Geography: Pune (180 31' N, 730 51' E) is a plateau city situated near the western margin of the Deccan plateau. It lies on the leeward side of the Sahyadri i.e. the Western Ghats and is hardly 50 km from the crest of the Ghat country. It is almost 160 kms south-east of Mumbai, by road. It is situated at a height of 560m above the mean sea level, near the confluence of Mula and Mutha rivers. Two more rivers Pavana and Indrayani transverse the north-western outskirts of the urban area. 
Climate: The climate is typical monsoonal, with three distinct seasons- summer, rainy and winter, as elsewhere in India. The height above sea level and the leeward location with reference to the Western ghats have made the city climate moderate and salubrious. Pune receives moderate rainfall. The city receives an annual rainfall of 722 mm, mainly between June and September as the result of southwest monsoon.

Pune experiences winter from November to February. This is the best season to visit Pune. Pleasant windy days, clear skies and cool nights make it the most enjoyable time of the year.

Shivaji and the Marathas : Maharashtra's greatest hero, Shivaji was born in 1627 to Shahji Bhonsle, a chieftain from Pune who served the sultans of Bijapur. Daring, ambitious and restless since his boyhood, by the age of 19 he had become the head of a band of intrepid fighters. Soon, Shivaji's brilliant guerrilla tactics against Emperor Aurangzeb and the powerful Mughal army, and his swift conquests of mountain and sea forts, enabled him to establish a separate Maratha kingdom. In 1674, he was crowned Chatrapati, the traditional title of a Hindu monarch, at his capital, Raigad. When he died in 1680, at the age of 53, he left behind a powerful Maratha state, which continued to play an important role in Indian history for the next 100 years.
 History : Pune was home to several prominent freedom fighters who led the fight for India's independence. Prominent among these include Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, Mahadev Govind Ranade, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, etc,. After India's independence, Pune acquired the status of an educational and research hub with the establishment of the University of Pune, the National Defence Academy (NDA), National Chemical Laboratory and many other leading institutes.

Lonavla : Popularly known as the jewel of the Sahyadri Mountains, Lonavala is set amongst the sylvan hills of the Western Ghats and is a popular weekend gateway from Mumbai and Pune. Lonavala provides a panoramic view of the lush green surroundings of the Sahyadri ranges. The peaceful environs of the town provide a great escape from the hustle and bustle of Mumbai city. One can take a walk along the waterfalls, the grassy abundance and hills in and around Lonavala. The mountainous terrain of Lonavala is ideal for trekking and hiking.

Pune is located on the western edge of the Deccan Plateau. Pune lies at an altitude of 560 m (1837 ft) above sea level, at the confluence of Mula and Mutha rivers. It lies on the leeward side of the Sahyadri i.e. the Western Ghats and is hardly 50 km from the crest of the Ghat country. It is almost 160 kms south-east of Mumbai, by road.

The excellent road network connects Pune with most of the important cities in Maharashtra and India. The Mumbai-Pune Express Highway offers a safe and fast access between Mumbai and Pune.

Pune is conveniently connected with cities like Mumbai, Nashik, Aurangabad, Chennai, Delhi and other major cities of India.

Regular flights connect Pune with all major Indian cities like Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Goa among others. The airport is located  about 12 kms from the city centre. Mumbai is the nearest International Airport to Pune.

The nearest port is Mumbai, 150 kilometres to the west.

Pune has a proud calendar comprising of a number of festivals and cultural activities ranging from Classical Music to Rock Concerts. Pune is most known for 'The Pune Festival', which is held during the Ganesha Mahotsav. The Osho festival is another international crowd puller in Pune. Held in the Osho Aashram in Koregaon Park, disciples and followers of Bhagwaan Rajneesh make it a point to attend.

Pune is a modern, progressive and vibrant city. It  is Maharashtra's cultural capital and the form of Marathi spoken in Pune is considered to be the standard form of the language. Pune is a vibrant cultural city and people from multiple religions and speaking different regional languages reside here. It also hosts various national festivals and cultural events throughout the year. People of Pune have wide interests in various Arts, Literature, Music, Spiritualism and Food.
 Su-darshan Rangamanch : Pune is the centre of Maratha culture, with a lively tradition of theatre, classical music and dance. One of the main theatre activity centres  is the Su-darshan Rangamanch run by Maharashtra Cultural Centre, a leading public charitable trust active in cultural activities. The trust has its own mini theatre as well as an art gallery where many amateur theatre groups perform their plays, music and dance programmes.

