Things to do in Pune

Peshwa palaces and hill forts

Pune sits on the Deccan Plateau at about 570 m, where the Mula and Mutha rivers meet. In the 18th century it was the seat of the Peshwas, the chief ministers of the Maratha state, and the old quarters, the peths, still keep their temples, mansions and markets: Shaniwar Wada's walls, the Ganpati temples of Kasba and Dagdusheth, and the Gothic tower of Mahatma Phule Mandai. The city is just as proud of its food, from spicy misal at breakfast to thick mastani milkshakes later on. Explore in the morning, before the heat and the traffic. October to February is dry and mild; the monsoon (June–September) turns the hills green but makes forts slippery. Sinhagad Fort rises about 30 km south-west of the centre, and the forest of Vetal Tekdi lies inside the city.

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