More – Pune
About the city
Picturesque Pune, the 'Queen of the Deccan' nestles in the scenic shayadri ranges, on the edge of the Deccan plains. This 'Cultural Capital of Maharashtra' was once the glorious capital of the Maratha empire and the centre of the Maratha awakening. IT bomms with all corollaries of modernisation and also retains the rich cultural heritage. According to the Pune Gazetteer, the word Pune is derived from 'Punya' or a holy place, as the city stands on the sacred a confluence (sangama) of two rivers. Pune became the base of Chhatrapati shivaji, the great Maratha emperor, whose exploits against the Bijapur army and Mughal king Aurangzeb are legendary. The Maratha emperors were followed by the Peshwas. In 1818, the British captured the city after the battle of Koregaon. The city also played an important role in the freedom struggle and was the nerve centre of national politics during the lifetime of Lokmanya Tilak. Pune is also known as the 'Oxfort of India' for its world renowned educational and research institutions.Pune may not be a cosmopolitan city as its upstart cousin on the coast, Mumbai, but it is a pleasant getaway for all those who want to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Pune has a calm atmosphere, non-confronting people, and is certainly much more relaxed and peaceful than Mumbai. If you consider Maharashtra as a Marathi speaking state of India, then Pune can undoubtedly be called its capital, with its glorious past and high concentration of Marathi speaking people.
Demography
According to the 2001 census provisional counts, the urban agglomeration around Pune has a population of about 4,485,000. This figure includes the population of the city of Pimpri-Chinchward, which is the industrial twin of Pune.Located in the Sahayadri Hills, near the west coast of India, Pune is a fascinating city with a healthy climate all year round. Pune is one of the biggest industrial towns of Maharashtra and known as the automobile city as many big auto mobile companies have their head Quarters here. Pune is also famous for education and OSHO Communes in the Rajnesh Ashram located here.
This could be Mumbai's cultural hub! An interesting mix of history and modernism, Pune grew as a series of peths or wards, housing people of particular castes or businesses together. Once a sleepy town with old-world bungalows, stone houses and potted flower gardens, today it is a bustling city with towering malls, pubs and restaurants at every corner. But these can never take away the character that is so Pune! Because amidst these flurry of activities, lie elements that render it the typical Pune charm - Osho's Ashram for Meditation, typical Peshwa-style historic constructions and the revelries of Ganesha Festival. and amidst these, the city bakeries, run by family members, continue producing the most authentic goodies. Relax and savour everything that make Puneites swear by the city
