10 Incredible Facts About Pune City That Everyone Should Know!
1. Historical Significance: The Seat of the Maratha Empire
Pune serves as an important historical site because during the time of the Maratha Empire it served as their central power. In the early part of the 18th century the Maratha Empire founder Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj selected Pune to operate as his main military headquarters. The city's transformation to administrative and cultural capital happened when Pune fell under Peshwa rule which lasted up until the prime ministers governed the Maratha rulers. Shaniwar Wada represents the peak of historical glory through its establishment in 1732. Before its demise in 1828 the Peshwa rulers had their authority based in this location.
2. The 'Oxford of the East'
Educational institutions in Pune have made the city earn its reputation as 'Oxford of the East.' Among India's top educational institutions are located in Pune which features the University of Pune (now Savitribai Phule Pune University) together with Fergusson College along with Symbiosis International University. Pune has built 300 educational facilities which draw participating students from India and international locations leading to its status as an Eastern Oxford style city.
3. A Hub for the IT and Automotive Industries
Pune has established itself into a primary location for both information technology (IT) and automotive industries during the past several decades. Numerous IT parks operate in the city including Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park based in Hinjawadi that hosts major tech companies including Infosys TCS and IBM. The automobile sector has made Pune earned its nickname as the 'Detroit of India'. Tata Motors together with Mercedes-Benz and Bajaj Auto maintain substantial business operations throughout the city.
4. Cultural Diversity and Festivals
Cultural intermingling thrives in Pune because the city attracts people from various regional backgrounds with multiple traditions along with multiple spoken languages. Residents in Pune speak Marathi as their primary language although migration from all areas of India combined with an increasing foreign community also calls the city home. The multicultural population of the city translates into numerous exciting annual celebrations. The famous festival of Ganesh Chaturthi brings extreme devotion from the people of Pune during its big annual celebration. Pune celebrates all major festivals equally including Diwali, Eid, Christmas and Navratri which symbolize its open-minded population.
5. Gateway to the Western Ghats
Pune functions as a main entrance to the Sahyadri range foothills because it gives direct access to the Western Ghats which hold UNESCO World Heritage Site status. Citizens from Pune base their weekend excursions at natural attractions such as Lonavala, Khandala, and Mahabaleshwar because of the easy access these sites provide. Several beautiful locations surrounding Pune provide stunning sightseeing and hiking routes combined with peaceful lakes which attract population groups interested in nature discovery along with adventure lovers.
6. Military Importance and Cantonment Areas
Throughout history Pune has developed into a military hotspot. Pune maintains its military importance through several defense institutions because the British built their cantonment in the city during colonial times. The Khadakwasla location of National Defence Academy holds a prominent position as India's premier military training center. Indian defense infrastructure maintains its presence through the College of Military Engineering and the Armed Forces Medical College situated in the city.
7. Rich Culinary Heritage
The culinary landscape of Pune unites classic Maharashtrian tastes with international food elements. People commonly identify Pune through its original Maharashtrian food specialties including misal pav and puran poli and vada pav. The widespread street food markets on FC Road and Budhwar Peth provide visitors with many options of traditional local cuisine. Plans in Pune benefit all types of eaters since its diverse cultural environment supports various international dishes and traditional Maharashtrian tastes.
8. Progressive Social Movements
The location of Pune stands as a leading position for many progressive social movements within India. During the British colonial era Bal Gangadhar Tilak along with other leaders fought for freedom from British rule in this strategic city center. The city of Pune currently serves as a central location where activists sustain feminist and environmental and LGBTQ+ rights campaigns. Pune stands out as one of India's largest cities to hold the annual Pride Parade which demonstrates the city's advance-minded people.
9. Architectural Marvels and Historical Landmarks
Pune maintains a beautiful collection of architectural heritage because it embraces historical sites from different time periods. The Aga Khan Palace stands as a 19th-century architectural masterpiece that additionally served as a crucial independence movement base in 1892. The reconstructed parts of the Lal Mahal present visitors with valuable historical evidence about the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The city houses three notable attractions: the Parvati Hill Temple, Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Temple and the Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum which contains numerous Indian artifacts.
