Explore Pune City on a full day tour with a guide and local lunch, Pune, Maharashtra, India
A full day Pune city tour is a great way to experience the Queen of the Deccan. In this guided tour we visit Pune’s most famous temple – Dagdu Sheth Ganesh, one of the world’s largest one man collection at Kelkar museum, seat of the powerful Peshwas of the great Maratha empire at Shaniwarwada, a unique biographical museum on Sadhu Vaswani, and the magnificent Aga Khan Palace which has its place in India’s freedom struggle.
Description & Instructions When Visiting Pune, Maharashtra, India
A full day Pune city tour is a great way to experience the Queen of the Deccan. In this guided tour we visit Pune’s most famous temple – Dagdu Sheth Ganesh, one of the world’s largest one man collection at Kelkar museum, seat of the powerful Peshwas of the great Maratha empire at Shaniwarwada, a unique biographical museum on Sadhu Vaswani, and the magnificent Aga Khan Palace which has its place in India’s freedom struggle.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Shreemant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Mandir, Ganpati Bhavan, 250, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Rd, Mehunpura, Budhwar Peth, Pune, Maharashtra 411002, India
The day begins at Dagdu Sheth, a temple dedicated to Lord Ganesh and arguably the most famous one in Pune. This temple was built in 1892 by a sweet maker who lost his son to the plague. The temple played a crucial role in inspiring Lokmanya Tilak to organise the annual Ganesh festival to unite Indians to fight for freedom from the British.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum, 1377-78, Natu Baug, Pune 411002 India
History comes alive during this Pune city tour at the Raja Dinkar Kelkar museum which is one of the largest one-man collections in the world. Dinkar Kelkar toured some of the remotest parts of India and collected artifacts including embroidered textiles, sculptures, antique vessels and swords of the Marathas. Guests will be fascinated with Mastani Mahal, a room recreated from the ruins of the original Palace which was a symbol of the royal romance between Baji Rao the legendary prime minister of Maratha Empire and Mastani, his lady love.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Shaniwar Wada, Shaniwar Peth, Pune 411030 India
Our next destination in the Pune ctiy tour is Shaniwar Wada, the seat of power of the Peshwas or Prime Ministers of the powerful Maratha Empire which was a dominant power in India between the 17th and 19th centuries. This Palace was built in 1730 in honor of Peshwa Bajirao Ballal Balaji Bhat for services rendered to the Maratha Empire. Shaniwarwada is considered as the most haunted place in Pune! Our guide will tell you the stories of how the Palace witnessed an early and unfortunate death, a betrayal, a tragic love story and treachery. As per local legends, even today Shaniwarwada is dreaded for supernatural activities on the full-moon night! People believe that the fort is haunted by the ghost of Bajirao’s grandson Narayanrao, who was murdered by his family.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Darshan Museum, 10 Sadhu Vaswani Path Near GPO, Pune 411001 India
The Darshan museum is a unique biographical museum dedicated to the Life and teaching of Sadhu Vaswani, a spiritual leader. Sadhu Vaswani professed the need for love and reverence for the betterment of humanity. It is a modern museum that uses multi media technology to tell the story of Sadhu Vaswani and his teachings. Upliftment of women and animal rights were 2 causes very close to his heart. In fact Novermber 25, Sadhu Vaswani’s birth date, is celebrated as the International Meatless and Animal Rights Day.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Aga Khan Palace, Yerwada., Pune India
The Aga Khan Palace which is a national monument of India’s freedom movement is our last destination in the Pune city tour. Built in 1892 by Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah Aga Khan III, the Palace witnessed some remarkable events that define India’s freedom movement against the British. Gandhiji, his wife Kasturba Gandhi and his secretary Mahadevbhai Desai were imprisoned here during the Quit India movement in 1942. During the guided tour, guests will realize why the Aga Khan Palace is a memorial to Gandhiji and his simple life.
Duration: 1 hour
Duration: 8 hours
Starts: Pune, India
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
