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Pune

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Pune (Poona)
Classification Metropolitan City
Country India
State Maharashtra
Languages Marathi, English, Hindi and others
Time zone GMT +5:30
Importance Eighth largest city in India
Population

- Total


2,691,000 (2004)[1]
Area 440.00 km2
Latitude
Longitude		 18° 32’N
73° 51’ E
Altitude 554 metres average
Temperature

- Summer

- Winter

20 to 38 °C

4 to 30 °C
Rainfall 1000 mm

Pune, formerly called Poona, is the second largest city (after Mumbai) in the state of Maharashtra, India. According to the 2001 census provisional results, it had - according to official statistics - a population of 3.755 million in 2001. This figure includes the people residing in the city of Pimpri-Chinchwad which has historically been considered as a twin of Pune. The real population of the combined metropolitan area should be between 4.5 to 5 million in 2004. Marathi is the language of the majority of the people residing here and they call themselves 'Punekar'. 'kar' is a marathi language suffix used to denote a person belonging to the preceding village or city name. This being a metropolitan city with many English literate people, 'Puneites' is also a term commonly used to describe the people of this city, particularly in English dailies.

Geography

The city developed on the confluence of rivers Mula and Mutha. They are the tributaries of the river Bhima which flows east rising from the Western Ghats of Maharashtra. On the south-western side of Pune is the Khadakwasla dam lake that is used to supply water to the city. Beyond that lies the historically famous Sinhagad fort which is now a major tourist attraction.

History

This is a historically important city. The Maratha empire was headquartered here, and the district has several hill forts along with many ancient temples. It grew in importance under the British when it housed a major cantonment town. Today, Pune is the headquarters of the Southern Command of the Indian Army. The cantonment area is still a major fixture and adds to Pune's cosmopolitan flavour.

Prior to the Marathas, evidence of inhabitance comes from relics like the Kasba Ganapati, Taambdee Jogeshwaaree, Pataleshwar cave. The cave, also called Panchaleshvara caves, is situated outside the old town, but now squarely in the middle of the city, on Jungli Maharaj Road. Its sculptures date to around 700, similar in style to the much grander rock temple at Elephanta, but never completed. More importantly it is an active Hindu temple. In front of the excavation is a circular Nandi mandapam (pavilion).

Economy

Pune is a major industrial centre, worthy of being termed Detroit of India. It is home to one of the world's largest two-wheeler manufacturers - Bajaj Auto. It is also home to Kinetic Engineering, Bajaj Tempo. India's largest motor company, Tata Motors has its plant here. DaimlerChrysler also has an assembly line for its Mercedes Benz brand. Whirlpool has an appliance manufacturing plant near Pune. Frito Lay and Coca Cola also have manufacturing plants in Pune. Because of all these giants, Pune is also home to numerious small and medium sized enterprizes. Pune has a burgeoning software industry. Many of India's major software players such as TCS Infosys, Wipro, Cognizant and Persistent Systems and global majors like Sasken, Amdocs, Avaya, Veritas have a major presence in Pune's various Software Technology Parks. With the construction of the six lane Mumbai-Pune_expressway, this city is now less than a three hour drive from Mumbai. To cater to the explosive growth, the state is planning a 1000MW power plant exclusively for Pune, and an International Airport at Chakan is also on the cards.

Education

It has many institutions of higher education, including the University of Pune, several colleges of Engineering (notably, the Government College of Engineering [2],Bharati Vidyapeeth's College of Engineering, Sinhagad College of Engineering, Maharashtra Institute of Technology, Vishwakarma Institute of Technology, among others), and Medicine ( B.J.Medical College and the Armed Forces Medical College),IUCAA (Inter University Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics) and the NCL (National Chemical Laboratory). The National Defense Academy, which trains officers of India's armed forces is located at Khadakvasla, on the outskirts of Pune. Fergusson College happens to be one of the most important colleges in this city. It was established in 1885. Students from all over India, and many African countries come to Pune for higher education, particularly engineering and management. Pune is rapidly becoming a major centre of Information Technology in India. With numerous engineering and management institutes it was once called the "Oxford of the East" by Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first and longest serving Prime Minister.

Pune is also known for its high standards in high school education. The oldest and arguably the best school of Pune is St. Vincent's High School[3]. Other reputed schools of Pune include Loyola High School, Bishop's School and St. Mary's High School among others.

Culture

During the months of August or September each year, the city celebrates the Hindu festival of Ganesh Chaturthi. The festival culminates in a carnival like procession along the busy throughfares of the city. The city also has a active theater community.

It is was the birth place of Meher Baba as well as the home of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. Rajneesh's Osho Ashram helps bring a very international flair to the city. Situated amidst nature, the center boasts of a big meditation center and two beautiful gardens, viz. Osho garden and Zen garden.

Pune has been one of the centers of the neo-Buddhist revival movement begun by B. R. Ambedkar in 1956. It also hosts headquarters of the Trailokya Bauddha Mahasangha Gana, the Indian affiliate of the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order.

In the month of December Pune plays host to the Sawai Gandharva Music Festival. Many renowned performers of Indian classical music perform through 3 consecutive evenings creating an extravaganza which is unique to this city.

