Places to visit in Pune city: Top 60 tourist places in Pune

This list of places to visit in Pune city contains tourist places as well as off the beat places in Pune. If you like to explore history, culture, ancient architecture the city has a lot to offer. And if you love nature, trekking and adventures then Pune city is equally interesting.

Below are some of the best places to visit in Pune city. You choose them as per your interests and time available. Pune has a little bit of everything from historic architecture, culture, nature walks, hills, treks, lakes, dams and much more.

Shaniwar Wada

When you are in Pune, it’s hard to miss the Shaniwar Wada. It is one of the most notable places to visit in Pune. You will come across its mighty stone walls and bastions when you are at the centre of the city. Shaniwar Wada is the old fortification, from the most glorious time of the Peshwas ( पेशवेकालीन ). Moreover, It has survived a massive unexplained fire and Panshet floods of 1961. Shaniwar Wada is a good place in Pune to indulge in the history and culture of the Marathas. And this is a place where you should start your Pune trip. Moreover, there is also something more exciting about Shaniwar Wada. According to the legend Shaniwar Wada is haunted and its ghost appears on Full moon nights.

• Shaniwar Wada Address: Shaniwarpeth, Pune.
• Shaniwar Wada Timings: 9 am to 5.30 pm
• Shaniwar Wada Entry Fee: Indian: ₹25, Non-Indian: ₹300.

Aga Khan Palace

Aga Khan Palace is a glorious mansion built on the banks of Mula river by Sultan Muhammed Shah Aga Khan III in 1892. The total area is of 13 acres, which has a beautiful garden and the palace. The place has an interesting history as Mahatma Gandhi, his wife Kasturba Gandhi, and Mahadev Desai and Sarojini Naidu were imprisoned here during the freedom moment. Kasturba Gandhi and Mahadev Desai died here. Today their memorials stand here along with a memorial for Mahatma Gandhi. The halls inside the palace tell the story of Mahatma Gandhi and the time of freedom struggle. Moreover, some of the old items used by Gandhiji are kept as an exhibit. This is maintained by the Gandhi National Memorial Society. The palace gardens are magnificent. Moreover, Aga Khan Palace is a good place for a photoshoot in Pune.

• Aga Khan Palace Address: Nagar Road, Koregaon Park, Pune.
• Aga Khan Palace Timings: 9 am to 5.30 pm
• Aga Khan Palace Entry Fee: Indian adults: ₹15; Indian kids: ₹5; Non-Indians: ₹200.

Pataleshwar Cave

Pataleshwar Cave is a cave from the 8th century ie. the Rashtrakuta period. It is said to be more than 1300 years old. The cave is a tribute to Hindu God Shiva. It is made of impressive rock-cut pillars. The entire temple is cut out from basalt rock. Inside are three sanctums with Hindu gods – Shivalinga in the centre, Lord Pataleshwar – the Lord of Underworld, Goddess Lakshmi, and Ganpati. Moreover, there is a sculpture depicting – Ram, Lakshman and Sita. In its courtyard is a huge circular Nandi mandapa. The cave has some unfinished carvings too. Despite been centrally located in Pune city this cave takes you away from the hustle-bustle of the city, into a calm atmosphere. It is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Pune.

• Pataleshwar Cave Address: Jangali Maharaj Road (JM Road), Shivajinagar, Pune.
• Pataleshwar Cave Timings: 8.30 am to 5.30 pm
• Pataleshwar Cave Entry Fee: Free.

Museums in Pune and History

Pune is not just a metropolis with a modern approach. It is a city that has very well preserved history and culture. And what better way to experience it than to visit some of the museums! Following is a list of Museums in Pune, their locations, timings, entry fees and the things that they are known for-

• Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum (Nebula)– 14th-century sculptures, War armour and old clothes from the Maratha era, ancient doorways, ornaments, musical instruments
  • Location: Natu Baug, Near Bajirao Road, Pune
  • Entry Fee: ₹20 for Indian ₹200 for Non-Indians
  • Timings: 10.00 am to 5.30 pm
• Joshi’s Museum of Miniature Railways– Well planned and detailed small city with many working miniature models of trains. Moreover, this museum is a part of the Limca Book of Records.
  • Location: GA Kulkarni Path, Kothrud, Pune
  • Entry Fee: ₹ 90
  • Timings: 9.30 am to 5 pm
• Cycle Museum– The Vikram Pendse’s Cycle Museum is a three-story museum that has over 150 vintage bicycles and tricycles and even pedal-cars. It also houses several cycle accessories like – cycle bulbs, kerosene bulbs, dynamo bulbs and little air pumps too.
  • Location: Harsh Sahawas Society, Karve Nagar, Pune
  • Entry Fee: ₹ 100
  • Timings: 11 am to 7 pm
• Blades of Glory Cricket Museum– This museum is heaven for cricket enthusiasts. The collection curated by Rohan Pate has cricket bats signed by all the 11 world cup winning teams. In addition to this, they also have the heavy bat of Sachin Tendulkar.
  • Location: Govind Gaurav Apartment, Sahakar Nagar, Pune.
  • Entry Fee: ₹ 100
  • Timings: 10 am to 7 pm
• Some other Museums for even more history– Lal Mahal Pune, Lokmanya Tilak Museum, Mahatma Phule Museum, Pune Tribal Museum, Maratha History Museum, National War Museum, Shivaji Maharaj Museum, Peshwe Museum, etc.

Dagdusheth Halwai Temple

There are numerous temples in Pune city, and the most revered Hindu God here is Ganesha. And this temple dedicated to Ganesha is the heartthrob of all the Punekars. The temple is centrally located, and the decorations during the festive seasons are gorgeous. People from all over Maharashtra come to seek the blessings here. This temple is one of the prominent places to visit in Pune.

Moreover, the unique thing about Dagdusheth Halwai Temple is that the Ganesha idol is visible from the main road too. This means vehicles may stop for a second while praying and then go ahead (because that is what I do mostly!). Moreover, the idol of Lord Ganesha is decorated in unique gold ornaments and clothes every day. Read towards the end to know about the unique Ganesh festival in Pune.

• Dagdusheth Halwai Temple Address: Shivaji Road, Near Appa Balwant Chowk, Pune
• Dagdusheth Halwai Temple Timings: 6 am to 11 pm
• Dagdusheth Halwai Temple Entry Fee: Free.

BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir: Akshar Dham of Pune

This temple located on the Bangalore-Mumbai Highway near Ambegaon is the most beautiful temple in Pune city. The area is very well maintained. Moreover, the temple has a very unique architecture and carvings. Inside the temple is even more beautiful, but photography is not allowed. It is surrounded by well-maintained lawns. Once inside the temple, you will feel extremely calm and at peace. Moreover, this place will remind you of Akshardham of Delhi. The best time to visit BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Pune is the evening, at the time of sunset. You will get to experience the sunset and see the beautiful night lighting of the temple.

• Pune to BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir: 13 km or 40-min drive.
• BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir Address: Mumbai-Bengaluru National Highway 48, Narhe Ambegaon Rd, Pune, Maharashtra 411046.
• BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir Timings: 7.30 am to 12.30 pm, 4.30 pm to 8.30 pm.
• BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir Entry Fee: Free.
• Parking and Food: Parking is free and food/snacks is available at the canteen.

Sinhagad Fort

Sinhagad is an old hill fort near Pune city. Besides being a haven for the foodies, it is also rich with history and tales of Maratha bravery. You can plan a trek at this place, or you take your vehicle to the top. The views in the surrounding valleys are mesmerizing. You can also plan camping atop the fort or stay in one of the homestays on the top, for the best experience.

And finally, Kalyan Darwaza, Pune Darwaza, Tanaji Kada, Kalavanteen Buruj, Zujar Buruj, Daru Kothar, Khandkada Machi, Kadelot Point, Devtake, Kondhaneshwar Temple, Chatrapati Rajaram Memorial are some of the places that you must visit in Sinhagad Fort in Pune.

• Pune to Sinhagad distance: 35 km
• Sinhagad Fort trek start point: Sinhagad Paytha and Kalyan village
• Best time for trekking near Pune: Monsoon and Winter.
• Parking, Restaurants and Washrooms: Available
• Food items on Sinhagad Fort: Zunka-Bhakar, Pitali-Bhakari, Techa, Dahi, Kanda Bhaji, Tak, Lassi, Lemonades, Ice Golas, Summer fruits or seasonal fruits, chicken and mutton curries.

Pune University

Pune city in India is proudly called विद्येचे माहेरघर or Oxford of the East. So, Pune University is obviously an important monument in the city. It is now renamed as Savitribai Phule Pune University, after the revolutionary woman Savitribai Phule, who spoke up for women’s right to education.

The entire campus is spread across 411 acres. The main building is an old monument and there is an impressive garden in the front. Moreover, the campus is full of trees which are years old and provide a peaceful atmosphere. This is a place where Punekars go for walking, jogging, and cycling while having a breath fresh air in the morning. And the place has two canteens where you can have breakfast – Aadarsh and Aniket.

