Pune City

Fondly called as the Oxford of the East and the cultural capital of Maharashtra, Pune as a city has grown manifolds over the past few decades.

LANGUAGE:
The regional language out here is Marathi. Unlike many other Indian regional languages, Marathi is easy to understand, posing not too many problems to the tourist. Much can be attributed to the similarity it holds with the national language Hindi.

TRAFFIC:
The traffic out here does get congested and  it is best to travel either via two-wheelers or auto rickshaws in the interiors. The amount of two-wheelers and women drivers here is probably one of the highest in the country. As is with the most of the cites, the intra-city areas are very safe even during the night. Venturing alone or into unknown areas near the ghats or on the outskirts are not advisable.
Though Pune does not report of very serious crime rates, petty thefts etc. are to be watched out for. Do not stop to give lifts or to ask directions during night times in isolated areas.

CURRENCY:
The Indian Rupee is the used currency. Many new currency exchange points and ATM centers have come up all over the city over the last two years making money very easily accessible for visitors. Always carry loose change in coins for urgent calls, parking etc. Beware of the Rs 500 notes, check them before using.

THE PUNEITE:
The Puneite is definitely much more relaxed and friendly than the average Bombayite. A warm greeting about his wellbeing will do him in and mind you, he’s very touchy about Pune.
The most outstanding aspect of Pune and its people is the sound balance they have maintained between modernity and their age-old rich culture and tradition. No wonder, it’s called the ‘Cultural Capital of Maharashtra’ as well as ‘The Oxford of the East’.

Pune Stats

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION:
Pune district is located between 17.5° to 19.2° North and 73.2° to 75.1° East. The district is bounded on North & East by Ahmednagar district, by Satara district on the South and by Raigad district on the West. In Pune district, there are two municipal corporations, namely Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Pimpri-Chinchawad Municipal Corporation (PCMC).
Pune district covers 14 talukas & 13 Panchayat Samitis. There are around 1,866 villages in the district. Total road length of Pune district is 13,642 kms. Average rainfall in the district is 600 to 700 mms.
Pimpri Chinchwad is located at the West of Pune city, touching the Pune- Mumbai National highway. The corporation covers the area of Akurdi, Pimpri, Chinchwad and Bhosari. The said area is developed by MIDC as an industrial zone.

GEOGRAPHICAL STATUS:
Pune city is located at 559 metres from the mean sea level. It is located in the Deccan Plateau and is about 100 kms east from Konkan coast and at a distance of about 160 kms from Mumbai.
It is located at the confluence of Mula-Mutha rivers. It is bounded by hills on the western side. One can see the Sinhagad-Katraj hilly area to the south. About 12% area of the city is hilly area.

GEOGRAPHICAL AREA:
The total geographical area of Pune district is 15642 sq. kms. This is around 5% of the total area of Maharashtra state.
The total geographical area of Pune city is 450.69 sq. kms. Out of the total area, 38.6% is residential area, 1.8% is commercial area, 9.5% is defense area, 11% is industrial area and 9.7 % is recreational area.

POPULATION:
Total population of Pune district is 72.24 lakhs, out of which 37.68 lakhs are men and 34.56 lakhs are women as per 2001 census.
Population of Pune city is around 31, 57,000 as per 2001 census

CLIMATIC CONDOTIONS:
The temperature of city ranges between 12°C to 37°C.
The average rainfall recorded is 600 to 700 mm. Maximum rainfall is observed from June to September every year. Owing to its geographical location, the climate of the city is cool and pleasant throughout the year. The natural beauty of the city has given it the title of Deccan Queen.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS:
In Pune, there are two cantonment areas. Pune city is well connected to the cities of Nashik, Mumbai, Ahamadnagar, Solapur & Bangalore.

OTHER FACTS:

• Jowar, bajara, wheat and rice are the major crops in the city
• Bhima is the major river of the district and minor rivers are Karha, Kukadi, Pavana, Meena and Shivganga.

