Pune is located in the western Indian state of Maharashtra.

Located in the Sahayadri Hills, near

the west coast of India, Pune is a fascinating city with a salubrious climate throughout the year.

Pune city is located near the western margin of the Deccan Plateau. It lies between 18 degrees 32
minutes North latitude and 73 degrees 51 minutes East longitude. It has an altitude of 559 metres
from the sea level. The city stands at the confluence of Mula and Mutha rivers, which are
tributaries of the Bhima. The Sinhagad-Katraj-Dive Ghats range forms the Southern Boundary of
the urban area. The highest point in the city is Vetal Hill (800 m or 2625 ft above sea level)
whereas the highest point just outside the city is the Sinhagad Fort (1300 m or 4265 ft above sea
level). The city is surrounded by hills from three sides which make the geographical condition
more pleasant. It is located 160 km east of Mumbai.

The City spans over an area of 146 square kilometres with around 40 per cent of area under
greenery. Pune lies in the seismically active zone of Koyna Region, which is about 100 km south
of the city. It has recently been upgraded to lie in the zone IV, which is the second most
dangerous seismic zone in India. Pune has experienced some moderate-intensity and many low-
intensity earthquakes. Although earthquakes were not known to have originated in Pune itself, an
earthquake of a very slight intensity took place in Pune that had its epicentre in Dehu, about 13
km from the main city. Seismologists were unable to explain the occurrence of this earthquake.

Pune district is bound by Ahmadnagar district on north-east, Solapur district on the south-east,
Satara district on south, Raigad district on the west and Thane district on the northe-west. It is
the second largest district in the state and covers 5.10 % of the total geographical area of the
state.The landscape of Pune district is distributed triangularly in western Maharashtra at the
foothills of the Sahyadri Mountains and is divided into three parts: "Ghatmatha", "Maval" and
"Desh"

Climate
Pune district forms a part of the tropical monsoon land and therefore shows a significant seasonal
variation in temperature as well as rainfall conditions. Climate of the western region of Pune is
cool whereas the eastern part is hot and dry

The temperature ranges from 15 degrees C to 35 degrees C. The Winter Period is (mid-Nov to
mid-Feb) charecterised by cold nights and pleasantly warm days. The spring falls in between
Mid-Feb to end-March having warm days and pleasant nights. The summer is comparatively hot
starting from early-April to late-May. The Monsoon starts in Early June and ends in early
October. The annual average rainfall is recorded as 68 cm.
Rivers

The main two rivers which flow through the city are Mula and Mutha. These are the tributaries
of the Bhima. The confluence (sangam) of these in the heart of the city forms a spectacular
scenic landmark. Two more rivers, Pavana and Indrayani traverse the northwestern outskirts of
the urban area.

Forests

Pune is surrounded by hills and deep forests. Forests are the natural resources that provide
economy to the state. Various medicinal plants are found in these forests. In addition to that
timbers provide income to the tribal people.

Agriculture

The district of Pune has 3100 hectares cultivable land. The geographical area in Pune District is
classified into three categories. Agriculture in Pune district has much variation as compared to
other districts of Maharashtra. It includes 4 among the 7 agricultural climate zones in
Maharashtra namely the Ghat Zone, Sub Mountain Zone, Plain Zone and Scarcity Zone.

There are three cropping seasons in the district which includes:

Kharip Crop
Rice, Bajara, Tur, Moong, Udid, Groundnut and Soyabeen

Rabi Crop
Jawar, Wheat, Pulses and Sunflower

Annual Crop
Sugarcane

Pune is also a minor producer of fruits in the state. Various fruits produced in the district are:
Mango, Banana, Grapes, Chiku and Pomegranate etc. Sugarcane is grown on a large scale in
Pune District. It is grown in Baramati, Indapur, and Haveli Talukas on a large scale. It is also
grown in Purandhar, Daund, and Shirur Talukas.
Irrigation

Due to the presence of Sahyadri ranges in its western part, the district gets an adequate supply of
water through rainfall. Also, the district has a proper geographical structure for the construction
of dams to support various irrigation projects. Pune district comes under the Krishna valley
including the rivers of Bhima, Mula, Mutha, Indrayani, Ghodnadi, and Nira. There are 5
important Irrigation Projects on the Khadakwasla, Kukadi, Ghod, Nira, and Pavana rivers.

