Poised between the Sahyadri hills and the Mula–Mutha rivers, Pune is the cultural heart of Maharashtra—once the seat of the Maratha Peshwas and today a university and tech hub buzzing with ideas. Centuries-old wadas (mansions) share lanes with hip cafés; temple bells mingle with indie gigs. It’s a city where you can greet the dawn atop a hill fort and end the night with a plate of sizzling kebabs under a rooftop sky.

History runs deep here: Shaniwar Wada evokes the 18th-century Maratha empire; the Gandhi-nuanced Aga Khan Palace is soaked in India’s freedom movement; Pataleshwar’s rock-cut cave temple whispers of the 8th century. Pune’s markets—Tulsi Baug, Laxmi Road, MG Road—are treasure troves for textiles, copperware, sweets, and everyday life.

Practical notes: October–February is delightfully mild; March–May gets hot midday; June–September brings lush monsoon greenery with intermittent showers—great for hill views if you pack a light rain layer. Expect excellent vegetarian fare and iconic bakeries, easy ride-hailing, and neighborhoods full of leafy walks and craft breweries.

Pune

The “Oxford of the East” balances scholarship and swagger. Stroll Koregaon Park’s bungalow-lined lanes, dive into the old city’s bazaars, then wind up at a rooftop with sweeping views of the city’s hills. Pune rewards curiosity: a side street can lead to a 100-year-old bakery or a courtyard shrine glowing with marigolds.

• Top sights: Shaniwar Wada, Aga Khan Palace, Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Temple, Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum, Pataleshwar Cave Temple, Saras Baug, Pu La Deshpande (Pune-Okayama Friendship) Garden, Vetal Tekdi trail, Khadakwasla Lake.
• Food you shouldn’t miss: Misal pav, vada pav, Puneri mastani (ice-cream milkshake), pithla-bhakri at Sinhagad, Shrewsbury biscuits from Kayani Bakery, biryani at Blue Nile, Maharashtrian thalis at Shreyas or Shabree, Irani chai and bun maska.
• Fun fact: Pune’s beloved Deccan Queen train (Mumbai–Pune) has been running since 1930, and the city hosts one of India’s most vibrant Ganesh festival processions.

Where to stay (Hotels.com & VRBO picks):

• The Ritz-Carlton, Pune — Polished rooms, stellar dining (try Ukiyo), and a rooftop bar overlooking the golf course; convenient to Koregaon Park and Kalyani Nagar.
• Hotel Shreyas — Classic Pune hospitality near Deccan Gymkhana; known for a superb vegetarian Maharashtrian thali on-site.
• The Corinthians Resort & Club — A leafy, resort-style escape with a microbrewery and pool; great if you want a relaxed base.
• Browse more Pune hotels on Hotels.com or compare apartment stays on VRBO.

Getting there and around: Fly into Pune International Airport (PNQ). From Delhi, flights are ~2–2.5 hours (often USD 50–120); from Bengaluru or Hyderabad ~1–1.5 hours (USD 30–90). Check fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. From Mumbai, the train (Deccan Queen/Intercity) takes ~3–3.5 hours; AC Chair Car is typically INR 600–1,000—see Trip.com Trains. Airport–city transfers are 30–60 minutes by taxi depending on traffic; ride-hailing is widely used.

Day 1: Old City Stories, Wadas, and Koregaon Park Evenings

Morning: Travel to Pune. Aim for an early flight or train to arrive by early afternoon. Skim this guide on the go, and shortlist dinner spots based on your neighborhood—Koregaon Park for buzzing cafés, Deccan for classic eateries, or Camp for old-world Parsi fare.

Afternoon: Check in, drop bags, and head into the historic core for an orientation on a guided walk that threads lanes, markets, and wadas. A heritage walk lets you cover more in less time and frames the city’s past in context.

Consider booking: Why Pune? : A Heritage Walk through Old Pune (Viator)

Highlights to note as you wander: Shaniwar Wada’s ramparts and lotus fountain ruins; Vishrambaug Wada’s teak balconies; Tulsi Baug’s temple spire and lanes brimming with brass and bangles; and the revered Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Temple glowing with marigolds.

