पुणे तिथे काय उणे

By Sarika Rao

I am back after a long break and I am going to take you all on a tour of my birth city Pune through my eyes. As per some surveys, Pune has been topping as the best city to live in India. I would 1000% agree to that.

Also called an Oxford of East due to enormous exposure to literature, theatre, art and science. The very first school for women was started here by Mahatma Jotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule in 1848. This school is named Bhidewada and can be seen from the outside. Pune has the best educational institutes and the university here, Savitribai Phule Pune University have a very high ranking and standards among all the universities.

During my childhood, this city was sparsely populated. I remember walking to my school and many places through thick green trees and pleasant surroundings. The world has changed and so has Pune. But the climate and beauty of this city are still the best that attracts so many people here. Earlier, the city was limited to peth areas only and the surrounding areas were mostly forest or farmlands.

These surrounding areas are now a part of Pune that has grown infinite times in the past few years. You can thank the IT industry revolution and education here as well as the place. Pune is a trekkers paradise as it is blessed by so many beautiful mountains of the Sahyadri range. This city is blessed with beautiful temples, forts, forests, lakes, rivers, beautiful landscapes and nature at a very short distance. The best climate in Pune when tourists crowd here is monsoon and winters. The city and nearby tourist spots are adorned with greenery, mist, fog, flora and fauna to welcome everyone during these seasons.

Many Punekars speak in a nasal voice as the Puneri language is like that and even that is being made fun of by the people who are ignorant about the culture Pune have. Punekars are also called misers as they don’t believe in show-offs and unnecessary formalities. For eg:- if you visit as a guest at any Puneri family, they would welcome you at their convenient time with a smile.

They would very frankly ask you if you would like to have water, tea or refreshments and if you say no, they would believe you and won’t ask again, so be careful on that part, especially, if you are hungry or thirsty. If you have visited at a wrong time then the welcome would be very bad look with a question that you must have had refreshments at home and come to visit us right?. So now you know, when to run and when to know that you would be accepted. The Punekars might be millionaires but would have a simple home and style.

They believe in simple living and high thinking. The Punekars are also misunderstood as lazy people as the most famous businesses and shops are closed during the afternoon despite long queues. You would never find much crowd and see closed businesses between 01:00 pm to 4:00 pm, mostly in the heart area of Pune. Punekars believe in balance in life and are not greedy. They work the whole morning and evening but afternoon, they take time out for lunch, siesta(power nap) or family and other responsibilities. This way they bring a great balance in their professional and personal life and are always content with what they have. A person is respected by Punekars for his/her education and behaviour and not for the money and pomp.

The few of my favourite typical Puneri food heavens are Vaishali restaurant, Roopali, Wadeshwar, Good Luck Cafe, Bedekar misal, Shree and Prabha upahar gruh, Sweet home, Bipin, Agatya, Shreyas, Janaseva, Marzorin, Cafe Naaz, Budhani, Chitale, Kaka halwai, Sujata and Gujar mastani, Kayani, Green, Poona, Santosh Bakery and the list goes on. These places have been running successfully for many, many years and visiting these places don’t just bring the taste but a very divine feeling. You would find people visiting the places since their childhood and of all the age groups.

Senior citizens mostly would be seen in the mornings, students and professionals during the day and evening time are mostly visited by the families and couples. There are much new food heaven’s too, which one can try but the old places have a very different nostalgic feeling to it. They have still maintained the quality of service and food they offer for so many years.

The Puneri misal is a bit sweet and sour as per the typical palate of the people here and is often served with slices of bread. The few dishes that are not much familiar with people are upwas misal (Bipin snacks), Idli sambar with sev (Sweet home), matar usal with bread, upwas kachori(Prabha), thalipeeth(Badshahi), Aamti(sweet and sour dal), kothimbir wadi, alu wadi(patra), ukdiche Modak(Konkani dish), varanfala(daldhokli), luchi bhaji with masale bhaat, bhaji and pithla bhakri on Sinhagad, etc. The list is endless. Puneri cuisine is quite huge and delectable and many dishes are recreated in their own way.

The must-visit places here are Sinhagad fort, Saras Baug, Tulsi Baug, Temples, Pataleshwar caves, Dams like Khadakvasla, Panshet, Mulshi, Shaniwar Wada, Lohagad fort, Shivneri fort, Kelkar Museum, Lal Mahal, Aga Khan palace, Mandai, Parvati, Vishram Baug Wada, Ganesh festival celebrations during the festival.

The author is based in Pune and had been working in the IT industry with many years of experience and a proud mother of two. She is interested in writing, reading as well as travelling.