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.

British rule[link]

The Aga Khan Palace was constructed by Aga Khan III in 1892.

The Third Anglo-Maratha War broke out between the Marathas and the British in 1817. The Peshwas were defeated at the Battle of Khadki (then transcribed Kirkee) on 5 November near Poona, and the city was seized by the British.^[12] It was placed under the administration of the Bombay Presidency, and the British built a large military cantonment to the east of the city (now used by the Indian Army). The Pune Municipality was established in 1858. Navi Peth, Ganj Peth and Mahatma Phule Peth were developed during the British Raj.

Pune was an important centre in the social and religious reform movements of the late 19th century. Many prominent social reformers and freedom fighters lived here, including Bal Gangadhar Tilak (also known as Lokmanya Tilak), Vitthal Ramji Shinde, Dhondo Keshav Karve and Jyotirao Phule. Also, During 1902, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar resided in Pune when he enrolled in Fergusson College.

In late 1896, Poona (Pune) was hit by bubonic plague; and by the end of February 1897, the epidemic was raging, with a mortality rate twice the norm, and half the city's population fled. A Special Plague Committee was formed under the chairmanship of W. C. Rand, an Indian Civil Services officer. He brought troops to deal with the emergency. Although these measures were unpopular, the epidemic was under control by May. On 22 June 1897, during the Diamond Jubilee celebration of the coronation of Queen Victoria, Rand and his military escort Lt. Ayerst were shot while returning from the celebrations at Government House. Both died, Ayerst on the spot and Rand of his wounds on 3 July. The Chapekar brothers and two accomplices were charged with this murder, and with the shooting of two informants and an attempt to shoot a police officer. All three brothers were found guilty and hanged. An accomplice was dealt with similarly. Another, a schoolboy, was sentenced to ten years' hard labour.

Poona (Pune) is also associated with the struggle for Indian independence. Mohandas Gandhi was imprisoned at Yerwada Central Jail several times and placed under house arrest at the Aga Khan Palace in 1942–44, where both his wife and aide Mahadev Desai died.

Independence[link]

After Indian independence in 1947, from Britain Poona (Pune) saw a lot of development, such as the establishment of the National Defence Academy at Khadakwasla and the National Chemical Laboratory at Pashan. Pune serves as the headquarters of the Southern Command of the Indian Army.^[13] Industrial development started in the 1950s and '60s in Hadapsar, Bhosari, Pimpri, and Parvati.^[14] Telco (now Tata Motors) started operations in 1961, which gave a huge boost to the automobile sector.

In July 1961, the Panshet and Khadakwasla dams broke and their waters flooded the city, destroying most of the older sections of town, facilitating the subsequent introduction of modern town planning concepts and the development of parts of Pune.^{[citation needed]} The economy of the city witnessed a boom in the construction and manufacturing sectors. By 1966, the city had expanded in all directions.^[14]

In 1990 Pune began to attract foreign capital, particularly in the information technology and engineering industries; new businesses like floriculture and food processing started to take root in and around the city. In 1998, work on the six-lane Mumbai-Pune expressway began, the expressway being completed in 2001.^[15] IT Parks were established in Aundh, Hinjawadi and on Nagar Road. In 2008 the Commonwealth Youth Games took place in Pune, which encouraged additional development in the northwest region of the city.^[16]

In July 2009, India's first death due to H1 N1 occurred in Pune. Later the city became an epicentre of swine flue due to the large number of H1 N1 cases.^[17]

On 13 February 2010, a bomb exploded at the German Bakery in the upmarket Koregaon Park neighbourhood on the east side of Pune, killing 17 and injuring 60.^[18] The explosion is now suspected to be an improvised explosive device using an ammonium nitrate fuel oil mix.^[19] The blast was a first in what was until then the relatively safe environment of Pune.^[20]

Geography[link]

Laxmi Road in Central Pune

Pashan Lake is a man made lake

Pune is located 560 m (1,840 ft) above sea level on the western margin of the Deccan plateau. It is situated on the leeward side of the Sahyadri mountain range, which forms a barrier from the Arabian sea. It is a relatively hilly city, with its tallest hill, Vetal Hill, rising to 800 m (2,600 ft) above sea level. Just outside the city, the Sinhagad fort is located at an altitude of 1300 m.