Due to the flow of rivers from west to east, scarcity zone in east is utilized for gardening.
Sugarcane is the important cash crop. There are 10 sugar factories in the district. Gardening,
wheat and vegetables are slightly replacing the cultivation of the Jowar crop.

Tourist Attraction

Pataleshwar Temple

In the heart of the city, on Jangli Maharaj Road is the Pataleshwar temple. This rock cut Shiva
Temple probably dates back to the eighth century.

Kasba Ganapati

Located in the heart of the city, the Kasba Ganapati holds the honour of being the first Ganapati
in the city. Established in the year 1636 by Shivaji; the temple was further improved by the
Peshwas. With diamonds studded in the place of its eyes and a manik, a gem, studded in its
navel, the idol has a very unique and pleasing appearance. Enclosed in silver castings, the idol
looks very bright and appealing. Though situated in the noisy and crowded area, the temple still
gives the disciples solace and quietude.

Parvati Hill and Temples

The Parvati Temple was the erstwhile private shrine of the Peshwa rulers. Now it is a popular
tourist spot, with the Parvati and Devdeveshwar temples standing atop a hill and also the Parvati
Museum which houses replicas of ancient paintings, old manuscripts, weapons and coins.

Shaniwar Wada

Wadas served as the residence of the Peshwas and Shaniwar Wada was
Sh
Shaniwar Wada
one of them. In fact, Maratha culture depicts this Wada as one of its important landmarks.
Located in Kasba Peth, the seven-storey-high Shaniwar Wada has now become a picnic spot for
the Puneites. Built in the year 1730 by the first Bajirao Peshwa, the Wada has been a silent
spectator to the lives of the Peshwas. The magnificent Dilli Darwaza marks the entrance of the
Wada. The imposing facades and impregnable fortifications are still so prominent that a person
cannot have doubts about the strength they once possessed. Visitors can still walk along the
castle ramparts and get the feel of the fort. The exquisitely engraved arches, the splendid Ganesh
Darwaza and the impressively built Ganesh Rangmahal which became the hall of justice, are
definitely worth visiting places.

Aga Khan Palace

Aga Khan Palace

The gracious building with salons and suites standing amidst well laid out gardens is more than
just a palace. It is a historical landmark. During the 1942 Quit India Movement, Mahatma
Gandhi and other leaders of the Indian National Congress were imprisoned here. The palace
became famous when after the Quit India Resolution was passed in 1942, Mahatma Gandhi and
his wife Kasturba were incarcerated here. The Aga Khan Palace was built as an act of charity to
provide employment for the famine affected people of Pune.

Shinde Chhatri
Shinde Chhatri

Among the architectural sights, you shouldn’t miss the memorial to the Great Mahadji Shinde.
You can see the warrior’s painted likeness in silver, swathed in a flame coloured turban and an
elaborately worked shawl. At his feet are his original puja vessels, used to propitiate his family
deity each morning. A painted sign requests you not to open an umbrella within the Chhatri’s
precincts as it would be insulting to the great warrior’s memory. This monument was built as a
tribute to the great Maratha nobleman Mahadji Shinde who was the Commander-in-chief of the
Maratha Army under the Peshwas.

Tribal Museum

This museum of the city houses artifacts and photographs of the very unusual tribal people of
Maharashtra mainly from Sahyadri and Gondwana regions. It is situated near the railway station.

Timings : 10 AM to 5 PM

Babasaheb Ambedkar Museum

This is a museum which will give you details regarding the father of Indian constitution Dr.
Babsaheb Ambedkar starting from his birth. The materials which are kept for display include
chairs, utensils, clothes, foot wears and many other accessories that Baba used to use. The bed on
which Baba breathed his last can also be seen inside this museum. It is a worth visiting place
because you will be able to see the materials relating to the life of this great soul who fight
against the caste discrimination.
Kelkar Museum

Kelkar Museum

This museum has a collection of Mughal antiques which include paintings, instruments, lamps,
pens and nut crackers etc. The most interesting piece is a Maharashtrian Chitrakathi scroll
painting, used in folk theatre performances.

