Our travel had been slow for some time since the kid started school. Most trips were confined to hometowns, whenever there was a slight downtime at school. However, we finally had to give up on our insistence to not have him miss school (not recommended unless you are us and in our situation!). I had to visit Pune for a few days for an office trip. It was on knowing this that our travel bug started pushing us to think further. What good is life if you do not mix some pleasure with business :D Thus we settled in our seats and started planning for the trip. The destination was set and all we needed was an itinerary for our Pune excursion.

To know more about our planning and preparation tips - visit our earlier page at Travel Preparations – Well Prepared Is Half Done

So our minds rolled and our heads tumbled to get the right set of sites on the list. As we flipped through the pages of to-do's in and around Pune we figured there wasn't too much exciting within Pune to keep us there for more than a day. What soothed our imagination and ended up on the itinerary were Adlabs Imagicaa (a theme Park in Lonavala) and Mahabaleshwar (a hill town). So the plan was set and tickets booked.

In a Glimpse - Itinerary, Stay and Food

Pune Excursion - Rambling Around in A Youthful Town

While the initial part of the trip was an official one, I was still able to explore a part of the town. We also spent some additional time during the return leg of the journey. Pune has a unique vibe of itself which is very different from what I have seen in other cities. It is because of the new identity that Pune is getting as the IT and education hub. Pune had historically been a small city away from the hustle of Mumbai. The major establishment had been the Tata Motors plant in the Chakan area.

However, off-late, as Mumbai (and Bengaluru) started getting saturated, IT companies found a home here. With most of these being new establishments, the majority of the population that came to the city from around Maharashtra in young. Further, the growing educational establishment also brings the younger generation for higher education pursuits. The end result is a city of youth with relatively high spending power.

I stayed the official part of the trip at Westin in Koregaon Park and the remaining part of the trip at Four Points by Sheraton in the Viman Nagar area. Both these locations had their advantages - the former was in the midst of a happening center while the latter was nearer to the airport. Also, for our travel, we took a Zoomcar to allow privacy and comfort. However, Pune has a good network of autos and taxis.

Some key highlights that we explored in Pune

• Koregaon Park Area - This is the most popular hang-out place in the city and attracts youth in large numbers. The entire area is segregated into multiple lanes with each having a different focus. There are some lanes lined with trendy cafes and others with posh residences. Some lanes also have street vendors selling some cool stuff.
• Osho Park - It is interesting (and difficult) to see a vast green area in the middle of the city and this park is one of them. Set up alongside the Osho Ashram, this park has lush green trees, a flowing water stream, artificial waterfalls, and never-ending walking paths.
• Dagruseth Halwai Temple - This is the most famed Ganpati temple in the city and has a huge following. Devotees from far come to offer their prayers and have unconditional faith in the power of Lord Ganesha.
• Phoenix Mall - This is the largest shopping mall in Pune and is spread across a vast area. You can find all the popular brands and eateries here. It is good to spend some time if you are looking to kill some time or are looking for branded eateries.
• More to Consider - These were only a few of the places that we could get into our itinerary but there is a lot that Pune has to offer. Some of the important places are Shanivarwada, Aga Khan Palace, and a few forts.

Adlabs Imagicaa - Chasing Adrenaline Rush

We took a day trip to the theme park located in Lonavala town. While the place is closer to Mumbai, it is not too far from Pune as well - about two hours of drive on the famous Pune Mumbai Expressway (one of the first in the country). It is a wonderful establishment away from the hustle of cities and is well nestled in the lap of nature. The entire setup is comprised of a theme park, a water park, and a snow park.

We had our tickets booked online ahead of the trip to avoid the last-minute rush of a weekend. We got our bands and entered at about noon. Though you could buy a combined ticket for all three parks, we had restricted our trip to the theme park. We would recommend covering one park if you are planning a one-day trip. You also have the option to stay overnight at the Novotel Hotel located within the premises.

The theme park offers a number of rides to cater to an audience of all ages. Most rides are family rides where you can take kids with you - if they are not afraid of some descents and dark. There are a couple of roller coaster rides along with other usual suspects you will find at theme parks. Park has a few kids-specific rides. If you are visiting the park on a weekend, you will have to wait for your turns which further limits the number of rides/parks you can cover in a day.

Mahabaleshwar - A not-so-commercialized Hill-town

We had planned a two-day trip to Mahabaleshwar driving our Zoomcar. Mahabaleshwar is a small hill town about 120 kilometers away from Pune. The roads are pretty good and there is no steep incline on any section - so new drivers should be at ease as well. If you drive straight, it would take about three hours to reach the town. We had planned to cover site-seeing on the way rather than coming back from the hotel and hence took longer than that.

We loved the vibe of this hill town and the locals were awesome - ready to help to the best of their ability. Our stay was at the MTDC Resort at Mahabaleshwar which is located on the same premises as the Governor's house. For food, we liked the Poonam Restaurant located right at the corner where the main market starts.

Some points to explore in and around Mahabaleshwar:

• Mapro Food Park - This is a famous stop for tourists on the way to Mahabaleshwar. This is the factory for a major candy manufacturer and processes local produce. We enjoyed the complimentary drinks offered across the establishment and engaged in some of the activities. Rishik enjoyed the candy rain activity. This is a good place to pick some gifts like squashes, candies, etc.
• Table Land - Further up, there are these hills, with seemingly, their tops cut off to create a table-like structure. It is a nice break on the way and a good sight.
• Strawberry Picking @ Bhilare Farm - This is one of our bucket list items that we ticked off during this visit. They left us in the midst of rows of strawberry plantations and allowed us to pick our own strawberries.
• Sunset Point - This is a nice relaxing point to unwind and watch the sun setting down with a promise of better tomorrow. There are vendors offering tea/coffee and snacks to add some spice to your unwinding.
• Main Market - A bustling street lined with shops on both sides. These shops cater to a wide variety ranging from daily needs to food to souvenirs.
• Lodwick Point - A nice wooded trail takes you to a viewpoint amidst greenery and nature. The trail is scenic and well-maintained.
• Venna Lake - A chaotic place to be and one of the most touristy places in Mahabaleshwar. The size of the lake is amazing. A slow row boat ride is soothing if you have an hour to spend.
• Parsi Point - Another scenic viewpoint that we covered on our way back. This can be missed if you are in a rush.
• Other points to consider - There are many other sites that you may like to cover. Important viewpoints (Elphinston Point, Babbington Point), waterfalls (Lingmala, Dhobi), and Kaas Pathar are some things you may want to consider.

Taking a pause after the Pune excursion before the next one!

We ended the trip by returning the car to its owner and boarding our flight back to New Delhi. It was a great break from the daily routine and we were ready for the rigors. However, we are only taking a short pause after this trip before our next excursion begins. We will take you on that journey outside the Indian Mainland. Here is more on our Andaman And Nicobar Islands – A Glimpse Into The Entire Trip

Also if you are interested in more travel options around Pune, visit our earlier article on Konkan Travel - By The Arabian On The Konkan Trip