Central Pune is located at the confluence of the Mula and Mutha rivers. The Pavana and Indrayani rivers, tributaries of the Bhima river, traverse the northwestern outskirts of metropolitan Pune.

Seismology[link]

Pune lies very close to the seismically active zone around Koyna Dam, about 100 km (62 mi) south of the city, and has been rated in Zone 4 (on a scale of 2 to 5, with 5 being the most prone to earthquakes) by the India Meteorological Department. Pune has experienced some moderate-intensity and many low-intensity earthquakes in its history.

Earthquakes felt in Pune with a magnitude of more than 3.0 are listed below.

Neighbourhoods[link]

The northwestern suburb of Pashan

The city of Pune can be divided into the following zones:

The Pune Metropolitan Area also includes the following areas, located roughly to the northwest of Pune city. These are administered by the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation.

• Pimpri and its surroundings: Chikhli, Kalewadi, Kasarwadi, Phugewadi and Pimple Saudagar
• Chinchwad and its surroundings: Thergaon, Tathawade
• Sangvi and its surroundings: Dapodi, Wakad, Hinjawadi, Pimple Nilakh and Pimple Gurav
• Bhosari and its surroundings: Moshi, Dighi, Dudulgaon and Charholi Budruk
• Nigdi, Akurdi and its surroundings: Ravet, Talawade

Climate[link]

Pune has a tropical wet and dry climate with average temperatures ranging between 20 to 28 °C (68 to 82 °F).

Pune experiences three distinct seasons: summer, monsoon and a mild autumn.

Typical summer months are from March to May, with maximum temperatures ranging from 30 to 38 °C (86 to 100 °F). The warmest month in Pune is April; although summer doesn't end until May, the city often receives heavy thundershowers in May (and humidity remains high). Even during the hottest months, the nights are usually cool due to Pune's high altitude. The highest temperature ever recorded was 43.3 °C (109.9 °F) on 30 April 1897.^[24]

The monsoon lasts from June to October, with moderate rainfall and temperatures ranging from 10 to 28 °C (50 to 82 °F). Most of the 722 mm (28.4 inches) of annual rainfall in the city fall between June and September, and July is the wettest month of the year.

Autumn begins in November; November in particular is referred to as the Rosy Cold (literal translation) (Marathi: गुलाबी थंडी). The daytime temperature hovers around 28 °C (82 °F) while night temperature is below 10 °C (50 °F) for most of December and January, often dropping to 5 to 6 °C (41 to 43 °F). The lowest temperature ever recorded was 1.7 °C on 17 January 1935.^[25]

Demographics[link]

As per the 2010 Census of India estimate, the population of the Pune urban agglomeration is to peg around 5,518,688^[28] This includes the towns of Khadki, Pimpri-Chinchwad and Dehu. Growth in the software and education sectors has led to an influx of skilled labour from across India. The population of the urban agglomeration was estimated to be around 4,485,000 in 2005.^[29] The migrating population rose from 43,900 in 2001 to 88,200 in 2005.^[30] According to the Pune Municipal Corporation, 38.9% of the population lived in slums in 2001.^[31] The sharp increase in censorial decade of 1991–2001 can be attributed to the absorption of 38 fringe villages into the city.^[26] The literacy rate is about 81%.^[32]

Marathi is the official and most widely spoken language, while Hindi and English are understood and spoken widely. Pune has a great Marathi influence as it was the bastion of the Maratha Empire.