Places of Interest

Parvati Temple
Shaniwar Wada
Aga-Khan palace also famous as Gandhi Museum
Kelkar Museum
Kamala Nehru Park
The art Gallery at Balgandharva Rangamandir
Osho Rajneesh Ashram
Sinhagad Fort
Handmade-Paper Factory
Lonavala-Khandala hillstation
Panshet Dam
Khadakwasala Dam
Poona Club
Pubs/Discs: Kiva, 10 Downing Street, Cactus, Thousand Oaks, Leather Lounge, Aqua Lounge, Nirvana, Ole, Ivoe's, Scream, Club Polaris, Curve

Important Roads

  • Bhandarkar Road: One of the poshest residential areas in Pune, Bhandarkar Road connects Law College Rd to Fergusson College Road. Though you will mostly find residential complexes in this area, a few commercial outlets are also present. Most notable being the Food World outlet. There are also innumerable cybercafes. This rd stretches for a kilometer with Good Luck cafe being a popular place for localites to socialize in the evenings, being located at the eastern end of this road. Rangoli is a popular restaurant for vegetarian food and is located at the junction of this road and Law College road. There is also a school for the hearing impaired.
  • Fergusson College Rd(FC Rd): The heart of the city, surely! The favourite hangout of the college goers of the city, this place has a life of its own. Traffic is thick sometimes and very streamlined and never chaotic. Fergusson College has made this road famous and shoppers can be seen streaming into this rd throughout the day. The young at heart will find this place irrestible. Savera,Vaishali and Rupali are three very popular restaurants. FC Rd is a commercial street. Lucky Restaurant proved to be true to its name, at least for Dev Anand when he was a struggling artist in this city! To this day, a photo od Dvv greets you the moment you enter Lucky. Popular Book House, International Book House, Super Shoppe and Sagar Arcade are prime commercial establishments.
  • Laxmi Rd: One of the longest commercial streets in Pune, it surpentines through the older and off-fashioned parts of the city. Famous for its neon lights, night life is right life! It's also famous for publishing houses like Nirali and Manali Prakashan, but also notorious for Budhwar Peth, the red light area of the city.
  • Jangli Maharaj Road: Famous for its many restaurants, this road is one of the busiest places in Pune. Bifurcating from FC Rd, Jangli Maharaj Rd is yet another commercial place of interest to all and sundry.
  • Mahatma Gandhi Road: The most posh road in the whole of Pune, the rich and famous throng it. Saturday evenings are like are mini riot and you could find the most beautiful people of the country in their best clothes thronging the place. Aurora Tower is an important commercial building and an important landmark. Running parallel to this rd is East Street. It is far less crowded though almost equally posh.
  • Tilak Road: One of the longest commercial roads in Pune, Tilak road begins where Laxmi road ends. SP College and Tilak Smarak Mandir are prominent landmarks. Jyotirvidhya Parisansthan is an amateur astronomy club located at the basement of Tilak Smarak Mandir.
  • Senapati Bapat Road: Connects BMCC to University of Pune. SIBM lies en route. This road is especially spectacular at night when the long string of street lamps begin to glow, the sight being no less breathtaking than Marine Drive's famed Queen's Necklace.
  • Dhole Patil Road: This road leads to one of the posh residential and commercial localities of Pune. It also connects to the Boat Club Road which is known for its extravagant real estate prices. Dhole Patil road also boasts of the Ganesh and Hanuman temples which are visited by eastern Puneites.
  • Shirole Road:Connects Fergusson College(FC)gate on FC Road to Jangli Maharaj Road. Jog's Bird Breeding Centre lies here. A residential area.
  • Ganeshkhind Road
  • Prabhat Road: Offshoots from Bhandarkar Road, Kamala Nehru Park list at the Northern end of this road.
  • Law College Road: The famous Film and Television Institute of India(FTII) and the National Film Archives of India(NFAI) are located here. Primarily an area for academics.
  • Karve Road: One of the most polluted roads in the city, this road is a main artery that connects the heavily populated suburbs like Kothrud and Karve road to the main city.
  • Paud Road: An offshoot of Karve road, this road runs from Paud Phata to the village of Paud.

Movie Halls

  • Alaka (only English)
  • Vijay (mostly English, also hosts screenings like 'children's movies' or 'Hitchcock Festival' and such)
  • Deccan Talkies
  • Vasant
  • Mangala (One of the biggest screens)
  • Neelayam (One of the biggest screens)
  • Rahul
  • Prabhat (always Marathi)
  • E - SQUARE (multiplex)
  • INOX (multiplex)
  • City Pride (multiplex)
  • Alpana (mostly adult)
  • Sri Krishna (mostly adult)
  • West End

Famous Personalities

Pune District

Population (2001): 7,224,224

Pune Division

Pune Division is one of the six divisions of Maharashtra. Pune Division is bound by Konkan Division to the west, Nashik Division to the north, Marathwada (Aurangabad Division) to the east, and the state of Karnataka to the south.

  • Area: 57,268 km²
  • Population (2001 census): 99,973,761
  • Districts: Kolhapur, Pune, Sangli, Satara, Solapur
  • Literacy: 76.95%
  • Area under irrigation: 8,896 km²
  • Main crops: Jowar, wheat, bajra, sugarcane, rice, soybean, onion, groundnut, vegetables, turmeric, grape, pomegranate

Official Websites

Education

Research

News

Other Institutes

Other Information

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