Pune Pune (Poona) Classification Metropolitan City Country India State Maharashtra Languages Marathi, English, Hindi and others Time zone GMT +5:30 Importance Eighth largest city in India Population - Total 2,691,000 (2004)http://www.world-gazetteer.com/t/t_in.htm Area 440.00 km2 Latitude Longitude 18° 32’N 73° 51’ E Altitude 554 metres average Temperature - Summer - Winter 20 to 38 °C 4 to 30 °C Rainfall 1000 mm Pune, formerly called Poona, is the second largest city (after Mumbai) in the state of Maharashtra, India. According to the 2001 census provisional results, it had - according to official statistics - a population of 3.755 million in 2001. This figure includes the people residing in the city of Pimpri-Chinchwad which has historically been considered as a twin of Pune. The real population of the combined metropolitan area should be between 4.5 to 5 million in 2004. Marathi is the language of the majority of the people residing here and they call themselves 'Punekar'. 'kar' is a marathi language suffix used to denote a person belonging to the preceding village or city name. This being a metropolitan city with many English literate people, 'Puneites' is also a term commonly used to describe the people of this city, particularly in English dailies. Geography The city developed on the confluence of rivers Mula and Mutha. They are the tributaries of the river Bhima which flows east rising from the Western Ghats of Maharashtra. On the western side of Pune is the Pashan lake that is used to supply water to the city. History This is a historically important city. The Maratha empire was headquartered here, and the district has several hill forts along with many ancient temples. It grew in importance under the British when it housed a major cantonment town. Pune is the Headquarters of the Southern Command of the Indian Army. The Cantonment area is still a major fixture and adds to Pune's cosmopolitan flavour. Prior to the Marathas, evidence of inhabitance comes from relics like the Kasba Ganapati, Taambdee Jogeshwaaree, Pataleshwar cave. The cave, situated outside the old town, (but now squarely in the middle of the city,) on what is today Jungli Maharaj Road, is also called Panchaleshvara caves. It originates around 700 AD, similar in style to the much grander rock temple at Elephanta, but never completed. More importantly it is an active Hindu temple. In front of the excavation is a circular Nandi mandapam (pavilion). Economy Pune is a major industrial centre, particularly for automobile manufacturing. It is home to one of the world's largest two-wheeler manufacturers - Bajaj Auto. Tata Motors has its plant here, in a small corner of its large property. DaimlerChrysler also has an assembly line for its Mercedes Benz brand. Whirlpool has an appliance manufacturing plant near Pune. Pune also has a burgeoning software industry. Many of India's major software players such as TCS Infosys and Wipro and global majors like SAS, Avaya, Veritas Software,BMC Software have a major presence in Pune. With the construction of the six lane Mumbai-Pune Expressway, this city is now less than a three hour drive from Bombay. Education It has many institutions of higher education, including the University of Pune, several colleges of engineering, IUCAA (Inter University Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics), NCL (National Chemical Laboratory) and the Armed Forces Medical College. The National Defense Academy, which trains officers of India's armed forces is located at Khadakvasla, on the outskirts of Pune. Fergusson College happens to be one of the most important colleges in this city. It was established in 1885. Students from all over India, and many African countries come to Pune for higher education, particularly engineering and management. Pune is rapidly becoming a major centre of Information Technology in India. With numerous engineering and management institutes it was once called the "Oxford of the East" by Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first and longest serving Prime Minister. Culture During the months of August or September each year, the city celebrates the Hindu festival of Ganesha. The festival culminates in a carnival like procession along the busy throughfares of the city. The city also has a active theater community. It is was the birth place of Meher Baba as well as the home of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. Rajneesh's Osho Ashram helps bring a very international flair to the city. Pune has been one of the centers of the neo-Buddhist revival movement begun by B. R. Ambedkar in 1956. It also hosts headquarters of the Trailokya Bauddha Mahasangha Gana, the Indian affiliate of the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order. Places of Interest Parvati Temple Shaniwar Wada Aga-Khan palace Kelkar Museum Kamala Nehru Park The art Gallery at Balgandharva Rangamandir Osho Rajneesh Ashram Sinhagad Fort Handmade-Paper Factory Lonavala-Khandala hillstation Panshet Dam Poona Club Pubs/Discs: Kiva, 10 Downing Street, Cactus, Thousand Oaks, Leather Lounge, Aqua Lounge, Nirvana, Ole, Ivoe's, Scream, Club Polaris Important Roads Bhandarkar Road: One of the poshest redidential areas in Pune, Bhandarkar Road connects Law College Rd to Fergusson College Road. Though you will mostly find redidential complexes in this area, a few commercial outlets are also present. Most notable being the Food World outlet. There are also innumerable cybercafes. This rd stretches for a kilometer with Good Luck cafe being