Pune Climate

Pune stands on the leeward side of the Western Ghats on an altitude of 559m.(1863 ft.). The temperatures are pretty moderate. Though not as unpredictable as the British weather, the city of Pune does have its share of uncertainties in different seasons.

SUMMERS:
Summers here begin from early March to July. Though not as hot as Northern parts of India, the daytimes are very sunny with dry heat. Early mornings are pleasant and evenings after six, cool and breezy.
Bright summery clothes are an obvious suggestion with sunglasses for driving. The temperature ranges from 38°C to 20°C. Though, last year, summer hit a new high with 40+ a common temp.

MONSOONS:
Being on the leeward side of the ghats, Pune has a good three months of rains from July-August to October. Clear skies in the morning are not to be deceived by, as it does rain in the evenings. Umbrellas for pedestrians and raincoats for drivers are a must, as there lies no escape. While driving, beware of potholes and use a minimum of two pairs of shoes as drying takes about 2-3 days. Temperatures range from 18-19 degrees to 30 degrees.

WINTERS:
From November to January, Pune has it’s winter season. Though light woollens are fine during the day, early mornings, evenings and night times require more clothing as it’s chilly.
6°C was the lowest recorded last year. For drivers, windcheaters and head covers are a must. Hot cupsa coffee are highly enjoyable during mornings and evenings.

SPRING:
Though not in the real sense of the term spring, late Jan to March are the most pleasant months in Pune. The sun is bright and warm and temperatures move in the moderate zone. Overall, the climate and temperature does not go to extremities and humidity is negligible here. Any time of the year Pune is perfect for morning and evening walks.

Best of Time

Pune, now called the Oxford of the East was once a haven for the Britishers. The reason being its conducive and pleasant climate. Pune is considered a mini hillstation and has a tolerable climate throughout the year as compared to its neighbour, Mumbai!

The summers can get a little harsh and in daytime temperatures can soar upto 40°C at times, with evenings bringing in relief! Main Street, (i.e M.G.Road) is packed with hoards of people having ice creams and milkshakes to shake off the heat! The festivals of 'Holi' and 'Rangpanchmi' is not something one must miss, with umpteen 'Holi' bashes with the crowd going berserk, splashing coloured water on each other to the beats of music! The innumerable swimming pools all over the city can bring in relief from the heat too!

During the day, children can make good use of their free time by attending the number of hobby classes the city has to offer, ranging from cooking, flower arrangement to candle making! However, the outskirts of Pune are a treat to the eyes during these times with its lush green fields and cool winds blowing!

The months of November and December are welcomed with biting cold and so the enthusiastic ones who want to celebrate the 'New Year', not to forget Christmas in Pune, must make sure that they have a good supply of warm party wears. Or risk wearing stringy outfits if blessed with immunity towards cold! What's more, these parties are on the outskirts… so enjoy the drive and the pulsating music!

Festivals

As called the Cultural Capital of Maharashta, Pune has a proud calendar comprising of a number of festivals and cultural activities ranging from Classical Music to Rock Concerts. What Pune is most known for, is the Pune Festival, which is held during the Ganesha Mahotsav.

With political bigwigs and celebrities patronising it, the has popularised itself immensely over the past few years.
The Ganesh Mahotsav initiated by Tilak, today is celebrated with great enthusiasm, as city interiors almost remain blocked for ten days. Pune has more than 2000 mandals with Dagdusheth Halwai, the biggest and the most famous one. Sawai Gandharva, which started way back in 1960s, has had every Indian and international artist perform and has given rise to a number of budding ones too. It is held in the months of December from dawn to dusk over three days.
The Osho festival is another international crowd puller in Pune. Held in the Osho Aashram in Koregaon Park, disciples and followers of Bhagwaan Rajneesh make it a point to attend.

The Chaturshringi fair, held annually during Navratri on Senapati Bapat Road, is held overnight with giant-wheels and other attractions. A number of College festivals, have become very commercialised, but still attract big crowds and a very high degree of competition from colleges all over Pune. Verve organised by Express Youth Forum is the biggest inter-collegiate festival in India. So, all year round, there seems to be enough excitement to keep Puneites on their toes!