Coffee & snacks: Try Irani chai and maska bun at Vohuman Cafe near Bund Garden, or swing by Kayani Bakery for iconic Shrewsbury biscuits and mawa cake (go early to avoid sell-outs). For a Pune-original sip, cool off with a mango or kesar “mastani” at Sujata Mastani.

Evening: Dine in Koregaon Park. For coastal-to-hinterland flavors with polish, Savya Rasa plates regional South Indian heirloom recipes (think Chettinad-era pepper chicken, Kothamalli rice). If you’re after breezy Southeast Asian, Malaka Spice has been a local favorite for decades, with satay, laksa, and a leafy courtyard vibe.

Nightcap: Sample Pune’s craft-beer scene—Effingut Brewerkz pours dependable IPAs and hefeweizens; Great State Aleworks champions crisp lagers and small-batch sours; Toit brings Bengaluru’s cult brews west. Prefer a view? Paasha (JW Marriott) pairs North Indian grills with sweeping city lights.

Day 2: Hills at Dawn, Gandhi-Era Palaces, and Temple Bells

Morning: Rise early for the dramatic buttresses of Sinhagad Fort. Drive up or combine with a short trek near the top; misty monsoon mornings and clear winter days are both spectacular. Along the ramparts, ask a vendor for hot kanda bhaji (onion fritters) and the fort-classic pithla-bhakri with curd.

Bookable option: Sinhagad Fort Trip (Guided Half Day Sightseeing Tour)

Lunch: Back in the city, refuel with a Maharashtrian thali at Hotel Shreyas (simple, soulful; don’t miss puran poli) or Shabree on FC Road (ask for bhakri and zunka/pithla). Craving biryani? Blue Nile near Camp is a Pune institution with generous portions and mellow spice.

Afternoon: Cover the city’s spread-out highlights comfortably in an AC car tour. This is the most time-efficient way to weave Aga Khan Palace (Gandhi’s 1940s incarceration site with a moving memorial), the monolithic Pataleshwar Cave Temple, the eclectic Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum (3,000+ artifacts from everyday Indian life), and the ornate Dagdusheth Temple.

Time-saver to consider: Guided Highlights of Pune Car Tour with a local (4 Hrs)

Evening: Golden hour stroll in the Pune-Okayama Friendship Garden (Pu La Deshpande Udyan), modeled on a 300-year-old Japanese landscape design—curved bridges, stone lanterns, and manicured ponds. For dinner, book Paasha’s alfresco tables for kebabs, dal makhani, and tandoori pineapple, or go pan-Indian tapas-style at The Ritz-Carlton’s Three Kitchens. Dessert could be sitaphal (custard apple) ice cream at Naturals, if in season.

Day 3: Food Trails, Markets, and Farewell Pune

Morning: Sample Pune’s beloved street eats on a guided food walk: misal pav with crunch and heat, vada pav with the right garlic punch, khari biscuits to dip in chai, and a sweet finale of mastani. You’ll learn the stories behind the snacks and the neighborhoods that perfected them.

Tasty way to wrap up: Food walking tour in Pune to stimulate your taste buds

Late morning shopping: Swing by Laxmi Road for sarees and dress materials, or MG Road for leather goods and trenchers of nostalgia. If you missed it earlier, pick up bhakarwadi and amba barfi from Chitale Bandhu or a packet of Shrewsbury biscuits from Kayani Bakery as edible souvenirs.

Lunch & departure: Choose a last meal based on your route: near Deccan, grab crisp dosas and filter coffee at Vaishali or Wadeshwar; near Camp, tuck into Parsi dhansak at Dorabjee & Sons; near Koregaon Park, German Bakery’s croissants and cold coffee are quick and reliable. Leave ~60–90 minutes for the airport drive at busy times. Check flight and train options on Trip.com Flights, Kiwi.com, or Trip.com Trains.

Alternate/extra options if you have more time: Add a dedicated city tour like The Complete Pune Experience: A Full-Day Tour (AC Car Tour) for a comprehensive overview, or plan a future day trip to Mahabaleshwar–Panchgani for strawberry fields and tablelands.

In three days, Pune reveals itself in layers: a fort at sunrise, palaces heavy with history, markets stitched with color, and a dining scene that’s both steadfast and inventive. Return for monsoon hill drives or festival season, and you’ll find new flavors—and new stories—waiting.