Let's Go

Hi guys,

Here are the few things you should know before visiting Pune.


From Mumbai By Bus
Across the road from the Mumbai-Pune taxi stand is the terminus for the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation's Dadar-Pune bus service, popularly known as the Asiad Bus Service.
Buses leave for Pune every fifteen minutes between 5 a.m. and well past midnight. The last bus often leaves at 2:30 a.m.
A ride costs Rs. 90. The fare is Rs 140 for the air-conditioned bus. The buses most often take the old highway (not by pass) and you can request the driver to allow you to get off at almost any point after Pimpri-Chinchwad. The buses terminate at Pune Railway Station.
You can also board any of the buses operated by private companies. These leave from all over Mumbai and cost between Rs 70 and Rs 180 depending on type of service, time of year and day. Check timings from the operators. These buses terminate at Pune Railway Station, Kothrud, Swargate or Shivajinagar.

Area to stay at
Shivajinagar, Swarget or Deccan

Walkable places to visit in one day between Shivajinagar and Swarget
Dagadusheth Ganapati, Lalmahal, Old Pune, Kelkar Museum, Shaniwarwada, Tulshibaug, Vishrambagwada, Narayan Peth, Parvati, Saras Baug, Peshve Park, Deccan Gymkhana.

Tourist spots little far from Swarget
Agakhan Palace, Kasturba Samadhi, Khadakvasla Dam, Sinhgad, Katraj sarpodyan, Ferguson Collage, Film Institute, Symboisys..

Accomodation
There are all kinds of accomodation available in the city. Koregaon park a single room with shared bathroom should set u back within Rs. 150-225 (off-season) range while if looking for something better should get a good one with kitchen & all for about Rs. 8k for a month or something like this. Prices vary depending on availability & season. A better bet if on budget is to have a room for couple of days & then hunt on one's own. Also Koregaon Park is home to the Osho commune, which has its own blend of culture.

Shopping
For shopping there are 2 places, namely: -
1. Camp (Main Street) which is around 3 1/2 kms 45 mins from Koregaon park. The fare should be in the 30's. It's being converted into a walking plaza & there are lots of places to shop/see & just enjoy the hustle/bustle of a growing metropolis. The goods are more up-market & are generally 15-20% higher than other places. Some places are highly efficient as well as honest while others just suck. Lots of malls have kicked in with all kinds of things so getting one's needs is not an issue. The good thing is that most of the Jeans/Shirts/T-shirts are of European size so if fat in some places (ass, abdomen, stomach) then u should find u'r thing there. Most of the American/European labels exist. The place for classes. Most of the shops close by 8:30 p.m.

2. Laxmi Road :- This is the old time place. This is where the masses shop. It's more down-to-earth. Fully chaotic with traffic from all sides. Humans, vehicles & animals all share the same road & co-exist patiently. If wanna hear shrill voices with activity all around. One can get good chappals/sandals customized with soft leather (good stuff). Again most of the shops close by 8:30 p.m.

The dress code
Around Koregaon Park one can dress anyway one wants but if going to the older part of the city City/Bhawani Peth/Shukrawar Peth atleast for women better if in a salwar-kameez with a chunni overhead. I know I might be sounding like a lame person but my thing why one needs to draw attention to oneself unnecessarily. For guys a kurta with some pants/jeans is o.k. Guys can get away almost with whatever they wear.

Popular hangouts and Restaurants
· Vaishali - Roopali (Deccan Area)
· Jayashri , Saras Baug (Khau galli)
· Deccan Pav-Bhaji
· Alka square (Near Sambhaji bridge)
· Poona Coffee House
· Naaz - Mahanaaz, NCR, Cafe Goodluck,
· Chowpaty
· Nagnath Amrutatulya
· Gandharva , behind Bal Gandharva Rang Mandir
· Appa's canteen (Deccan Gymkhana)
· Sujata Colddrink (Shani par/ Sadashiv Peth)
· Chitle Sweets 777, Sadashiv Peth,
Opp. Vishram Baug Vada,
(Bhakarwadi Special)
· Univ Circle
· Tulasi (Apte Road corner)
· MarZorine - Main Street.
· Rangoli - Bhandaarkar Institute Road
· Kamala Nehru park (KNP)-paani-puri.
· Sambhaji park -bhelpuri.
· Bedekar Misal - Munjabacha bol (narayan peth)
· Saras-bag - Bhelpuri.

Must do’s:
Go Go-karting, visit the University, climb the umpteen stairs to Parvarti, stroll down Osho Nallah Park, eat dosa at Vaishali, surf in the umpteen cafes...

Enjoy,
-Sam