Bund Gardens

Constructed by Sir Jamshedji Jeejabhoy, the garden, also known as the Mahatma Gandhi Udyan
is situated on the banks of the Mula Mutha River, a few kilometers away from the Pune Railway
Station. The garden is a popular place for visitors to take a leisurely stroll or enjoy a boat ride.

Empress Garden
The botanical garden is spread over a large area in the heart of the Pune Cantonment, very close
to the Pune Race Course. The center-stage of the garden holds a lotus pond, which has the statue
of Queen Victoria. The Empress Garden has pretty lawns and well laid out benches and is a hot
picnic spot. The garden has a small restaurant, which serves snacks and cold drinks.

Snake Park

On the outskirts of Pune city, 20 km away from the railway station, is the Pune Snake Park, set
up in the year 1986 by Mr. Neelim Kumar Khaire, a renowned naturalist, and later incorporated
in the Rajeev Gandhi Udyan in 1999. The Pune Snake Park is one of the reputed zoos in India
comprising about 300-350 snakes of 40 different species. The park is an artificial habitat for
various other wild animals like the leopard, the deer and other reptiles as well. Mr. Neelim
Kumar Khaire, the director of the Snake Park, has provided shelter for various other wild lives
like the Civet Cats, the Sparrow Hawk and the Sinerus Vulture (sparingly seen in India).

Pashan Lake

Pashan Lake

This picturesque Lake is a home to variety of migratory birds and is one of the best places for
bird watchers. It is situated at a distance of 12 km from Pune and 170 km from Mumbai. The
birds which are seen in and around the lake include little egret, gray heron, purple moorhen and
the red-wattle lapwing. The best time to visit the place is from September to June.
Sinhagad

Sinhagad

Sinhagad or the “Lion Fort” is located at a distance of 25 kms from the Pune city. The fort is
associated with Shivaji’s general Tanaji Malasure who died during the battle to occupy the fort
for Shivaji. The history behind the name of this fort Sinhagad is that Shivaji when heard that his
general was died he mourned and said that we have won the fort but lost the Lion. On the ground
a Samadhi is created for the memory of the slain leader. This 17th century fort has fallen to ruin
but still it is a worth visiting place for the tourists.

Road Network:
The district is well connected with the state capital and surrounding district headquarters through
road and rail linkagaes. The road network consists of Express Highways, National Highways,
State Highways and Major District Roads. The rail network consists of both
broadgauge(Electrified and Non Electrified) double track as well as single track lines. The
district headquarter has connectivity through airways for transport and trade to major airports
within the country and to select international destinations. In spite of availability of perennial
river stretches, there is no significant utilization of waterways in the district

Water for Modern Pune

The forests in the Sahyadris help to trap rainwater during the monsoon. Thus, the city of Pune is
dependent on the mountain range for its water.
Punekars use the waters of the Mutha from the Khadakwasla reservoir. Dams at Panshet,
Warasgaon and Temghar supplement the storage capacity of Khadakwasla. The Katraj and
Pashan dams are not directly used for water supply by the PMC, but probably have a significant
role in recharge of ground water which is used by thousands of Punekars. All these dams are
managed by the Irrigation Dept.