10. Thriving Arts and Entertainment Scene
The city of Pune presents an active arts and entertainment fabric which converts it into a major cultural destination. Several performance spaces alongside artistic exhibition spaces and music performance venues exist throughout the city. At the National Film Archive of India (NFAI) in Pune filmmakers find a comprehensive collection of valuable movies alongside cinematic historical artifacts. Pune also hosts the annual Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) and the Serendipity Arts Festival, drawing artists and audiences from around the world.
To Sum Up With
Pune seamlessly connects its historic origins to its advancing interests into the modern age. Since its time as the birthplace of the Maratha Empire Pune has evolved into an educational industrial leadership role while holding true to its authentic origins. All residents categories including readers of history and students and professionals and visitors can find attractions in Pune. Indian history and culture come to life through its engaging atmosphere together with modern technological advances that have established it as an energetic metropolitan area.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
26 minutes ago
- Hans India
US tariff impact on commodities: Copper plunges nearly 2 pc, gold rebounds
Commodity prices witnessed sharp swings last week, with base metal copper dropping nearly 2 per cent while gold gained over 1 per cent after US President Donald Trump imposed a 25 per cent tariff on most Indian goods. Fresh tariff announcements by Trump fanned fears of a global trade war, leading to a rout in base metals while safe-haven demand lifted precious metal gold last week, analysts said. They said the unexpected US tariff structure, especially on semi-finished copper goods, sent shockwaves across global commodity markets, with copper prices tumbling sharply and crude oil showing mixed trends amid geopolitical concerns. --Copper crashes as US slaps tariffs on semi-finished imports-- Copper was the worst-hit among base metals as the Trump administration imposed a steep 50 per cent tariff on imports of semi-finished copper goods such as wires, tubes and rods. The new duties will come into force from August 7. However, refined copper, ores, and cathodes were excluded from the levy, creating uncertainty in global supply chains. On MCX, the August contract of copper fell by Rs 16.35 or 1.82 per cent last week. On July 31, copper prices dropped by Rs 36 or 4 per cent to hit an all-time low of Rs 861.70 per kg. On COMEX, copper prices initially fell nearly 22 per cent from peak levels before rebounding by 1.79 per cent to close at USD 4.45 per pound. LME Copper futures ended the week up 0.31 per cent at USD 9,639.60 per tonne. "President Trump's tariff announcements have sent shockwaves across global commodity markets, particularly metals. The US imposed a 50 per cent tariff on semi-finished copper products, a 25 per cent levy on Indian imports, and additional trade penalties related to Russian energy transactions," Riya Singh - Research Analyst, Commodities and Currency, Emkay Global Financial Services, said. "MCX copper prices dropped from Rs 900 to Rs 861 in just three sessions before stabilising. The exclusion of raw forms like cathodes from the tariff list has led to confusion in price discovery," Singh added. She noted that traders exited long positions aggressively, leading to the largest weekly outflow in over a year and adding that "India imported over USD 1.4 billion worth of refined and semi-refined copper in FY24. With the US market restricted, these goods may be diverted to India, risking margin pressure for local fabricators". According to Heena Naik, Research Analyst - Commodities, Angel One, the US administration initially hinted at wide-ranging copper tariffs, causing a rush of shipments into the US ahead of the August 1 deadline. "Now, with refined copper excluded from the tariff list, there are concerns of re-exports and a potential oversupply. The sudden narrowing of the tariff scope has disrupted the global copper supply chain," she said. Naik also highlighted China's indirect exposure, being the world's top producer of copper products, and added that base metals broadly fell over 1.5 per cent last week amid weak demand and tariff headwinds. -- Gold and silver trade mixed -- On the Multi-Commodity Exchange (MCX), gold futures for October delivery rose Rs 1,292 or 1.3 per cent last week. In global markets, COMEX gold futures surged USD 51 or 1.52 per cent to settle at USD 3,413.80 per ounce in New York on Saturday. Silver, on the other hand, extended losses. MCX silver futures for September delivery plunged Rs 2,829 or 2.5 per cent to end the week lower. COMEX silver futures managed marginal gains of 0.59 per cent to close at USD 37.08 per ounce. "Gold continues to be viewed as a reliable store of value, especially with the US Fed maintaining a restrictive policy stance and global uncertainties flaring," said Riya Singh, Research Analyst - Commodities and Currency at Emkay Global Financial