Religion[link]

Chaturshringi Temple

Dagadusheth Halwai Ganapati temple

Hinduism is the dominant religion in Pune. Many Churches, Masjids, Gurudwaras, Buddhist Viharas, Jain temples and other religious buildings are found throughout the city.^[33] The most prominent communities include Marathas, Mahars, Mali, Brahmin, Shwetambar Jains,Digambar jains, Khandelwal Jains, Saitwal Jains, Chaturtha and Pancham Jains, Marathi Jains Marwaris, Punjabi and Sindhi people, along with the local communities. The most prominent Hindu temple in Pune is the Parvati Temple, located on Parvati hill and visible from most of the inner suburbs. The most visited temple is likely the Chaturshringi Temple, located on the slopes of a hill in the northwest of the city. During Navratri, there is a large procession to this temple and worshippers gather from around the country to pray here. The presiding god of Pune city is the Kasba Ganpati, whose temple is found in Kasba Peth in central Pune. Sarasbaug Ganpati is also a prominent landmark in Pune.

The Pataleshwar Temple is believed to be one of the oldest temples in the city.^{[citation needed]}

Since 1894, Pune has celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi as a ten-day long festival, in which most neighbourhoods put up a pandal (tent) with an idol of Ganesha, often amidst a religious setting, complete with decorative lights and festive music. This festival culminates with a parade of Ganesh idols from across the city carried to the local rivers to be immersed (Ganesh visarjan). The Kasba Ganapati, as the presiding deity of the city, is the first in this parade. The idea of a public celebration was initiated by Bal Gangadhar Tilak in Pune, and has since spread to many other cities, particularly Mumbai, which now has a parade every year.

Religious persons, like Dnyaneshwar and the revolutionary spiritual poet Sant Tukaram Maharaj, were born near Pune. Their link to the city is commemorated with an annual pilgrimage to Pandharpur, 300 kilometres away, consisting of a litter of both figures being carried to the main temple of the Hindu god Vithoba. The pilgrimage is timed to end on the auspicious day of Aashadhi Ekadashi

Islam is the second largest religion in Pune.^{[citation needed]} Pune has a large number of Mosques, the most prominent of which are Chand Tara Masjid, Jaama Masjid and Azam Campus Masjid. Chand Tara Masjid, located in Nana Peth, is one of the biggest and most important mosques in Pune as it is the city headquarters (markaz) for the Tabligi Jamaat. The Eid-gah Maidan located near Golibar Maidan on Shankar Sheth Road witnesses a large gathering of people for Eid namaz on Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.

There are a significant number of Christians residing in Pune. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Pune (Latin: Poonen(sis)) is located here. It is a part of the Ecclesiastical province of Mumbai established in 1854 as the Apostolic Vicariate of Poona from the Apostolic Vicariate of Bombay. On 1 September 1886 it was promoted to the Diocese of Poona.

Protestantism arrived in the 18th century when the British took over from the Maratha Empire. American missionaries were the first to start evangelising local people, building many churches and schools in Pune. Pune's Christians are also called Marathi Christians because of their use of the Marathi language. The Vineyard is a popular place of Christian worship in Dapoli, a village near Pune.

Pune is also famous for its Marathi speaking Jews. The Ohel David Synagogue built by David Sassoon is renowned. David Sassoon died in the city in 1864.

The Shrutisagar Ashram, located at Phulgaon off the Nagar road, houses the Vedanta Research Centre and a unique temple of Dakshinamurthy, located near the confluence of the Bhima, Bhama and Indrayani rivers. It was established in 1989 by Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati. Here one can find detailed explanations of śruti and smriti (including the Vedas, Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads and Puranas) in Marathi and English.

With 200,000 visitors annually, the Osho International Meditation Resort in Pune is one of the largest spiritual centres in the world

Pune has been associated with several significant spiritual teachers. Osho lived and taught in Pune for much of the 1970s and 1980s. The Osho International Meditation Resort, one of the world's largest spiritual centres, is located in the Koregaon Park area. It has visitors from over a hundred countries.^[34] Pune is also the birthplace of avatar Meher Baba, although pilgrims usually travel to Meherabad to visit Meher Baba's tomb. Hazrat Babajan, one of the five Perfect Masters, lived the final 25 years of her life in Pune. She established her final residence first under an 'Azadirachta indica tree near Bukhari Shah's mosque in Rasta Peth and later another A. indica tree in the then-dilapidated section of Pune called Char Bawdi where she remained the rest of her life. There is a shrine erected in her honour in Pune, around the tree under which she made her final home.^[35]

The ISKCON movement also has a presence in the city at the Sri Radha Kunjbihari Mandir.

