Travel Guide Pune

Pune is a potpourri of old and new. What makes it so astonishing is the harmonious blend of bazaars and shopping malls, palaces and luxury hotels, temples, mosques, churches and even a synagogue. This vast metropolis of over 3 million inhabitants conjures up a myriad of images - ancient forts, ornate palaces, lush gardens, shopping arcades... The annual Ganapati festival, dedicated to the god Ganesh, is also known as the Pune Festival. It is very popular with Indian visitors. As is the Aga Khan Palace, which houses the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi, his wife and his private secretary. Peace and prosperity are two words synonymous with Pune, which is internationally renowned for its educational institutions and the harmony that reigns between its communities. Students come here from all over the world. The city is home to the National Defense Academy, the Institute of Military Engineering, the Institute of Film and Television, the Armed Forces Medical University and the University of Deccan (languages and archaeology). Today, Pune is a fast-growing urban area with a boom in industrial and commercial activities.The city is a cultural hotbed and a veritable hive of activity in this field: theater, music, dance and cinema. The city's current growth and popularity can be attributed to its pleasant climate, low pollution, excellent educational facilities and good standard of living.