Pune

The land of the Peshwa’s, Pune is the new is the new hang out of the pseudo rich in Mumbai. Pune is the core of Maharashtrian Brahmins. The city has a culture of its own, a language of its own and looks quite autonomous and all this is called PUNERI. The people take immense pride in being called puneri. I lived there for 5 years in my pre-teens and honestly the city I saw then to the city it is now is completely different. I happily say today that I am part of the change that changed Pune forever.

Pune is visibly divided into 2 halves - The ultra modern and the Puneri’s. The ultra modern are either people the one’s that lived abroad for a few years and have come back to home grounds or rich guys who have now moved to Pune either from Mumbai, Delhi or Bengaluroo. The have swanky apartments, swanky four wheels and suave kids who splurge and are the source of money for most of the designer shops in Pune. This specie is found living in Aundh, Erandwane, University area, Kondhwa, Kothrud, Chittaranjan Park, Salisburry Park etc most of which are newly developed areas. On the other hand, the Puneri is rather conservative who works in a bank 9-5, cannot spell designer label names, lives in ancestral houses called Waade, mostly have joint families, for them outing is going to a hotel and eating out with family, shopping means Tulsi bagh and Laxmi Road and these species are found living in all the ‘Peths’ in Pune. No offenses meant here!

Pune use to be a very quiet until all the glamour hit it. Glamour came from BPO’s and the influx of students from other states. The culture changed and what you see today is very cosmo as compared to the real Pune. Initially termed as the city for Retired people it was actually so, because life had its own pace. The Peshwa’s reign over Pune is obvious by its architecture. Shaniwar Waada is the most famous landmark in Pune. It’s the Peshwa’s palace and is also a popular tourist destination today. There is a lot in terms of heritage and architecture to see in Pune like the old vaada’s and palaces. The ever popular hang out as a child I remember was Saras baug. It’s the hugest garden I had seen so I was always excited to visit Saras Baug. Plus the food joints around the garden once were the most happening thing in Pune. Just besides Saras baug was a huge ground that hosted thousands of circuses. I remember having seen Shah Rukh Khan in one of the circuses for the serial he was shooting.

The largely popular Sinhagarh fort has been favorite school picnic point. The fort is situated on top of a mountain has long history attached to it. Small little surprises everywhere the best thing about Sinhagrh is the Matka Dahi and fresh Chicken that they make up there. The best thing about the chicken, you get to choose your own live chicken! There are rooms to stay on the fort and I would strongly recommend you to spend one night to feel the eeriness and calmness on the fort. This fort was used to send signals to adjoining Raigarh and other forts. Parvati is a temple on top of a hill. It means a climb up of over 150 stairs. Yes! I have counted them all there are about 181 stairs to be precise. But the view is great.

Food in Pune is very simple since Maharashtrian food ain’t very fancy. I suggest anybody who has never had marathi food to try out a marathi thali anywhere in a small local restaurant or atleast Thalipeeth, Sabudana vada, Vange chi bhaaji, Puran poli, kothimbeer vadi independently anywhere. One cannot leave Pune without trying the famous Mastani.

The new Pune may now be called as an ode development. The crowd makes it alive and buzzing and the culture has changed 360 degrees. Pune was once the city for retired people and is exactly the opposite today.