Flora
The forest type in this area is dry-deciduous as that of hills around Pune. Medium sized trees
along with shrubs constitute majority of the vegetation. Diversity of herbaceous species is at its
peak in monsoon months. Some parasites like Dendropthoe, Striga are also reported in the area.
One important characteristic of the area is total absent of epiphytic species. Detailed Floristic
Study of Vetal Hill was carried out by V. N. Joshi and M. S. Kumbhojakar of Agharkar Research
Institute, Pune in 1997. They enumerated occurrence of 416 species of angiosperms belonging to
101 families, 2 pteridophytes and one Bryophyte.
Much before Joshi and Kumbhojkar’s work, ecological survey of the hill was conducted by
Ezekiel around 1917-1918. Joshi, Kumbhojkar and Kulkarni in their work on changing floristic
pattern of Vetal hill (1992) reported absence of 30 species which were reported by Ezekiel.
The dominant plant community in the area is Boswellia serrata-Anogeissus latifolia. Other
dominant members of this area are Dalbergia lanceolaria, Acacia chundra, Dolichandrone
falcata, Albizzia procera, Capparis grandis. Some herbaceous and shrubby weeds which are
now naturalized in the area include Tridax procumbens, Lagascea moollis, Cassia uniflora,
Lantana camara. Plantation of some exotic species like Gliricidia sepium, Leucaena
leucocephala has been undertaken by forest department. Dalbergia melanoxylon is one
interesting example for spread of exotic species. This species was planted by Britishers in Pune
University area. This species was totally absent on other areas of Pune. Recently however, the
species is observed to be spreading in and around the area of the Vetal Hill, and is on the verge
of becoming dominant species there.
The area is important on account of the occurrence of some important endemic species. Some
examples of the endemic species found here are Jatropha nana, Cissus woodrowii, Mussanda
laxa, Indoneesiella echioides, etc.

Industries
Pune is now a fast growing industrial hub of the country. It has become a major industrial centre for
automobiles. It is home to one of the world's largest two-wheeler manufacturers- Bajaj Auto. The
manufacturing plant of India's largest Passanger car and commercial vehicle manufacturer, Tata Motors, is
in Pimpri, a suburb of Pune. Daimler Chrysler also has an assembly line for its Mercedes Benz brand in Pune.
It is also home to Kinetic Engineering, Force Motors Ltd (previously known as Bajaj Tempo).
The world's second largest forging company (Bharat Forge Ltd) is located here. Cummins Engines Co Ltd has
a Research & Technology India center in Pune in addition to its manufacturing plant. Other Engineering
companies include Alfa Laval, Sandvik Asia, Thyssen Krupp (formerly Backau Wolf), KSB Pumps, Finolex,
Greaves India, Forbes Marshall, etc. Numerous small and medium-sized enterprises have grown in the city.

Pune has a growing software industry. Many of India's major software companies such as Xansa, TCS,
Infosys, Wipro, Satyam, KPIT Cummins , Persistent Systems and Kanbay Software have their branches in
Pune. Global majors like HSBC Global Technology, IBM, Siemens, EDS, I-Flex, Cognizant,Symantec and
Zensar have a major presence in Pune's various Software Technology Parks and other areas. Some of the
prominent IT parks in the city are the Hinjewadi IT Park, Magarpatta Cybercity, Marisoft IT Park
(Kalyaninagar) etc.

The city has become a prominent place for Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) companies. Companies like
Convergys, WNS, Progeon, EXL and MphasiS have started their operations in Pune. The city has huge
human resources to operate these companies.Pune also houses the headquarters of the Bank of
Maharashtra. To facilitate this explosive economic growth in Pune, the city and the state authority have
taken several steps to popularize the industrial policy and other aspects relating to establish industries.

Environment

1. Air quality: Measured in respirable particulate matter (RPM), it is three times of

acceptable levels. While the standard recommended RPM is 50 Ug/m3, it was recorded to
be consistently around 150 or more throughout the previous year, the only exception
being the monsoon when it came down to 55 Ug/m3.
2. Noise levels: Major cause for concern in all the wards. On an average, 70,000 vehicles
pass around each ward every day.Noise levels in all the wards are unacceptably high,
except in Sangamwadi, but the report states it is unable to pinpoint any particular reason
why Sangawadi has been lucky in this aspect.
3. Gardens: Most deficit area: Warje Asamgamwadi, wards covered with rich green cover is
Sahakar Nagar which has double than the recommended green cover of 0.2 ha/1000
individuals. The report estimates that PMC has about 2,500 acres of land available for
plantation.
Minerals:

Basalt quarries used for road building and other building purposes. Some of the amygaloidal cavities are
large enough to crawl into. They are most famous for the very fine specimens of dark green (colored by
vanadium) apophyllite that they produced, some with very fine quality mesolite specimens.