a popular place for localites to socialize in the evenings, being located at the eastern end of this road. Rangoli is a popular restaurant for vegetarian food and is located at the junction of this road and Law College road. These is also a school for the hearing impaired. Fergusson College Rd(FC Rd): The heart of the city, surely! The favourite hangout of the college goers of the city, this place has a life of its own. Traffic is thick sometimes and very streamlined and never chaotic. Fergusson College has made this road famous and shoppers can be seen streaming into this rd throughout the day. The young at heart will find this place irrestible. Savera ,Vaishali and Rupali are three very popular restaurants. FC Rd is a commercial street. Lucky Restaurant proved to be true to its name, at least for Dev Anand when he was a struggling artist in this city! To this day, a photo od Dvv greets you the moment you enter Lucky. Popular Book House, International Book House, Super Shoppe and Sagar Arcade are prime commercial establishments. Laxmi Rd: One of the longest commercial streets in Pune, it surpentines through the older and off-fashioned parts of the city. Famous for its neon lights, night life is right life! It's also famous for publishing houses like Nirali and Manali Prakashan, but also notorious for Budhwar Peth, the red light area of the city. Jangli Maharaj Road: Famous for its many restaurants, this road is one of the busiest places in Pune. Bifurcating from FC Rd, Jangli Maharaj Rd is yet another commercial place of interest to all and sundry. Mahatma Gandhi Road: The most posh road in the whole of Pune, the rich and famous throng it. Saturday evenings are like are mini riot and you could find the most beautiful people of the country in their best clothes thronging the place. Aurora Tower is an important commercial building and an important landmark. Running parallel to this rd is East Street. It is far less crowded though almost equally posh. Tilak Road: One of the longest commercial roads in Pune, Tilak road begins where Laxmi road ends. SP College and Tilak Smarak Mandir are prominent landmarks. Jyotirvidhya Parisansthan is an amateur astronomy club located at the basement of Tilak Smarak Mandir. Senapati Bapat Road: Connects BMCC to University of Pune. SIBM lies en route. This road especially spectacular at night when the long string of street lamps begin to glow, the sight being no less breathtaking than Marine Drive's famed Queen's Necklace. Dhole Patil Road Shirole Road:Connects Fergusson College(FC)gate on FC Road to Jangli Maharaj Road. Jog's Bird Breeding Centre lies here. A residential area. Ganeshkhind Road Prabhat Road: Offshoots from Bhandarkar Road, Kamala Nehru Park list at the Northern end of this road. Law College Road: The famous Film and Television Institute of India(FTII) and the National Film Archive of India(NFAI) are located here. Primarily an area for academics. M.G.Road : Also known as Main street,it's famous for shopping.* Movie Halls Deccan Theatre Alaka (only English) Vijay (only English) Mangala Rahul Alpana (mostly adult) Sri Krishna (mostly adult) E - SQUARE (multiplex) INOX (multiplex) City Pride (multiplex) Famous Personalities Shivaji Maharaj Bajirao Peshwa Madhavrao Peshwa Nanasaheb Peshwa Nana Phadnavis Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak Gopal Krishna Gokhale Mahatma Phule Pralhad Keshav Atre B.K.S. Iyengar P.L. Deshpande Osho Rajneesh Nathuram Godse Dhondo Keshav Karve Pune District Population (2001): 7,224,224 Pune Division Pune Division is one of the six divisions of Maharashtra. Pune Division is bound by Konkan Division to the west, Nashik Division to the north, Marathwada (Aurangabad Division) to the east, and the state of Karnataka to the south. Area: 57,268 km² Population (2001 census): 99,973,761 Districts: Kolhapur, Pune, Sangli, Satara, Solapur Literacy: 76.95% Area under irrigation: 8,896 km² Main crops: Jowar, wheat, bajra, sugarcane, rice, soybean, onion, groundnut, vegetables, turmeric, grape, pomegranate External links Official Websites Pune Municipal Corporation Pune Municipal Corporation E-Governance Education University of Pune College of Engineering, Pune Symbiosis Institute of Business Management Maharashtra Institute of Technology Vishwakarma Institute of Technology Fergusson College Pune Institute of Computer Technology Symbiosis Institute of Computer Studies And Research Research IUCAA NCL Bhandarkar Institute of Oriental Research Agharkar Research Institute News Sakal Papers Ltd. Loksatta Other Institutes Canada India Institute-Industry Linkage Project Max Müller Bhavan Other Information Fast-Facts Biodiversity Documentation Project by RANWA Most Popular Articles: Music    Musical Instruments    Guitar    Classical Music    History    Music Definition    Country Music    Rock Music    Pop Music    Hip Hop    Rap    DJ    Video Games    Casino Games    Poker    Blackjack    Casinos    Real Estate    Loan    Auction    eBay    Marketing    Search Engine Optimization    File Sharing    MP3    Music Industry    Kazaa    Internet    Supermodel    Fashion    Fashion Designers    Erotica    Modeling    Clothing    Boots    Shoes    Diamond Engagement Rings    Diamond    Rugs    Gospel Music    Affiliate    E-Commerce    Radio This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License at http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html You may copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license. 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