The city of Pune is the ninth-largest city in India and 2nd largest in Maharashtra after Mumbai. Pune lies on the Deccan plateau and is at the confluence of the Mula and Mutha rivers. The historic city of Pune has its root dating back to 847 AD when it was called Punawadi. The city holds an important place in Indian history and the Great Shivaji Maharaj conquered and build several forts here including the Rajgad fort one of the capitals of The Great Maratha Empire. Pune can definitely be called the cultural capital of Maharashtra owing to its magnificent and glorious past. In the modern context, this city is known for its educational facilities, Automotive manufacturing hub and as an IT centre. All these make Pune a perfect blend of tradition, culture and modernity. With the rise in young population from all parts of India living here, many adventure and fun spots have also come up and thus the city offers several cultural, historical and adventurous places to visit. So we have come up with a list of Top 10 things to do in Pune focusing on the youth and modern couples. Meanwhile don't forget to book a hotel in Pune while planning your travel. Also, there are a lot of couple-friendly hotels in Pune so don't worry love-birds, come and witness all that this great city has to offer.
1. Sinhagad Fort & Rajgad Fort
Both these forts have been witness to the glory, rise and fall of the Maratha empire. The literal meaning translates to 'Lion's Fort'. The fort is located around 30 km from Pune city and was strategically important due to its location. The fort is accessible by road and is a popular hangout spot. During the rainy season, the greenery amplifies and several waterfalls come alive attracting trekkers and hikers from Pune and Mumbai.
Another important Maratha fort here is the Rajgad fort which was the capital city of Maratha empire for more than two decades. Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj stayed the longest here and the fort withstood several attacks from Mughals and Britishers which makes it very important historically and archaeologically. Situated at 4600 ft, this place has become a centre of attraction for every trekker, camper, photographer, history lover and architecture enthusiast. These forts were recently seen in Tanhaji film starring Ajay Devgan and the film was a huge box-office success. On a clear day, one gets to see the forts of Torna, Rajgad and Purandar from Sinhagad Fort. If you are staying in hotels in Pune make sure to start early or the climb will exhaust you in the sun.
2. Aga Khan Palace
Another historical masterpiece the Aga Khan Palace was built in 1892 by Sultan Aga Khan III and is an excellent masterpiece of Mughal architecture and hold a historical significance as well. The palace has been witness to the entire freedom struggle and was used by Britishers to keep political prisoners of the likes of Mahatma Gandhi, his wife Kasturba Gandhi, as well as Sarojini Naidu and Mahadev Desai during the Quit India movement. Today, Gandhi National Memorial Society is headquartered in the palace and it was declared a monument of National Importance in 2003. The museum in the complex holds several personal belongings of Mahatma Gandhi, rare photographs and also the ashes of Mahatma buried in the ground.
3. Katraj Snake Park
The Katraj snake park is one of the three attractions of the Rajiv Gandhi Zoo located in Katraj, near the city of Pune. The park is managed by the Pune Municipal Corporation. Home to over 22 species of snakes, ten species of reptiles the snake park has around 150 individual crawlers. The collection includes the Brown Palm Civet, a nine-foot-long King Cobra brought from Sunderbans, other snake species like Cobra, Pythons and Russell's vipers and some rare species of birds and turtles. The park runs several programmes to make the citizens aware of snakes and how not to harass these creatures. A visit to this tourist attraction is a must to again get in touch with your lost childhood and adventurous streak.
4. Panshet Waterpark
What better place to get some nerve-wracking entertainment and exciting thrills than a water park. The Panshet water park lies between two famous dams, Varasgaon and Panshet amidst the Sahyadri Mountains. The park presents the perfect opportunity for adventure lovers and thrill seekers with activities like kayaking, water scooter rides, speed boating, swimming, surfing etc. There is also a food court in the park to satisfy your hunger. The park is well maintained and takes immense safety precautions in all water sports activities. Use of cameras is prohibited in the park. Other tourist attractions located near to the water park are Raigad Fort, Khadakwaska Dam and Singhad Fort. The park is open on all days including public holidays from 10:00 am to 06:00 pm.
