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Pune sightseeing by cab

Places to visit in Pune in 1 day, in order

Reach Shaniwar Wada at about 08:40 and walk to Lal Mahal and Kasba Ganpati, then see Dagdusheth Ganpati and the Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum, and have lunch. In the afternoon, Aga Khan Palace at about 13:55 and Parvati Hill at about 15:35. About 34 km by cab, back by about 17:05. Every stop is open every day.

7 places34 km by cabtimed against opening hours
How long do you have?
Day 1

Shaniwar Wada, Aga Khan Palace and Parvati

Shaniwar Wada at about 08:40, then Lal Mahal and Kasba Ganpati on foot, Dagdusheth Ganpati at about 10:35 and the Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum from about 11:05, and lunch in the old city. After lunch, Aga Khan Palace at about 13:55 and the steps up Parvati Hill at about 15:35 for the view over the city. About 34 km by cab, back by about 17:05. Works on any day.

08:30 to 17:047 places34 km by cab
  1. 1Shaniwar Wada
  2. 2Lal Mahal
  3. 3Kasba Ganpati
  4. 4Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati
  5. 5Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum
  6. Lunch
  7. 6Aga Khan Palace
  8. 7Parvati Hill
  9. Back
  1. Leave central Pune
  2. 1

    Shaniwar Wada

    1 h here
    Shaniwar Wada
    Photo: Aakash.gautam, CC BY-SA 3.0

    The fort palace of the Peshwas, who ruled the Maratha empire from Pune. Bajirao I built it in 1732. A fire in 1828 burnt the palace inside, so what you see is the tall stone and brick wall, five gateways with iron spikes against elephants, and the plinths and fountains of the old halls in a large garden.

    Forts, palaces & wadasAbout 08:00 to 18:30 every day. Indians about ₹5, foreigners about ₹125. The sound and light show is in the evening (Marathi about 19:15, English about 20:15), with its own ticket at the gate

    Tip: The main gate, Delhi Darwaja, faces north, by the car park. Lal Mahal and Kasba Ganpati are a few minutes away on foot, so see all three before your cab moves on. The evening sound and light show is in Marathi and English.

  3. 2

    Lal Mahal

    30 min here
    Lal Mahal
    Photo: ईशानी, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A red brick rebuild of the house where Shivaji grew up with his mother Jijabai in the 1630s. The first Lal Mahal was lost long ago; the Pune city council built this one in 1988. Inside are paintings of Shivaji's life, and a statue of Jijabai with the young Shivaji ploughing the field with a gold plough.

    Forts, palaces & wadasListings disagree: 09:00 to 13:00 and 16:00 to 20:00, or 09:30 to 18:00. Plan a morning visit before 13:00. Small fee or free?

    Tip: A small visit, about 20 to 30 minutes. It is about 200 m south of the Shaniwar Wada car park.

  4. 3

    Kasba Ganpati

    20 min here
    Kasba Ganpati
    Photo: Gayathri menon, CC BY-SA 3.0

    The oldest Ganpati temple in Pune and the city's guardian deity. Jijabai had it built in the 1630s, when the family moved to Lal Mahal. The idol is a small one covered in orange sindoor. In the Ganesh festival, Kasba Ganpati leads the procession as the first of Pune's five honoured Ganpatis.

    TemplesAbout 06:00 to 21:00 every day. Free

    Tip: A short stop, a few minutes' walk east of Lal Mahal through the lanes of Kasba Peth.

  5. 4

    Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati

    30 min here
    Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati
    Photo: Meghavbafana, CC BY-SA 3.0

    Pune's best known Ganpati temple, on Shivaji Road in Budhwar Peth. A sweet maker, Dagdusheth Halwai, set up the first idol in the 1890s after losing his son to plague. The 2.2 m idol is covered in gold, and you can see it from the road through the open front of the temple.

    TemplesOpen 05:00 to 22:30 every day, to 23:00 on Tuesdays. Free. Queues are longest on Tuesdays and Sankashti Chaturthi

    Tip: The road outside is busy, so the cab drops and waits nearby. You can see the idol from the road without joining the queue.

  6. 5

    Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum

    1 h 30 min here
    Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum
    Photo: DesiBoy101, CC BY 4.0

    One man's collection of everyday things from old India: about 20,000 objects gathered by Dinkar Kelkar from the 1920s on. Look for the brass lamps, the carved doors, the betel nut cutters in the shape of animals, musical instruments, and a rebuilt Peshwa-era room, the Mastani Mahal.

    MuseumsOpen 10:00 to 17:30 every day except 26 January, 15 August and Anant Chaturdashi

    Tip: Give it at least an hour and a half; there are three floors. It is in Shukrawar Peth, about 1 km south of Dagdusheth by road.

  7. Lunch, about 1 h. Your driver will know a place nearby. The times after this include it.
  8. 6

    Aga Khan Palace

    1 h 15 min here
    Aga Khan Palace
    Photo: Aakash.gautam, CC BY-SA 3.0

    A palace with long arched verandas, built in 1892 by Sultan Muhammed Shah, Aga Khan III. In 1942 the British held Mahatma Gandhi, his wife Kasturba and his secretary Mahadev Desai prisoner here. Kasturba and Mahadev Desai died here, and their memorials are in the garden. The rooms show photos and Gandhi's things.

