Formerly known as Poona, Pune is counted as the eighth largest metropolis in India. It is located in the Indian state of Maharashtra, providing glimpses of ancient era to the visitors. Pune is rated as the second largest state of Maharashtra. Geographically, it is located 560 m above from mean sea level on the Deccan plateau on the right bank of River Mutha. This vibrant city is said to be the administrative headquarters of Pune district. It was once known as the centre of power of the Maratha Empire. Here, Hinduism is the main religion, however, you can easily locate masjids, churches, Buddhist viharas, Jain temples and gurudwaras all over the city. Marathas, Mali, Marwaris, Mahars, Marwari Jains, Sindi and Punjubi are the most prominent communities in Pune. There are several places to explore here, therefore, visitors tend to extend their trip to this city. Parvati Temple located on the Parvati hill in Pune is said to be the most visited place. You can clearly see his temple from the inner suburbs.
Among other attractions, the Pataleshwar rock-cut temple built in 8th century shines out with its uniqueness. It was built as the war memorial in the fond remembrance of Nandi Mandap and the great Maratha heros. Besides, Pune is lively and thronging with students who hace come here for higher studies from different corners of the world. Pune is a hub of top class educational institutions, therefore, it is often dubbed as the Oxford of the East. Owing to the huge influx of young crowd, Pune has a great night life with overall pulsating atmosphere. There are many great restaurants in the city that serve both local and world cuisine to the people. Some of the top institutes in Pune are Symbiosis Educational Society, Television Institute of India, Film and National Defense Academy and Armed Forces Medical College. These have received international acclamation, hence, grab the attention of the students from all over the world. This vibrant city embodies a synthesis of the novel and the old, the conventional & contemporary and swanky malls and appealing old wadas (local bazaar).
Residing in the midst of lush green cover, this city is blessed with salubrious climate. You can visit Pune throughout the year, however, people prefer to be here from July to Februray. The city is well connected with different countries from airways and different other cities through railways and roadways.
More than 300 hotels are being located in the city to offer comfortable stay to the travelers. From lavish hotels to budget hotels in Pune, all lay efforts to cater to your requirements. If you prefer to stay in a luxury hotel, you can book your accommodation in The Westin. It offers grandest of rooms with world class service to the travelers. Some of the other lavish hotels are Vivanta By Taj, Le Meridien, Ista Hotel and Oakwood Premier. Apart from these, there are budget hotels in Pune that are known for providing clean rooms with basic necessities to the travelers. Hotel Sunder is one such hotel providing comfortable accommodation at low prices. Elegance Serviced Apartment, Hotel Kamlesh and Jaganath are some of the other most talked about cheap hotels in Pune.