B. K. S. Iyengar, an internationally known yoga master, established the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute in Pune in 1975, in order to train students in Iyengar Yoga.

Culture[link]

Pune is said to be the cultural capital of the state of Maharashtra. It epitomises Marathi culture, which lays emphasis on education, arts and crafts, music, and theatre. Pune has emerged as a center of modern architecture in India, with prize-winning buildings. Pune culture reflects a blend of traditions with modernity, along with hosting classical shows.^[36]

Cuisine[link]

Sorghum and Pearl millet are the main ingredients of traditional Pune food. A typical meal includes Puran Poli (a dessert bread), Bhakri (millet pancakes) with Pithla (a flour-based curry), Bhelpuri, Pav Bhaji and Misal.^[37] Mastani, a thick milkshake containing dried fruit, is a speciality of the city.^[38] Vada Pav and Misal Pav are famous street foods.

Economy[link]

As one of the largest cities in India, and as a result of its many colleges and universities, Pune is emerging as a prominent location for IT and manufacturing companies to expand. Pune has the eight largest metropolitan economy^[39] and the sixth highest per capita income in the country^[40].

The automotive sector is prominent in Pune. It is home to the Automotive Research Association of India, which is responsible for the homologation of all vehicles available in India. All sectors of the automotive industry are represented, from two-wheelers and autorickshaws to cars, tractors, tempos, excavators and trucks. Automotive companies like Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Mercedes Benz, Force Motors (Firodia-Group), Kinetic Motors have set ups in Pune. Automotive companies including General Motors, Volkswagen, and Fiat have set up greenfield facilities near Pune, leading The Independent to cite Pune as India's "Motor City".^[41] Several automotive component manufacturers like Saint-Gobain Sekurit, TATA Autocomp Systems Limited, Robert Bosch GmbH, ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Visteon, and Continental Corporation are located here.

Infosys office building in Pune

India's largest engineering conglomerate, the Kirloskar Group, was the first to bring industry to Pune by setting up Kirloskar Oil Engines Ltd. in 1945 at Kirkee in Pune. The Group was originally set up in Kirloskarwadi.^[42] Kirloskar Brothers Limited (India’s largest manufacturer and exporter of pumps and the largest infrastructure pumping project contractor in Asia^[43]), Kirloskar Oil Engines (India's largest diesel engine company^[44]), Kirloskar Pneumatics Co. Ltd. and other Kirloskar companies are based in Pune.

The Hinjawadi IT Park (officially called the Rajeev Gandhi IT Park) is a project being started by MIDC to house the IT sector in Pune. When completed, the Hinjawadi IT Park is expected to have an area of about 2,800 acres (11 km²). The estimated investment in the project is 60 crore (US$11.97 million).^[45] To facilitate economic growth, the government made liberal incentives in its IT and ITES Policy, 2003 and leased properties on MIDC land.^[46] The IT sector employs more than 70,000 people. Major software companies in Pune include Infosys, Persistent Systems, Geometric Limited, Symphony Services, Wipro, TCS, Cognizant, Symantec, Tech Mahindra, Syntel, Fujitsu, Cybage, IBM global, Sybase and Crest Premedia Solutions (P) Ltd. Software giant Microsoft intends to set up a 700 crore (US$139.65 million) project in Hinjewadi.^[46]

Pune and around also houses foreign direct investments like Alfa Laval, Sandvik, Atlas Copco, Keihin FIE, Panasonic, Sharp, Enkei, Tata Tokyo, Tata Yazaki, Tata Yutaka, Lumax and many more.

Pune Food Cluster development project is an initiative funded by the World Bank. It is being implemented with the help of SIDBI, Cluster Craft to facilitate the development of the fruit and vegetable processing industries in and around Pune.^[47][48]

Industry[link]

An Adidas store in Pune.

