A Glimpse of Pune City

   Queen of the Deccan, Oxford of the East and Cultural Capital of Maharashtra, Pune, also called as Poona, is a city with a future that promises to be as interesting as its history. Today, Pune is the second largest state of Maharashtra and is one of the most important IT hubs in India. It is the only city which has no capital state, yet it is ranked amongst the top 10th cities in the country. It has a dual image: that of a tradition-bound culture, often considered the centre of traditional Maharashtrian culture and that of a modern industrial metropolis. The city has recorded the highest growth within a span of 20 years.

   The history of Pune can be dated back to 1000 years. According to the archeological evidence, Rashtrkootas dynasty ruled Pune. After about 758-768 A.D. later, Pune was ruled by Yadavs. The city first gained importance as the capital of the Bhonsle Marathas in the 17th century. It was temporarily captured by the Mughals, but after the battle of Panipat, the Mughal Empire began to decline and in 1818, it was taken over by the British East India Company.

Pune is an epitome of educational opportunities as it has more than hundred institutes and nine universities. Pune is also the headquarters of the southern command of the Indian Army, with the Khadawaskla Academy. Pune University, founded in the year 1948, which has 57 Engineering Colleges affiliated to it, is the highest in the world. The city is also known to have provided an enormous amount of scientists for the high profile nominations.

   Pune city is well-connected to other cities by its excellent transportation facilities. Pune is the only city that has an international airport that shares its runway with the Indian Air Force base. The New Pune International Airport has been designed by the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation. Local trains connect Pune to all the major cities across India. A rapid transit system has been proposed in Pune and is scheduled to begin operations in 2013. Pune Metro Rail is being planned in consultation with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Limited.  The Mumbai-Pune Expressway, India’s first six-lane high-speed expressway, has reduced the travel distance between these two cities.

Today, Pune is the center of traditional Maharashtrian culture and is slowly becoming a cosmopolitan city. Rich with splendor geographical location and royal history of Mughal Empire, Pune has all the strong reasons to amaze every kind of vacationers, right from businessmen to students.