1. Bund Garden: Known famously as Mahatma Gandhi Udyan, Bund Garden is packed with well-manicured lawns, flowering plants, and tall trees. This garden makes for an ideal spot to enjoy picnicking and bird watching.
Kids visiting the park can also enjoy swings, see-saws, and badminton. Couples coming here usually take romantic walks through the garden or enjoy intimate boat rides. Tourists visiting Bund Garden can also enjoy horseback rides and watch magic shows that are organized here from time to time.
Location: Sangamwadi, Pune.
Timing: 6 AM to 10 AM and 4 PM to 7.30 PM.
2. National Defense Academy: National Defense Academy happens to be the world’s only institute that trains the cadets of Army, Navy, and Air Force under one roof. Spread across a huge area of over 7,000 acres, this academy is known popularly for its war memorials and Passing Out Parade (POP).
Requiring you to get prior permission, owing to security reasons, NDA allows the entry of visitors only on Sundays. The academy offers visitors guided tours and allows them to visit museums and learn about the training teams.
Location: Khadakwasla, Pune.
Timing: 10.30 AM to 1 PM on Sunday.
3. National War Museum: Established in the memory of the respected martyrs of the independence war, the National War Museum must be included in the Pune tour packages of all patriots. This museum is home to the Mig 23 BN that was used by the Indian soldiers in the Kargil War.
One can also spot a model of the INS Trishul that was used in the Indian-Portuguese War and the Pakistan War of 1971. The National War Museum also exhibits murals, photographs, and paintings of the times gone by.
Location: Ghorpadi, Pune.
Timing: 9 AM to 5.30 PM.
4. Osho Ashram: Home to the largest meditation hall in the entire world, Osho Ashram is a very popular meditation retreat. Established back in 1974, this ashram is better known as Osho Meditation Resort.
The ashram offers several curative meditation courses, including Kundalini, Nataraj, Vipassana, and Nadabrahma. Spread across an area of whopping 32 acres, this ashram also features a spa, a guest house, a gym, a tennis court, and a Jacuzzi.
Location: Koregaon Park, Pune.
Timing: 6 AM to 8 PM.
Entry fees: INR 870 per head for Indians, INR 1790 per head for foreigners.
5. Pataleshwar Cave Temple: Often making a place in the Pune tour packages of spiritual enthusiasts as well as architecture buffs, Pataleshwar Cave Temple dates back to the 8th century. Staying true to its name, this monolithic temple is dedicated to the God of the Underworld.
This temple flaunts beautiful drawings and carvings and features a nice seating arrangement. There is also a museum here, which houses a single rice grain with 5,000 letters written on it, a wonder that has found its place into the Guinness Book of World Records.
Location: Shivaji Nagar, Pune.
Timing: 8.30 AM to 5.30 PM.
6. Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park: Spread across an area of around 130 acres, Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park is divided into 3 important sections - a zoo, a snake park, and a wildlife orphanage.
The zoo is home to an array of birds, reptiles, and mammals while the snake park shelters more than 20 species of snakes. There is also a serene lake in the park, called Katraj Lake, which is spread across an area of around 42 acres.
Location: Katraj Dairy, Pune.
Timing: 9.30 AM to 6 PM.
Entry fees: INR 25 per head for adults and INR 10 per head for children.
7. Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum: Constructed back in 1962 by Baba Dinkar Kelkar, Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum is home to 20,000 age-old artefacts, which are categorized into 36 important sections. The museum exhibits impressive carvings, paintings, sculptures, ornaments, and musical instruments from the Maratha and Mughal periods, all of which are 14 centuries old.
Location: Shukrawar Peth, Pune.
Timing: 8.30 AM to 5.30 PM.
Entry fees: INR 5 per head for Indian children, INR 20 per head for Indian adults, INR 200 per head for foreign adults, INR 50 per head for foreign children.
8. Mulshi Dam: Encompassed by the majestic Sahyadri mountains and known for its lush environs and calm surroundings, Mulshi Dam is usually included in the Pune tour packages of nature and peace lovers.
This place makes for an ideal destination to enjoy camping, picnicking, bonfire, bird watching, and photography. The area around Mulshi Dam is packed with waterfalls, bridges, and forts, all of which tend to add to the charm of the dam.
Location: Mulshi Taluk, Pune.
Timing: 9 AM to 6 PM.
9. Chaturshringi Temple: Constructed under the reign of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the magnificent Chaturshringi Temple is dedicated to Goddess Chaturshringi.
Believed to be sheltering a naturally discovered figurine of Goddess Chaturshringi, this temple has a great significance among the local devotees. Perched on a 125 feet wide and 90 feet high slope, this shrine also has idols of Lord Ganesha, Ashtavinayaka, and Goddess Durga. Chaturshringi Temple also flaunts a brilliant architectural design, which forms a treat for the eyes.
Location: Shivaji Nagar, Pune.
Timing: 6 AM to 9 PM.
10. Pu La Garden: Spread across an area of around 10 acres, Pu La Garden is also known popularly as Japanese Pune Garden and Okayama Friendship Garden. Considered to be one of Asia’s largest Japanese gardens, this breathtaking garden is named after Pu La Deshpande, a Marathi humorist, writer, and Padma Bhushan recipient.
Packed with colourful lawns, exotic species of flowers, picturesque gardens, and splendid gazebos, this lush lawn is often visited by couples. Designed in Japanese style, this postcard-perfect garden is witness to many love stories.
Location: Sinhagad Road, Dattawadi, Pune.
Timing: 6 AM to 10.30 AM and 4 PM to 8 PM.
Entry fees: INR 5 per head for visitors aged above 5 years.
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