The emergence of industrial Pune began in the early 1960s, with mechanical engineering industries putting up base. Pune's proximity to Mumbai, good climate and availability of talent made it a preferred destination to large firms like Tata Motors (TELCO then), Buckau Wolf (Thyssen Krupp now),KSB Pumps, Hindustan Antibiotics and several others.

Today, Pune has a diverse industrial population. It is one of India's most important automotive hubs, with some domestic and international auto giants manufacturing here. Pune also has hundreds of large and small IT companies.

Pune is the largest hub in India^[49] for German companies. According to the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce, Pune is the single largest hub for German companies from the last 60 years. Over 225 German companies have set up their businesses in Pune.^[50]

Administration[link]

Civic administration[link]

The city of Pune is managed by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). The Corporation consists of 149 directly elected councillors,^[51] who are led by the Mayor of Pune, a titular position mainly acting as an ambassador and representative of the city. Actual executive power is vested in the Municipal Commissioner, an officer of the Indian Administrative Service who is appointed by the Government of Maharashtra.

Statue of Aryabhata on the grounds of IUCAA, Pune. As there is no known information regarding his appearance, any image of Aryabhata is an artist's conception.

Apart from the PMC, four other administrative bodies are active within the Pune Metropolitan Area:

• Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC),^[52] responsible for Pimpri-Chinchwad and its surroundings
• Khadki Cantonment Board (KCB),^[53] responsible for Khadki
• Pune Cantonment Board (PCB),^[54] responsible for Pune Cantonment
• Dehu Road Cantonment Board, responsible for the Dehu Road area

A plan to establish a single Pune Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (PMRDA), consisting of the combined municipal councils, corporations, and other local governments of Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Lonavala, Talegaon, Bhor, Shirur, Saswad, the three cantonments and hundred villages near the city, has been considered since 1997, but has still not been put into place.^[55] This body would be the executing authority which would acquire and develop reserve land to improve the infrastruction of the Pune metropolitan area.

The Pune Police is headed by the Police Commissioner of Pune, an officer of the Indian Police Service. The Pune Police report to the state ministry.

Military establishments[link]

The National War Memorial Southern Command in Pune Cantonment

Poona (Pune) was the largest military camp for the British forces during the Raj and the architecture in the cantonment area is very evocative of the era. The majority of the old Cantonment land in the city is now occupied by the Indian Army for the housing of its garrisons and officers.^[56] The Southern Command, a World War II Indian Army formation, has its headquarters in Pune cantonment. The city is home to Lohegaon Aerodrome (previously RAF Station Poona), the city's airport and Indian Air Force airfield for the Sukhoi-30MKI multi-role strike fighters.

The National Defence Academy (NDA) is an integrated military training center that provides education up to the graduation level and joint training for cadets of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force.^[57] The NDA estate is spread over 8,028 acres (3,209 hectares) of land in Khadakwasla near Pune and contains apart from NDA facilities, a mini sanctuary and Peacock Bay, one of the lakes that provide water to Pune city.^[58] Pune also host College of Military Engineering which is also commonly referred to as CME, trains Students in Engineering subjects in relation to military.AFMC Pune for Medical Study along with Nursing Couses for indian army.

Pune and Khadki Area have centres of Bombay Sappers (B.E.G.), a regiment of the Indian Army Corps of Engineers.

Architecture[link]

In addition to its various temples, historical attractions in and around Pune include the rock-cut Pataleshwar cave temple, Aga Khan Palace, Shaniwarwada, Lal Mahal, Shinde Chhatri and Sinhagad fort.

The city is known for its British Raj and the Garden city movement layout of the Cantonment in the early twentieth century. Notable architects who have worked in Pune include B.V.Doshi, Charles Correa, Achyut Kanvinde and Christopher Charles Benninger. Modern master pieces in Pune include the IUCAA by Correa and a number of campuses by Benninger, including his studio complex called India House. His award winning campuses include the Mahindra United World College of India, the YMCA Campsite at Mulshi, the Samundra Institute of Maritime Studies, and Suzlon One Earth.