There is a secret tunnel at Pune University that is almost 155 years old and 300 feet long. Recently, this has been refurbished. And you can now walk through this secret tunnel in Pune University. You need to have prior permission from the officials in the main building. And you can also take it after arriving at Pune University.

• Pune University Address: Ganeshkind, University Road, Pune
• Pune University Timings: 7 am to 6 pm
• Pune University Entry Fee: Free. 

Pune Zero Stone

Until recently Zero stone was just another lost monument in Pune. Located near the main post office of Pune, this stone was established by the British and, all the distances were measured from this stone. Now, with the efforts of some of the local historians and architects, the entire area is now restored and redeveloped. It is an important old monument and a good place for taking pictures. Moreover, several sculptures are placed here, which tell us the history.

• Zero Stone Address: Sadhu Vaswani Chowk, Near Pune Camp, Pune
• Zero Stone Timings: Open 24 hours.
• Zero Stone Entry Fee: Free.

Pune Race Course

Pune Race Course is the one and only horse racecourse in Pune, spanning over an area of 118.5 acres. It is the best place to indulge in some equestrian delights. Pune Race Course is controlled and managed by the Indian Army. When there are no horse races happening, the area is open for the public. There is jogging or walking track with a distance of 2 km in the inner circle or the Race Course. You can also enjoy the nature and the best sunrise/sunset here.

• Pune Race Course Address: Sadhu Vaswani Chowk, Near Pune Camp, Pune
• Pune Race Course Timings: 5.00 am to 8.30 am and 4.30 pm to 7.30 pm Open to the public on all days except race days.
• Pune Race Course Entry Fee: Free.

Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park Pune

Just near Katraj Lake is the Katraj Zoo. Yes, Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park Pune, is commonly known as Katraj Zoo or Katraj Snake Park. It is a beautiful zoo spread across 130 acres and has 362 animals in total. You can watch the numerous snakes, some turtles, crocodiles and alligators in one part of the zoo. And in another part, you can watch tigers, leopards, bears, elephants, deer, and other animals. Moreover, the zoo is kid-friendly and accessible by wheelchairs and strollers.

• Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park, Pune Address: Pune-Satara Road, Katraj, Pune
• Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park Timings: 9.30 am to 5.30 pm
• Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park Entry Fee: Indian adults: ₹25; Indian children: ₹10; Foreigners: ₹100

Places to visit in Pune: Hills in Pune

Pune city is surrounded by hills on all the sides. You may not really know it from the streets, but if you go atop the terrace of any building you will surely spot some hills. This is why Pune is called टेकड्यांचे शहर or the city of hills. And this means a lot of exciting hiking and trekking trails, around the city.

Following are some of the favourite hills in Pune (or tekdi in Pune). Most of them are not accessible by wheelchairs and strollers.

• Parvati hill Pune
• Vetal Tekdi or ARAI Hilltop
• Hanuman Tekdi
• Chaturshringi hill temple
• Taljai hills and reserve forest
• Durga Tekdi in PCMC
• Baner Hill
• Pashan Tekdi
• Katraj Hills
• Anand Van Reserve Forest on NIBM Road.

Places to visit in Pune: Gardens in Pune

When it comes to gardens, Pune city hosts numerous beautiful green spaces. And each garden has its own speciality. If you want to visit every major garden in Pune, then one day may not be enough. You can go from Saras Baug, Pune and Sambaji Garden in the main city to Friendship garden Pune also called as Pu La Deshpande garden on Sinhagad Road, or Osho Garden, in Koregaon Park, Pune or Empress Garden in Ghorpadi, Pune. The list is quite huge! If you have kids then it is double fun. Most of the gardens are accessible by wheelchairs and strollers. If you want to see the Eiffel Tower in Pune, you should go to the Seven Wonders Dream Park in Pune. Because here, you can see the small-sized replicas of all the Seven Wonders at this garden in Pune.

Related Article: Gardens in Pune – Location, timings, entry fees and speciality.

Places to visit in Pune: Lakes in Pune

There are also numerous lakes in Pune. Most of them have been turned into gardens and have a walking or jogging area, where you may take a stroll or a run. Many of them are also accessible by wheelchairs and strollers. Until recently many of the lakes in Pune were in a neglected state. But most of them are restored to their old shine by PMC now.

Following are some of the favourite lakes in Pune. Some of them like Panshet and Pawna have numerous water sports and activities like camping available.

