),
S FM93.5 and Vidyavaani (Pune Universities' own FM Channel) have their presence felt.
There are plans to make Pune India’s first wireless city.
Intel Corporation,
Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and
Microsense joined hands to commercially roll out the first phase of a 802.16d
Wi-Fi and
WiMax network in the city. The first phase of the
Unwire Pune project deployment would provide wireless connectivity in a 25 km² expanse of the city. After the completion of the first phase, in around four months, Pune Municipal Corp is planning to make services commercially available to citizens offering a speed of 256 kbit/s.
[34][
edit] Sports and Recreation
Popular games and sports in Pune include
cricket,
basketball,
badminton,
field hockey,
soccer,
tennis,
kabaddi,
kho-kho,
rowing and
chess. The
Pune International Marathon is an annual
marathon conducted in Pune.
Cricket is played between clubs affiliated to the
Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA), which maintains a domestic cricket team (the
Maharashtra cricket team). This team, one of three based in the state of
Maharashtra, competes in interstate matches and leagues, such as the
Ranji Trophy.
Prominent sporting institutions in Pune include the
Nehru Stadium, the
Deccan Gymkhana,
PYC Hindu Gymkhana and the
Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex at
Balewadi. The Nehru Stadium is the home ground of the Maharashtra cricket team, and has hosted many prominent cricket events, including one of the matches in the
1996 Cricket World Cup. The Deccan Gymkhana has hosted
Davis Cup matches on several occasions. The facility at Balewadi hosted the
National Games in 1994, and is currently hosting the
2008 Commonwealth Youth Games. The
Royal Connaught Boat Club is one of several boating clubs on the Mula-Mutha river. A newer cricket stadium is to be constructed by 2010, near Gahunje village on the Mumbai-Pune expressway.
[35]Prominent sportspersons hailing from Pune include cricketer
D. B. Deodhar, father-son cricketing duo
Hemant and
Hrishikesh Kanitkar, tennis players
Radhika Tulpule,
Gaurav Natekar and
Nitin Kirtane, and table-tennis player
Aniket Koparkar.
Abhijit Kunte and
Pravin Thipse are chess
grandmasters and national champions.
Dhanraj Pillay, ex-captain of the
Indian hockey team. Local MP
Suresh Kalmadi is also the president of the
Indian Olympic Association.
The only
adventure sports in
India is organized by NEF in Pune and is called
Enduro3. It attracts participants from all over India and is normally a 2-3 day event with activities like cycling, trekking, river-crossing and rifle shooting.[
citation needed]
The rules of badminton were first formalized in Pune in 1873
[36]. The
2008 commonwealth youth games are going to be held in Pune,which will give Pune,the prominence of sports.