Museums, parks and zoos[link]

Pu. La. Deshpande Garden

Prominent museums in Pune include the Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum, Mahatma Phule Museum, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Museum and the Pune Tribal Museum. The College of Military Engineering has an archive and an equipment museum which has a rail exhibit with a metre-gauge train. A large railway museum is also coming up in Lonavala about 60 km (37 mi) away from the city on the Mumbai railway line.^{[citation needed]}

Pune has a number of public gardens, such as the Kamala Nehru Park, Sambhaji Park Shahu Udyan, Peshwe Park, Saras Baug, Empress Garden, Taljai Hills and Bund Garden. The Pune-Okayama Friendship Garden, is a replica of the Korakuen Garden in Okayama, Japan.^[59]

The Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park is located at Katraj, close to the city.^[60] The zoo, earlier located at Peshwe Park, was merged with the reptile park at Katraj in 1999. Besides this, certain spots in Pune such as Hanuman Tekdi, Vetaal Tekdi and Taljai forest are popular haunts for nature lovers.

As the agro-pharmaceutical business has dwindled in recent decades, immigration from erstwhile tribal peoples now accounts for seventy percent of population growth and education syllabi have not adjusted in accordance with other industrialised regions.^[61][62] This has created what has become an exclusive environment in the government's expansion of education infrastructure, and Marathi literati have received a number of grants in areas that were previously ignored. Both experimental (प्रायोगिक रंगभूमी) and professional theatre receive extensive patronage from the Marathi community. The Tilak Smarak Mandir, Bala Gandharva Rangmandir, Bharat Natya Mandir, Yashwantrao Chavan Natyagriha and Sudarshan Rangmanch are prominent theatres in the city. Ganesh Kala Krida Rangamanch is the largest closed theatre in the city, with a seating capacity of 45,000.^[63]

The Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Mahotsav, one of the most prominent and sought-after Indian classical music festivals in India is held in Pune every year in December. It commemorates the life and achievements of Pt. Sawai Gandharva.^[64] The concept of Diwāḷī Pahāṭ originated in Pune as a music festival on the morning of the festival of Diwali.^[65]

Education and research[link]

Pune has more than a hundred educational institutes and nine universities,^[66] students from all over the world studying at the colleges of the University of Pune. Pune has a large student population, and a large number of quality academic and research institutes.

Basic and special education[link]

Public schools (known locally as "municipality schools") are run by the Pune Municipal Corporation, and are affiliated with the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education. Private schools are run by educational trusts or individuals. They are usually affiliated to either the state board or to national education boards, such as the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education., CBSE or NIOS boards.

The University of Pune

Pune is the largest centre for Japanese learning in India.^[67] Other languages including German (taught at the Max Muller Bhavan) and French (at the Alliance Française de Poona) are popular in the city.

University education[link]

Most colleges in Pune are affiliated to the University of Pune, established in 1948. Seven other universities have also been established in the city.^[68]

College of Engineering Pune

Top ranked engineering colleges such as College of Engineering, Pune(COEP), Maharashtra Institute of Technology, MIT College of Engineering, Vishwakarma Institute of Technology, Pune Institute of Computer Technology, Sinhgad College of Engineering and Trinity college of Engineering and Research. The College of Engineering Pune, now autonomous institute of government of Maharashtra, founded in 1854, is the third oldest engineering college in Asia. The Deccan Education Society was founded by several local citizens in 1884, including social and political activist Bal Gangadhar Tilak,^[69] and was responsible for founding Fergusson College in 1885. This society currently maintains and operates 32 institutes in Pune. KJ's EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTES and STES also runs a variety of education institutes providing education in multiple fields here .

The National Defence Academy, Film and Television Institute of India, Dnyaneshwar Vidyapeeth, National Film Archives, Armed Forces Medical College and National Chemical Laboratory were established in Pune after the independence of India. Symbiosis International University, which operates 33 different colleges and institutions in the city which includes colleges like^[70] Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM), which is ranked amongst the top management institutes in the country^[71] and Symbiosis Institute of Computer Studies and Research (SICSR) which is one of the few colleges in India that promotes Open source technology.

