Pune पुणे Poona
—  Metropolitan City  —
Clockwise from bottom: the National War Memorial Southern Command, the HSBC Global Technology India Headquarters, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Fergusson College and Shaniwarwada
Nickname(s): Queen of the Deccan, Oxford of the East, Vidya Nagari
Pune
Coordinates: 18°31′13″N 73°51′24″E / 18.52028°N 73.85667°E / 18.52028; 73.85667Coordinates: 18°31′13″N 73°51′24″E / 18.52028°N 73.85667°E / 18.52028; 73.85667
Country	India
State	Maharashtra
District	Pune
Talukas	Haveli taluka
Government
• Mayor	Vaishali Bankar[1](NCP)
• Municipal Commissioner	Mahesh Pathak
Area
• Metropolitan City	700 km2 (300 sq mi)
Elevation	560 m (1,840 ft)
Population (2011)
• Metropolitan City	3,115,431
• Rank	9th
• Density	7,214/km2 (18,680/sq mi)
• Metro[2]	5,518,688
	[3]
Languages
• Official	Marathi
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	411 0xx
Telephone code	91- 20- XXXX XXXX
Vehicle registration	MH 12 (Pune), MH 14 (PCMC)
Website	pune.nic.in

The circular Nandi mandapa at the Pataleshwar cave temple, built during the Rashtrakuta dynasty

Pune, formerly Poona (pronounced [puɳeː] ( listen)), is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula and Mutha rivers.^[4] Pune city is the administrative capital of Pune district.

Pune is known to have existed as a town since 937 AD. Pune was originally called Punawadi.^[5] In 1730, Pune became an important political center as the seat of the Peshwa, the prime minister of the Chhatrapati of Satara; it was during this era that Pune became the centre of Indian politics.^[6] After the town was annexed to British India in 1817, it served as a cantonment town and as the "monsoon capital" of the Bombay Presidency until the independence of India.^[7]

Today, Pune is known for its educational facilities and relative prosperity. Pune is the cultural capital of Maharashtra. Pune has well-established manufacturing, glass, sugar, and forging industries since the 1950-60s. It has a growing industrial hinterland, with many information technology and automotive companies setting up factories in Pune district. The city is known for various cultural activities like classical music, spirituality, theatre, sports, and literature. These activities and job opportunities attract migrants and students from all over India and abroad, which makes for a city of many communities and cultures.

Pune is ranked as a Gamma- Global City.

Toponomy[link]

The name Pune is derived from Sanskrit Puṇyanagara "City of Virtue". The oldest reference to this name was found on a Rashtrakuta Dynasty copper plate dated 937, which refers to the town as Punya-Vishaya or Poonak-Vishaya.^[8] By the 13th century, it had come to be known as Kasbe Pune or Punavadi.

The city's name is sometimes transcribed as Poona in English, a practice particularly common during the British Raj. The spelling Pune was formally adopted in 1976.^[9]

History[link]

Early and medieval[link]

Copper plates dated 858 AD and 868 AD show that, by the 8th century, an agricultural settlement known as Punnaka existed where Pune is today. The plates indicate that this region was ruled by the Rashtrakuta Dynasty. The Pataleshwar rock-cut temple complex was built during this era.

Pune was part of the Seuna Yadavas of Devagiri from the 9th century to 1327. In 1595, Maloji Raje Bhosale was appointed the jagirdar of Pune and Supe by the Mughal Empire.^[8] It was ruled by the Ahmadnagar Sultanate until being annexed by the Mughals in the 17th century.

Maratha rule[link]

In 1625, Shahaji appointed Rango Bapuji Dhadphale as the administrator of Pune. He was one of the first major developers of the town, overseeing construction of the Kasba Peth, Somwar Peth, Raviwar Peth and Shaniwar Peth. After the destruction of the town in raids by the Adil Shahi dynasty in 1630, and again from 1636 to 1647, Dadoji Kondadev, a military and administrative officer of Shahaji Bhosale, oversaw redevelopment and construction of the area. He stabilised the revenue system of Pune and the neighbourhoods of Maval to the west of town. In addition, he developed effective methods to control disputes and enforce law and order. Construction began on the Lal Mahal palace, as Shahaji's son Shivaji was to move there with his mother Jijabai. The Lal Mahal was completed in 1640.^[8] Jijabai is said to have commissioned the building of the Kasba Ganapati temple herself. The Ganesha idol consecrated at this temple is regarded as the presiding deity (gramadevata) of the city.^[10]

Shivaji was crowned Chhatrapati in 1674, thus founding the Maratha Empire. He oversaw further development in Pune, including the construction of the Guruwar, Somwar, Ganesh and Ghorpade Peths. Shivaji Maharaj encouraged development of dams in Parvati and Kondhwa regions of Pune for agriculture purposes. Pune and surrounding villages later provided manpower for Shivaji's efforts to build an army during the period from 1645 to 1680. In between 1660 and 1670 the town was captured by Mughal General Shahista Khan, but was recaptured by the Marathas in 1670 after the battle of Sinhagad. During the 27-year long conflict between the Marathas and the Mughals, the town was occupied by Aurangzeb from 1703 to 1705; during this time the name of the town was changed to "Muhiyabad".^{[citation needed]} Two years later, the Marathas recaptured Sinhagad fort and later Pune city from the Mughals as had been done in 1670.

Baji Rao I most famous of the nine Peshwas.

In 1720, Baji Rao I was appointed Peshwa (Prime Minister) of the Maratha Empire, ruled by Chattrapati Shahu.^[11] He selected Pune as his base and started construction of Shaniwar Wada on the banks of the Mutha. The construction was completed in 1730, ushering in the era of Peshwa control of the city. The patronage of the Peshwas resulted in the construction of many temples and bridges in the city, including the Lakdi Pul and the temples on Parvati Hill. Bajirao Peshwa also constructed an underground aqueduct to bring water from Katraj Lake to Shaniwar Wada. The aqueduct is still operational. Pune prospered as a city during the reign of Nanasaheb Peshwe. He developed Saras Baug, Heera Baug, Parvati Hill and new commercial, trading and residential localilties. The Sadashiv Peth, Narayan Peth, Rasta Peth and Nana Peth were developed in this era. The Peshwas fell into decline after their defeat in the 1761 Battle of Panipat. In 1802, Pune was captured by Yashwantrao Holkar in the Battle of Poona, directly precipitating the Second Anglo-Maratha War of 1803–1805.