5. Paragliding at Pawna
Pawna at a distance of 45 km from Pune on the Mumbai-Pune expressway gives you the opportunity to glide peacefully in the air like a mighty bird. Paragliding at Pawana attracts a large number of adrenaline junkies. Several paragliding institutes here offer a view of the beautiful Sahyadri valley. Zoom over the rustic and pristine valley and watch the sun reflect over the transparent water of the Indrayani and Pawani river. The experienced pilots will do all the hard work to control the parachute and give you an experience of a lifetime. The favourable weather conditions, suitable wind and excellent weather make this a perfect spot for paragliding activities. Several operators like Temple Pilots and Indian Outdoors provide paragliding services to the adventure lovers here. You can book hotels by the hour in Pune. Just pack your bags visit this place enjoy the paragliding and book again when returning back to Pune. You will be able to save a lot by using the hourly booking facility.
6. Lonavala
Located on the Mumbai-Pune expressway the popular hill station is the perfect weekend getaway for all the youngsters and families alike from both Pune and Mumbai likewise. The fog rising from the backdrop of Sahyadri hills, waterfalls gushing down on the road, beautiful lakes, reservoirs of huge dams and countless other exotic locations atop the Lonavala hill make this a perfect romantic spot for couples. Lonavla is an excellent spot for campers, hikers, trekkers alike. Photography, camping, rappelling, zip-lining, etc are some of the recreational activities that you can enjoy over your here. The most fun and amazing thing is the night trekking here and camping overnight amidst the starry sky in Lonavala hills provide the best panoramic view of the surroundings. Famous tourist attractions here are Tiger’s Leap, Bushi Dam, Lonavala Lake, Lohagad Fort, Karla Caves. Couples you can book hotels by the hour for your stay in Pune. Arrange for your ride and camping and rather stay here overnight and immerse yourself in love amidst the beautiful surrounding and starry sky.
7. Spice Kitchen
Located in JW Marriott hotel, this rooftop restaurant is one of the most amazing places to engage in a mouthwatering dinner and enjoy the mesmerizing ambience of this place. The view of the city from the top is sure to make you fall in love with Pune. This place is perfect for surprising your loved one with a romantic date. The place holds its famous Sunday brunches and also it has the most enchanting nightlife. The menu is full of lip-smacking cuisines from all over the world. Top it with the stunning ambience and the friendly staff which adds to the glamour and glitz of this place. The place is open 24 hours every day.
8. Peacock Bay
A part of Khadakwasla Dam's lake where a lot of peacocks reside is known as the Peacock Bay. Located around 12 km from the city, the lake is a part of Mutha river and serves to cater freshwater demand of the city. This place is under the aegis of NDA and all kind of water training are imparted to the cadets here. You can spot all kinds of seamanship training equipment, sailing boats, speed boats, water skis, whalers, dinghies, windsurfers and cutters that are used in this training. The bay is also home to deers, lion-tailed monkeys, civets and many other species. It is also a must-visit for bird watchers. Several events such as annual national inland championship, open lake swimming competition are held in this lake every year. Many adventure lovers arrive here to engage in different water sports. The Peacock bay presents the opportunity to relax amidst the calm and serene atmosphere.
9. Hard Rock Café
Done exploring the cities fun and historic places? You need to enjoy the amazing nightlife of Pune. The Hard Rock Cafe is one of the perfect destinations for couples visiting Pune. Hard Rock Café offers its guests a variety of musical treats from both contemporary and legendary performers of the Rock World. There is also the Wall of Fame where personal items of these legendary entertainers are hung on the wall. There is the patched denim coat of Elton John, the leather jacket of Bob Dylan, the Welson Hollowbody Electric Guitar, signed by the Edge of U2 and Bono. The place is open on weekdays from noon to 11:30 PM and on Sundays from noon to 12:30 AM. The place is thronged by music lovers and people who enjoy drinks and is a very buzzing place after 9 in the night.
10. Mi A Mi Club
Want to dance the night out? Visit the Mi A Mi club located on the Senapati Bapat Road in JW Marriott complex. The stunning and electrifying ambience of this place flooded with rainbow lights and lasers and tuned with groovy and peppy music makes it the first choice of youth in Pune for Clubbing. If you are visiting Pune for the first time spend the night at Mi A Mi club rather than your hotel in Pune and unleash the party animal within you. The food menu is full of starters and dishes from all over the world. The bar boasts of some exclusive specially crafted cocktails that will make your party even more alluring and memorable. The club opens on Wednesdays, Friday and Saturday from 9 pm till 2:30 am.
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