• Pashan Lake
• Katraj Lake
• Lakaki Lake
• Jambhulwadi Lake
• Manas Lake
• Mastani Lake
• ARAI Hilltop Lake
• Taljai Lake
• Suicide lake or Kalwad Lake
• Ramdara lake and temple

Pune Dams

• Khadakwasla
• Mulshi Dam
• Bhatghar Dam
• Panshet Dam
• Varasgaon Dam
• Temghar Dam
• Pawna Dam

Peacock Bay near Khadakwasla

This beautiful spot is owned by theNDA- National Defence Academy. It is a bay of water formed due to the Khadakwasla Dam. It is the most beautiful place for boat rides. As the NDA cadets are trained here. So they have an extensive arrangement of seamanship training equipment, sailing boats of all sorts, speed boats, water skis, whalers, dinghies, windsurfers, cutters, etc. The place gets its name due to the high number of peacocks in the area. In addition to peacocks, monkeys and civets are also found in the area. The place hosts many competitions like the annual national Inland championship, open lake swimming competition, etc. The lake area is 501 sq km and it is measured to be from 40 to 120 feet deep. It is the best place for nature photography, and to experience the natural beauty. It would be best to visit here in the morning.

Water Parks in Pune

Whether you are feeling burnt of summers in Pune or just want a good relaxing weekend – The waterparks around Pune are the best getaways to relax and beat the summer heat. So, you must plan a one day trip to a water park in Pune on a weekend.

Quick List of Water parks in Pune

• Adlabs Imagica Water Park:
  • Address: 30/31, Sangdewadi Khopoli Road, State Highway 92, Off Mumbai-Pune Expressway, Khalapur, Khopoli | Timings: 10.30 am to 7.00 pm | Ticket Price: INR 899/adult; INR 799/child | Website: www.adlabsimagica.com
• Sentosa Resorts and Water Park:
  • Address: Mumbai-Pune Expressway, 1 km before Ravet, Ravet, Pune, Maharashtra 412101 | Timings: 10.00 am to 6.00 pm | Ticket Price: Adult: INR 300, Kids: INR 250 | Website: www.sentosaresortspune.com
• Krushnai Water Park:
  • Address: Gat No. 186, Donje Gaon-Sinhagad Road, Sinhagad Base, Donje Gaon, Maharashtra 411025 | Timings: 10.00 am to 6.00 pm | Ticket Price: Weekday: Adults- INR 500 per head; Kids (above 4 feet)- INR 400 per head; Weekend: Adults- INR 600 per head; Kids (above 4 feet)- INR 500 per head. | Website: www.krushnaiwaterpark.com
• Diamond Water Park:
  • Address: Water Park Road, Lohegaon, Pune City, Maharashtra | Timings: 10.00 am to 5.30 pm | Ticket Price: Weekdays: Adult- INR 600; Children- INR 500; Weekends & Public Holidays: Adult- INR 700; Children- INR 600 | Website: www.diamondwaterpark.com
• Wet’ n Joy
  • Address: Magic Kingdom, Wet N Joy Waterpark, Old Pune Mumbai Highway-NH-4, At-Mundhaware, Post-Takve Pune (In Lonavala) | Timings: 10.00 am to 6.00 pm | Ticket Price: Weekdays: INR 370; Child: INR 370; Weekends: INR 550; Child: INR 650 | Website: www.wetnjoy.in

Sunrise/Sunset points in Pune

There are a few places or hills in Pune from where you can see the best sunset. Watching a breezy sunset in Pune or a sunrise in Pune should definitely be on your plan of Pune trip. This is because you can see the sun going down and lights flickering on one by one throughout the city.

Following are some of the places where you should head over to watch nature’s show!

• Khadakwasla Dam backwaters – 14 km or 45 min from Pune
• DIAT hill – Near Khadakwasla Dam, Pune
• Nilkantheshwar – Near Panshet Dam, 38 km from Pune.
• Dighi Hills – 18 km or 50 min drive from Pune.
• Dive Ghat – Near Hapadsar, Saswad
• ARAI Hilltop Lake – In Kothrud in Pune.
• Parvati, Pune – near Sarasbaug.
• Pune Race Course
• Z Bridge, Omkareshwar Bridge, Shivaji Nagar Bridge.
• Taljai Hills Forested Area – Near Sahkarnagar in Pune.
• Lakaki Lake – Model Colony in Pune.

These are some of the best places to visit in Pune city. Which one is your favourite? Comment below.

If you are from Pune or visiting Pune, check my Pune Travel Guide here.

FAQs about Pune