Etiquette

Pune is a city of contrasts. Affording the luxuries and facilities of a big city, it has the comforts of a small town. While the people remain exceedingly friendly and even more so, when you try a smattering of marathi, this is a city of cross cultures. To be here, you need to be aware of a few things:

ETIQUETTE:
Puneites are a friendly lot. If you are over to their place for a meal, they would appreciate flowers or tapes or even a book as most Puneites are voracious readers.
The flourishing bookshops in the city stand test to that! Dinner times are usually between 8.30 and 10.00, lunch times are strictly adhered to with most shops shutting down for lunch at 1.00 p.m in the afternoon followed by the customary siesta. Ideal not to disturb the Puneites in this hour...

TIPPING:
Usually a tip of 10 to 15% is considered customary, however if you are student, then you can get away with it, as students pay no tips.’ Also tipping a rickshaw driver or even a bus conductor is not required, but porters or coolies, postmen, registered telegram officials and your telephone workmen expect a tip. Also if you are staying at somebody’s place, it is a part of the tradition to tip the servants. If you are just moving to Pune, then your servants and gardeners expect a tip during the festive seasons of Diwali or Ganpati, which could amount to half their salary.

DRESS CODE:
While in Pune anything goes, if you are a student - sleeveless shirts to even minis skirts and shorts, jeans form an ideal and an unsaid dress code.
Though if you want to blend in the crowd, a staid salwar kameez or a sari is a must for business dealings, if you are not sure of what reception you are likely to receive. While at discs and pubs, you can set your own rules. While some follow the adage, `less is more’, others play it by the comfort rules. Just make sure, you get the dressin’ down right, otherwise you might feel out of place!

ENTERTAINING:
If you are entertaining in the city, then best to do so at the vast variety of restaurants at your disposal. Clean, health conscious and also offering a vast range of multi-cuisines, it is an ideal solution. Barbecue parties in winter and light salad meals in summer are ideal. Also, if you would like to surprise your guests, a lot of caterers will help you out. Punctual to the T, except when partying, it is best not to keep a business colleague waiting! And preferably talk shop, only over a good game of golf or a mug of beer!

HELP:
If you are looking for help or are lost in a city, then Puneites are courteous with directions and easy routes to get. Address the person as a `mama’ or `kaka’ and you are bound to get the directions even more easily! If not, make sure to ask the signal policeman or even the autorickshaw driver for help and he should be able to do so.

Essential Buys

If you are new to the city of Pune, a few things must be on your priority list to get you a feel of the city. In fact, these are a few first things to do, especially if you want to break the ice with the Puneite.

REARS:
Pick up the Indian Express for a flavour of the traditional Puneite viewpoint, or if you are the cosmopolitan type, then Times Of India with its supplement of Pune Times is a great idea! Also if you are familiar with Marathi or are learning the language, then Sakal or Loksatta is also a good buy.
Pune’s only city magazine Citadel offers you a slice of the who’s who and a lot more action in the city, while maybe picking up the Times Entertainment guide to Pune is also a handy way to discover the city. Coffee table books on the city are also available, which will help you get acquainted with the rich present and past of this exotic city.

EATS:
In Pune, do as Puneites do! Yes, shrewsberry biscuits from Kayani’s are a must and so are bakharwadis from the various branches of Chitale Bandhu. Maybe, a light traditional Maharsahtrian Thali at Shabari is also perfect to savour the sweet and spicy dishes that are on the platter! Wind up with a heavy Marathi concoction of mastani, which is likely to cure all your sweet cravings! Vada Pav, misal and jhunka bhakar are the traditional Marathi junk foods that also need to be sampled!

SOUVENIERS:
Well, from the city, shop to pick up the traditional Maharashtrian sari, available at most sari shops which include the Narayan Peth and Paithanis. Even fresh strawberries and rasberries from Mahabaleshwar make for perfect somethings to savour your trip with!

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...