Pune

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] (http://www.world-gazetteer.com/t/t_in.htm)
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 city, formerly Poona, Maharashtra state, western India, is situated at the junction of the Mula and Mutha rivers. Called the “Queen of the Deccan,” Pune is the cultural capital of the Maratha people. According to the 2001 census provisional results, it had a population of 3.755 million in 2001. This figure includes the population of the city of Pimpri-Chinchwad which is the industrial twin of Pune. The combined population of the metropolitan region would be between 4.5 to 5 million in 2004. Marathi is the language of the majority of the people residing here. This decade has seen a sizeable investment in the software and automobile sector, in the city. This has prompted a huge influx of youth from all over the country. Several suburbs are now completely cosmopolitan, and real-estate prices have boomed.

Contents

1 Geography

10 Famous Personalities

11 Pune District

12 Pune Division

13 External links

Geography

Pune is situated near the Western margin of the Deccan Plateau. It lies on the leewarf side of the Sahyadri Range and the Western Ghats, 570m above sea level, at the confluence of the Mula and Mutha rivers. Two more rivers, the Pavana and the Indrayani traverse the Northwestern outskirts of the urban area. The Sinhagad-Katraj-Dive Ghats range is the Southern Boundary of the urban area. The highest point in the city is Vetal Hill (800 ft) where as the highest point just outside the urban areas is the Sinhagad Fort(1440 ft).

extremes: maximum temperature recorded was 110’F (43.33) on 30th April 1987 and 7th May 1889. The minimum recorded during 1881-1940 was 35’F (1.66) on 17th January 1935. [2] (http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/gazetteer.php?level=2&showFile=1&gazetteerSqlId=20020426123558&gazetteerMainId=&gazetteerFile2Id=20020427083252&distId=25&gazId=20020426074254&pubYear=&fileExists=1&headingSqlName=Physical+Features+And+Natural+Resources&chapter=)

History

A vibrant city, Pune is a place where the past meets the present.It is one of those rare cities with a twin image: that of a tradition-bound place - generally considered the quintessence of Maharashtrian culture - and that of a modern industrial metropolis. Pune today straddles both banks of the Multha-Mula rivers (tributaries of the larger Bhima River). The confluence(sangam) of the these in the heart of the city forms a spectacular scenic landmark. The oldest extant structure in the city is the rock-cut temple of Pataleshwar, belonging to the 8th century AD. The cave-temple complex is also called Panchaleshvara cave. This cave, once situated outside limits of the old town, is now squarely in the middle of the city on Jungli Maharaj Road.

Earliest references to the city are from the 11th century, when there was walled settlement known as "Kasbe Pune". This ward is the oldest part of the city , and is known today as Kasba Peth. Pune's medieval roots are also evident in a number of temples and mosques. The present name "Pune" is derived from Punya Nagari (literally city of virtuous deeds). The Rashtrakutas have been found to be the earliest rulers of the city.

Pune is inextricably linked with the life of the great Maratha hero and king, Chhatrapati Shivaji. Pune's fame begins with when Chhatrapati Shivaji came to stay here with his mother Jijabai in 1635-36. Shivaji and his mother lived in a mansion known as Lal Mahal, which still can be visited. According to local lore, the Kasba Ganapati Mandir, today regarded as the presided diety of the city (gramadevata), was built by Jijabai. In the 18th century, the powerful minister of Chhatrapati Shahu, Peshwe Baji Rao 1 decided to make Pune his home. He built his palace on a slightly raised ground near the Mutha river which is now Shaniwar Peth. The fortified palace that came up is known as Shaniwar Wada. Shaniwar Wada is considered by many to be the focal point of Pune.

In 1817, war broke out beteween the Maratha and the British. A battle was fought in Khadki, a town just outside the city.The Peshwas were defeated and the British forces took over the town. The British realized the importance of the city and built a large cantonment, to the east of the city. Later, Pune was pronounced the Monsoon Capital of the Bombay Presidency.

During the freedom struggle, Pune took its place as an important centre of the social and religious reform movement that was sweeping the country. Pune was the home of reformers who were stalwarts of the national movement, such as Mahadev Govind Ranade,R.G Bhandarkar and Mahatma Jyotirao Phule. The presence of Bal Gangadhar Tilak dominated the political scene for three decades during this period.

After Independence(1947), Pune's reputation as an educational and research node grew with the establishment of the University of Pune, the National Defence Acadamy, National Chemical Laboratory and other such institutes.

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. Pune is also home to numerous small and medium sized enterprises.

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, and Veritas Software 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 this explosive growth, the state is planning a 1,000 MW power plant exclusively for Pune. An International Airport at Chakan is also on the cards.

Notably, even though Pune is the eighth-largest city in India, it has the sixth largest metropolitan economy and the highest per capita income in India, therefore having the least income disparity between the rich and poor.

Education

Pune has many institutions of higher education, including the University of Pune, several colleges of Engineering (notably, the Government College of Engineering [3] (http://www.coep.org.in/), Pune Institute of Computer Technology, Bharati Vidyapeeth's College of Engineering, D.Y. Patil College of Engineering, Garware College, Wadia College, Sinhagad College of Engineering [4] (http://www.sinhgad.edu), Maharashtra Institute of Technology, PVG's College of Engg. & Tech. [5] (http://www.pvgcoet.ac.in), Vishwakarma Institute of Technology , among others), Medicine ( B.J.Medical College and the Armed Forces Medical College), and others like the IUCAA (Inter University Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics) and the NCL (National Chemical Laboratory). The National Defence Academy, which trains officers of India's armed forces, is located at Khadakvasla, on the outskirts of Pune. Fergusson College (1885) is the oldest and one of the most important colleges in this city. Other famous colleges include Symbiosis College and Brihan Maharashtra College of Commerce. Students from all over India and many African countries come to Pune for higher education, particularly in engineering and management. SCMHRD [6] (http://www.scmhrd.edu)(Symbiosis Centre for Management and Human Resource Development),one of India's finest residential b-school, is also located in Pune. Pune is also rapidly becoming a major centre for Information Technology in India. With numerous engineering and management institutes it was 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.

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 thoroughfares of the city. This is one of the most important yearly events in the city. Indeed, it was in Pune that Lokmanya Tilak initiated the concept of the "Sarvajinik Ganeshotsav" - the collective communal celebration of the festival of Lord Ganesha. The city also has an active theatre community.

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.

Pune is 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 houses the headquarters of the Trailokya Bauddha Mahasangha Gana, the Indian affiliate of the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order.

Fashion / Modeling

Punemodels

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 hill station
Panshet Dam
Khadakwasla Dam
Poona Club
Pubs/Discs: Kiva, 10 Downing Street, Cactus, Thousand Oaks, Leather Lounge, Aqua Lounge, Nirvana, Ole, Ivoe's, Scream, Fire N Ice, Curve, Elysium, Wunderbarr, Not Just Jazz by the Bay, Soho, Palazzo

Important Roads

Roads Of Pune

Movie Halls

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

Famous Personalities

Pune District

Population (As of 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 (As of 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