    Forts, palaces & wadasOpen 09:00 to 17:30 every day, last tickets at 17:00. Indians about ₹25, foreigners ₹300, under 15 free

    Tip: Some of Gandhi's ashes are kept in the memorial garden. It is in Kalyani Nagar, about 10 km east of the old city.

  9. 7

    Parvati Hill

    1 h 15 min here
    Parvati Hill
    Photo: Siddhesh Nampurkar, CC BY-SA 3.0

    A hill in the middle of Pune with Peshwa-era temples on top: the Parvati temple from 1749, and temples to Vishnu, Kartikeya and Ganpati. You climb about 103 wide stone steps. The top has one of the best views of the city, and a small Peshwa museum.

    TemplesAbout 05:00 to 20:00 every day. Free. About 103 steps to the top; no cars up the hill

    Tip: The steps are broad but steep; allow 15 to 20 minutes up. The cab drops at the foot of the steps on the east side.

  10. Back at central Pune

Drive times come from road routing without traffic. Pune traffic is heavy, worst from about 09:00 to 11:00 and 17:30 to 20:30 on weekdays, so allow extra time. The old city lanes are narrow: the cab drops at the Shaniwar Wada car park, and Lal Mahal and Kasba Ganpati are on foot from there. The Sinhagad ghat road and the Mumbai expressway to Lonavala are slow on weekend and holiday mornings. In heavy monsoon rain the district can close forts, caves, dams and viewpoints at short notice. Opening hours marked ? are not yet confirmed, so check them before you go.

Book a cab for this day

Call or message a local Pune operator with this plan. Tell them your hotel and dates, and they send a price for the car and driver.

1 × full day, 8 h / 80 kmSedan, SUV or InnovaPrice from the operator

We are still listing Pune operators. Write to [email protected] and we will put you in touch.

Opening times for this plan

The hours we planned around. Check before you go on a public holiday.

PlaceOpenBest timeVisit
Shaniwar WadaAbout 08:00 to 18:30 every day. Indians about ₹5, foreigners about ₹125. The sound and light show is in the evening (Marathi about 19:15, English about 20:15), with its own ticket at the gateMorning, at the 08:00 opening, before the heat and the school groups.1 h
Lal MahalListings disagree: 09:00 to 13:00 and 16:00 to 20:00, or 09:30 to 18:00. Plan a morning visit before 13:00. Small fee or free?Morning, on the walk from Shaniwar Wada.30 min
Kasba GanpatiAbout 06:00 to 21:00 every day. FreeMorning, on the walk from Lal Mahal.20 min
Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati05:00 to 22:30 every day, to 23:00 on Tuesdays. Free. Queues are longest on Tuesdays and Sankashti ChaturthiMorning on a weekday. Tuesdays and the Ganesh festival bring long queues.30 min
Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum10:00 to 17:30 every day except 26 January, 15 August and Anant ChaturdashiLate morning, after the temples.1 h 30 min
Aga Khan Palace09:00 to 17:30 every day, last tickets at 17:00. Indians about ₹25, foreigners ₹300, under 15 freeMorning or late afternoon, when the lawns are cooler.1 h 15 min
Parvati HillAbout 05:00 to 20:00 every day. Free. About 103 steps to the top; no cars up the hillLate afternoon, for the sunset over the city.1 h 15 min

More or less time in Pune?

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Pune in 2 days

Shaniwar Wada, the old city and Aga Khan Palace · Sinhagad Fort, Khadakwasla and Parvati

See the 2-day plan →
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Pune in 3 days

Shaniwar Wada, the old city and Aga Khan Palace · Sinhagad Fort, Khadakwasla and Parvati · Karla and Bhaja caves and Tiger Point

See the 3-day plan →

All 24 places in Pune

Every sight with what to see, opening times and how long to stay.

See all places →

Questions people ask

Can you see Pune in one day?

Yes, the main sights. The old city round Shaniwar Wada is close together, so one morning covers the wada, Lal Mahal, two Ganpati temples and a museum. Aga Khan Palace and Parvati Hill fill the afternoon. Sinhagad Fort needs half a day of its own, so it is on the second day of the 2-day plan.

Why start at Shaniwar Wada?

It opens at 08:00 and is a big open garden with little shade, so it is best early. Lal Mahal opens at about 09:30 and one listing says it closes from 13:00 to 16:00, so it comes right after.

Can I stay on Parvati Hill for the sunset?

Yes. The temples are open until about 20:00, and the sun sets at about 18:00 in winter and 19:15 in June. That makes the day 1.5 to 3 hours longer, so tell the cab when you book.

Can I see the Shaniwar Wada light show?

The sound and light show starts at about 19:15 in Marathi and 20:15 in English, with its own ticket at the gate. It is after the cab day, so plan a short ride back to the old city in the evening.