Pune is also home to Symbiosis Institute of Technology of the Symbiosis family. ^[72]

ILS Law College, established by the Indian Law Society, is one of the top ten law schools in India. Established medical schools such as the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) and Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Medical College train students from all over Maharashtra and India and are amongst the top medical colleges in India. The AFMC consistently ranks among the top five medical colleges in India.^[73]

The Lalit Kala Kendra is an undergraduate department of Music, Dance and Drama on the University of Pune campus that has been operational since 1987. This department features a combination of Gurukul and formal education systems.^[74]

Research institutes[link]

Home to some of India's important research institutes, Pune has a conducive research atmosphere. Some of the major research centres are:

• National Chemical Laboratory (NCL): One of the leading chemical research establishments in India.
• Inter-university Centre for Astronomy & Astrophysics (IUCCA)
• National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA)
• Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC)
• Electronics Test and Development Centre (ETDC): Under the STQC directorate, it is a leading testing and certification centre.^[75]
• National Institute of Virology (NIV)
• National Research Centre for Grapes (NRCG)
• Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics
• Central Water & Power Research Station (CWPRS)
• National Centre for Cell Sciences (NCCS)
• Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI)
• Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM): Scientists at IITM has several significant achievements in tropical weather^[76]
• National Informatics Centre (NIC)
• Armament Research Development Establishment (ARDE)
• High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL)
• Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology (CMET)
• Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI)
• National AIDS Research Centre (NARI)
• Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER)
• Agharkar Research Institute (ARI)

Several military and armament research organisations are located in Pune (see the Military establishments section in this article).

Transport[link]

Air[link]

Pune Airport is an international airport at Lohegaon, operated by the Airports Authority of India. It shares its runways with the neighbouring Indian Air Force base.^[77] In addition to domestic flights to all major Indian cities, this airport serves international direct flights to Dubai (operated by Air India Express)^[78] and to Frankfurt (operated by Lufthansa).^[79]

The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation is responsible for the design and construction of a New Pune International Airport. The area between Chakan and Rajgurunagar, around the villages of Chandus and Shiroli, is currently being considered as a construction site. If constructed here, it will be at a distance of 40 km (25 mi) from central Pune.^[80]

Rail[link]

Local trains (EMUs) connect Pune to the industrial town of Pimpri-Chinchwad and the hill station of Lonavala, while daily express trains connect Pune to Mumbai, Kanpur, Howrah, New Delhi, Jammu Tawi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Goa, Varanasi, and Jamshedpur. At Pune, there is diesel locomotive shed and electric trip shed.^[81] A rapid transit system has been proposed in Pune and is scheduled to begin operations in 2013.^[82] Pune Metro Rail is being planned in consultation with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Limited, the corporation which built and operates the Delhi Metro. It will be a combination of elevated and underground sections, with initial routes being planned between Pimpri-Swargate and Vanaz-Ramwadi.

The city has a railway station, Pune Railway Station. The station is administrated by the Pune Railway Division of the Central Railways.^[83] All the railway lines to Pune are broad gauge.

Road[link]

The Mumbai-Pune Expressway India's first Expressway as seen from Khandala

Pune BRTS is the first Bus Rapid Transit System in India. The project consists of 16.5 kilometres (10.3 mi) of bus lanes along the Pune Satara Road using more than 500 airconditioned, low-floor Volvo B7RLE buses.

Both public and private transport are popular in Pune. Public buses within the city and its suburbs are operated by the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML). The PMPML operates the Pune Bus Rapid Transit system, the first of its kind in India, in which dedicated bus lanes allow buses to travel quickly through the city.^[84] Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation runs buses from its main stations in Shivajinagar, Pune station and Swargate to all major cities and towns in Maharashtra and neighbouring states. Private companies too run buses to major cities throughout India.^[85]

Pune is well-connected to other cities by Indian highways and state highways. National Highway 4 (NH 4) connects it to Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolhapur. NH 9 to Hyderabad, and NH 50 to Nashik. State highways connect it to Ahmednagar, Aurangabad, and Alandi.