Located in Maharashtra State, just a few hours' drive from Mumbai, Pune (or Poona, as it was called during the colonial era), is often overshadowed by its cosmopolitan neighbour. Yet this human-scaled metropolis harbours an energy, a quality of life, and a modernity that appeal equally to entrepreneurs and students, artists and travellers. A true laboratory for India's future, Pune blends world-class education, sustainable development, technology hubs, and stylish living spaces, all within a welcoming climate.

What Makes Pune Special?

Located 150 kilometres from Mumbai, in the south-east, the "Singapore of India" attracts lovers of modern India. With its temperate climate, dynamic economy, and quality infrastructure, Pune—home to over 5 million inhabitants—elegantly turns towards the future. We won't serve you the cliché of contrast between modernity and tradition (though it's not without resonance in India), because what defines Pune is its modernity: young women riding scooters solo, gleaming shopping centres, fashionable restaurants, automobile traffic that's (almost) disciplined despite congestion. From the chaotic fury of Indian cities, Pune has retained only positive energy.

What Language Is Spoken in Pune?

In Pune, the primary language spoken is Marathi, the official language of Maharashtra State. However, other languages are also widely used:

• Hindi: widely understood and spoken, especially in inter-regional contexts.
• English: used in education, business, technology, and administration.
• Urdu: spoken within certain Muslim communities.

An Economic and Technology Powerhouse

Since its inception, major industrial corporations have established themselves here, and Pune now hosts offices for numerous automobile companies (Tata Motors, Bajaj Auto…) and IT firms (Information Technology companies like Infosys, Wipro…).

With around a hundred educational institutions, it earned the nickname "Oxford of the East." These days, its universities attract an increasing number of international students. Among them, the most renowned is arguably the FTII, the National Institute of Film and Television, which has trained some of Indian cinema's greatest names.

Moreover, the city is home to the Hinjawadi IT Park, one of India's major technology hubs, where startups and tech giants mingle. Additionally, Pune is an emerging centre for artificial intelligence and biotechnology, attracting talent from around the world. The prestigious National Chemical Laboratory is one of the country's scientific research pillars.

Despite its development level, the city experiences significant inequalities, reflecting the country as a whole. Local NGOs like Shelter Associate work to improve living conditions in several neighbourhoods, introducing sustainable housing and sanitation solutions.

What Can You Visit in Pune?

It's fair to say that in Pune, a traveller seeking centuries-old traditions won't be disappointed. But if you're looking for a weekend filled with great urban vibes, don't hesitate. The excellent Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum houses nearly 20,000 objects from across India. Prince Dinkar Gangadhar, heir to a 20th-century Marathi royal family, gathered ancient jewels, tribal ornaments, religious statues, and even ankle bells for scraping or noodle-making machines. Unfortunately, the pieces remain poorly displayed under uncertain neon lighting.

For a dive into history, a visit to Aga Khan Palace, where Mahatma Gandhi was detained, offers a moment of reflection in a place charged with memory, nestled in the heart of greenery. You can also explore Shaniwar Wada, an 18th-century vestige and former palace of the Peshwas, which remains a major historical landmark, though its ruins bear witness to the fire that devastated it. This emblematic site was once a centre of the powerful Marathi Empire, once ruled by the legendary warrior chief Shivaji. Don't miss a visit to Dagadusheth Halwai Ganapati Temple, one of the city's most famous and venerated temples, in the heart of old Pune, particularly bustling during the Ganesh festival.

Nearby rises Parvati Hill, whose four temples overlook the city. The panorama reveals roads and parks, rows of towers and patches of slums. At the foot of the slope, along the canal, stretches one of Pune's largest slums, Janata Vasahat.

What to Do in Pune?

Koregaon Park

All that's left is to stroll through the upscale neighbourhood of Koregaon Park. On the agenda: an abundance of wealth that rivals Beverly Hills. The mansions, immense, stand behind high wrought-iron gates or fortified portals, alternately Victorian manors or immaculate modern villas.

But it's not for its grand residences that the neighbourhood draws so many foreign tourists. Two streets away, the pavement is crowded with men and women in long burgundy robes. You've found yourself at Osho's ashram, aka Bhagwan Rajneesh, a controversial New Age guru whose teachings captivated many Westerners in the 1970s.

Moreover, Osho owes his controversial reputation to his liberal views on sexuality and sectarian practices. Since the guru's death in 1990, the Osho International Meditation Resort has transformed into a high-tech, multidisciplinary meditation centre, at the heart of ultra-domesticated nature meant to lead to inner peace. You might just as well find it in the frenzy of downtown, depending on your karma.

Nightlife

A change of pace in the evening, in the eco-chic ABC Farms complex. These former dairy farms have reinvented themselves as trendy restaurants with carefully curated atmospheres. Illuminated gardens, subdued music, inventive menus: if hipsters existed in India, this is where they'd hang out. In the same spirit, the neighbouring Viman Nagar district offers artistic cafés, alternative art galleries, and ephemeral coworking spaces, highly prized by digital nomads.

When to Visit?

Situated at 600 metres altitude at the confluence of the Mutha and Mula rivers, Pune enjoys a far more pleasant climate than Mumbai. The ideal period to visit Pune runs from October to March, when temperatures oscillate between 15 and 30 °C, the air is dry, and the city exudes a particular quality of life. Summer (April-May) can be hot, sometimes exceeding 40 °C, while the monsoon (June-September), though less intense than in Mumbai, brings regular rains and lush vegetation. It was in fact to Pune that English colonists stationed in Mumbai would retire during the monsoon, thus naming the city the summer capital of the presidency.

Well connected to the rest of the country, Pune has an international airport (PNQ), located just 10 km from the city centre, with direct flights to Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, and even Dubai.

From Mumbai, you can reach Pune by car (via the Mumbai-Pune expressway) in approximately 3 hours, depending on traffic. You can also opt for a scenic train like the Deccan Queen, which crosses the Western Ghâts in spectacular scenery (approximately 4 hours).

Night buses and shared taxis round out options for budget travellers. Once there, rickshaws, platform taxis (Ola, Uber), or shared electric vehicles make it easy to get around the city.