Parvati Hill and Temple : This 17th century hill, located in Southern Pune is visible from many parts of the city. The temples on Parvati hill are the oldest heritage structures in Pune and reminiscent of the Peshwa dynasty. The temple atop after a climb, is dedicated to Parvati, Vishnu, Ganesh, Kartikeya and Devadeshwar. The original idol of the Goddess was made of gold. After an unfortunate incident of theft, the gold idol was substituted with a gold plated silver idol. Parvati is the daily visiting place for a number of citizens and for many people, going to Parvati (103 steps) forms a part of their daily exercise regimen.
 Pataleshwar Temple : This is a 8th century rock cut cave temple. This place is a must visit for the tourists keeping interest in ancient art and architecture. 
St. Mary's Church: This Church is situated on the Staveley Road of Pune. It is considered to be one of the oldest protestant churches in the city. It was built mainly for the officers and soldiers of the British, along with their families, in the year 1825. One of the major attractions of the church is its Gothic style of architecture. One can see some rare regimental flags inside the church. The interiors of the church also boast of a memorial plaque in memory of Colonel William Morris, one of the survivors of the Battle of Balaclava.

Rajgad Fort : Rajgad Fort is one of the most grand forts of the Sahaydris. It was Shivaji Maharaj's capital for 26 years before moving to another grand fort This fort has seen lots of historic events. The origins of this fort date s back to 2000 years. This fort was ruled by Adilshahis then Nizamshahis and then finally the Marathas. It has many ways to reach the fort from simple to tricky ones. The fort is in good condition and has some beautiful panoramic views from top. Main parts of the fort are: Padmavati Machi, Sanjivani Machi, Suvela Machi, and Bale Killa. Padmavati Machi: Facing north this has Padmavati Temple, Padmavati Lake, Chor darwaja, Pali darwaja, Gunjavane darwaja, Daru Kothar (storage of arms and ammunition) and remains of the castle. 
Singhagad Fort : Located at 25 Kms from Pune. Singhagad has historical importance and who will forget the brave Tanaji Malusare, Shelarmama and their historic battle. You can see Tanaji's samadhi on the fort. The bungalows of Lokmanya Tilak and famous Marathi Poet G. D. Madgulkar are also located on the fort. 
Shaniwar Wada Palace: (Old city) Built in 1736, the palace was razed in a fire in 1828. Only its outer walls and the main entrance with large spikes, desgined to deter the enemy's elephants, survive. Further south is Vishram Bagh Wada, a beautiful Peshwa palace with an elaborate wooden facade.
 Aga Khan Palace: The Aga Khan Palace, across the Mula river to the north of the city, was where Mahatma Gandhi was imprisoned by the British for two years.Today, it is the Gandhi National Memorial. Gandhi's wife, Katurba, died here and her ashes have been interred in a memorial in the gardens.

Rajgad Fort; (trekking spot): Rajgad fort is a must visit in any ones trekking / adventure list. One has to stay in the Padmavati temple which can house 50 people. Water tanks provide water all over the year. 
Sinhagad; (Trekking spot) Located at 25 Kms from Pune. Sinhagad is a favourite Picnic Spot for Puneits. It is famous for trip - lovers as well as for the trekkers - especially   the Katraj to Sinhagad trek .

It is a completely Party Town. You can dance to the tunes of music in the night clubs and can enjoy a few drinks with your friends. Pune is a paradise for night freaks. With escalating number of pubs, bars, lounges and similar hangout joints in Pune, the night life has become even more glittering.

Empress Garden of Pune: (A Picnic Spot) Empress Garden of Pune is basically a botanical park, which is located near the Pune Race course. Here there are several varieties of fruit and flower bearing trees. People often turn up in large numbers for a picnic at the Empress Garden of Pune.

The mall industry in Pune is booming and quite a few good malls have begun to spring up in recent years. Shopper's Stop, Big Bazaar, Piramid, M & S and all are located inside malls. M.G. Road. Any items such as shoes, clothing, pots, pans, electronics, stationery, furniture, etc. can be found at Mahatma Gandhi Road, known to locals simply as M.G. Road. Supposedly every city in India has a street called M.G. Road.

The Bund Garden is famous for Bhel-Puri and Pani-Puri. Fergusson College Road is full of budget eateries serving delicous hot food at nominal fares. For a range of multi-cuisine restaurants, visit ABC Farms, Koregaon Park, which houses the city's best restaurants.

Tribal Museum : The Tribal Museum, east of the railway station, showcases the state's tribal cultures, especially from the Sahyadri and Gondwana regions. Raja Kelkar Museum: Here you will find the personal collection of Dinkar Gangadhar. The museum house around 17,000 artworks. The collection includes musical instruments, hookah pipes, oil lamps, carved doors and windows, hair drying combs, noodle makers, etc.
 Mahabaleshwar - Hill Station: The highest hill station in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra , Mahabaleshwar is situated at 1372 meters around Lake Venna. There are 30 valley viewpoints with panoramic vistas scattered around the hill station and their access roads make for shady, pleasant walks and treks.

Pune has a number of gardens such as theGa Empress Botanical Gardens, Bund Garden, Koregaon Park Kamala Nehru Park, Sambhaji Park, Shahu Udyan, etc,.
 Empress Botanical Gardens: When Queen Victoria won the title of 'Empress Of India', this garden was named after her as the 'Empress Garden'. Its popular epithet, that is the 'Soldiers Garden', came into being for the reason that the British Soldiers frequented it for recreation. The Empress Garden lies adjacent to the Pune Solapur Road. This is a rather large garden, covering an area of about 59 acres. Empress Garden of Pune is basically a botanical park, which is located near the Pune Race course. Here there are several varieties of fruit and flower bearing trees. People often turn up in large numbers for a picnic at the Empress Garden of Pune. 
Bund Garden / Mahatma Gandhi Udhayan : This garden is also known as the Mahatma Gandhi Udhayan. It was built by Sir Jamshedji Jeejeebhoy, on the right bank of the Mula-Mutha to provide the poor with water during summer. Main attraction here is the evening boat rides, horse rides etc. The garden is famous for Bhel-Puri and Pani-Puri.
 Osho Commune International; (At Koregaon Park): This is the famous ashram of Bhagwan Rajneesh at Koregaon park. The ashram now known as a spiritual health club, attracts thousands of visitors each year. The ashram has facilities like a swimming pool, saunas, tennis and basketball courts, beauty parlour, bookshop and a massage centre.

Major rivers of the district are: Mula, Mutha, Pushpavati, Krushnavati, Indryani, Pavna, Shivganga, etc,. 
Pashan Lake: Pashan Lake is situated in Pune District. It was the source of drinking water to the Governor's house (now the Raj Bhavan) during the forties, and until recently was a water source for citizens residing in Pashan and Sutarwadi area. 
Pimpri Lake: The richest municipality of Asia, the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipality has developed this artificial lake. The tastefully developed lake with boating and fishing facilities is a great attraction for the Puneites.

Carry important documents like Licence card, ID card, etc,. along with two sets of photocopies in case of emergency. It is better to carry Debit or Credit cards instead of cash. Carry a route map and consult the nearest tourist office in case of emergency. Respect the tradition and culture of the place and remove the footwear before entering into temples. If you are feeling tired after day's visit to various historical monuments and holy places, city's bars and pubs will be best place to relax .

Block Central Building, Pune - 411 001. Tel : 020 2612 6867 / 8169 Fax : 611 9434 · Pune Railway Station Tel : 020 2611 1720 · Lohegaon Airport Pune Tel: 0202 2668 9428

ICICI ATM Centres: 9, M. G. Road, Kalpataru Arcade. 411001. A-Wing, Shangrila Gardens, Bund Garden Rd. 411001. Shop No. 3, City Center, Karve Rd. 501, Ajanta Complex, Near KEM Hospital, Rasta Peth. 411011 Wipro Ltd, Plot No. 2, Pune Infotech Park Hingewadi, Mulhi Taluka 411026. I D B I Bank Ltd Idbi House D P Chowk F C Road Pune- 411005 Phone : 020-25678484, 25513951 Indusind Bank Limited Indusind House 2401 Gen Thimmayya Road East Street Pune- 411001 Phone : 020-26343201, 26343227

Pune offers much to tourists and travellers,those  are interested in history and architecture, Shaniwar Wada, Aga Khan Palace and the Parvati temple are a must visit.