Services. She noted that gold has gained nearly 25 per cent year-to-date, peaking above USD 3,500 per ounce in April on the back of Middle East tensions and inflation worries. "Silver, however, faced a dual impact of industrial weakness and ETF-led support. It is under pressure due to weak Chinese PMI data, but strong ETF holdings and robust COMEX inventories offer a cushion," Singh added. -- Crude oil sees mixed cues -- Crude oil futures posted a mixed performance, with the MCX futures for August delivery rising by Rs 100 or 1.73 per cent. Globally, Brent crude futures fell by 3.94 per cent to USD 69.67 per barrel, while WTI crude slipped 2.79 per cent to USD 67.33 per barrel. Riya Singh said, "Brent retreated from USD 67.74 to USD 71.26 after failing to sustain five-week highs. Demand concerns from geopolitical uncertainty and trade disruptions kept the rally in check". She highlighted that India's crude imports are particularly vulnerable, with around 35 per cent coming from Russia. Adding that any secondary sanctions on Russian oil imports could force India to more expensive alternatives, which could impact domestic refiners such as IOC and Reliance, and affect the rupee. Heena Naik added that crude surged by over 5 per cent as investors focused on developments on the US President's tighter deadline for Russia to end the war in Ukraine. However, a weak industrial demand and uncertainty over OPEC+ supply decisions kept oil prices under pressure. -- Commodities to see volatility this week -- Analysts emphasised that as investors deal with the effects of US tariffs, China's economic slowdown, and shifting geopolitical tensions, commodity markets are expected to be turbulent in the weeks ahead. "Price discovery has been skewed by Trump's tariff structure, which targets semi-finished goods while excluding raw copper forms. Regarding demand and future trading channels, the market is still unclear," Singh stated. Naik said that investors should prepare for ongoing fluctuations in base metals, energy, and precious metals due to policy uncertainty and the rising US dollar's impact on global commodities.
Time of India
42 minutes ago
- Time of India
Siraj surpasses Bhuvneshwar to become only second Indian to achieve this feat
Pacer Mohammed Siraj surpassed Bhuvneshwar Kumar to become only the second Indian to get 20 or more wickets during a Test series against England in English conditions. Siraj accomplished this upward movement in the charts during day four of the fifth and final Test against England at The Oval. Siraj's spell on day 4 was a scorching one, bowling eight overs, giving away 33 runs, and getting a crucial wicket of Ollie Pope to end the first session with figures of 2/44 in 12 overs. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Product Management CXO Project Management MBA Healthcare Others Operations Management PGDM Finance Data Science others healthcare Artificial Intelligence Technology MCA Degree Data Analytics Data Science Cybersecurity Design Thinking Public Policy Digital Marketing Management Leadership Skills you'll gain: Creating Effective Product Roadmap User Research & Translating it to Product Design Key Metrics via Product Analytics Hand-On Projects Using Cutting Edge Tools Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business ISB Product Management Starts on May 14, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Product Strategy & Competitive Advantage Tactics Product Development Processes & Market Orientations Product Analytics & Data-Driven Decision Making Agile Development, Design Thinking, & Product Leadership Duration: 40 Weeks IIM Kozhikode Professional Certificate in Product Management Starts on Jun 26, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Product Strategy & Roadmapping User-Centric Product Design Agile Product Development Market Analysis & Product Launch Duration: 24 Weeks Indian School of Business Professional Certificate in Product Management Starts on Jun 26, 2024 Get Details Now in the ongoing series, this workhorse bowler is the leading wicket-taker with 20 wickets at an average of 34.30 in nine innings, with best figures of 6/70. He has outdone Bhuvneshwar's 19-wicket effort during the 2014 series at an average of 26.63 and best figures of 6/82. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cardiologist Reveals: The Simple Morning Habit for a Flatter Belly After 50! Lulutox Undo The highest wickets by an Indian during a series in England are by Jasprit Bumrah , who took 23 scalps in five matches at an average of 22.47, with best figures of 5/64, his sole fifer in the series. Coming to the Test match, England ended the first session of day four at 164/3, needing 210 runs to win, with Harry Brook (38*) and Joe Root (23*) unbeaten. Live Events After England opted to bat first, they reduced India to 153/6. A 58-run partnership between Karun Nair (57 in 109 balls, with eight fours) and Washington Sundar (26 in 55 balls, with three fours) was the most meaningful part of the inning as India was bundled out for 224 runs. Apart from Gus Atkinson's five-wicket haul, Josh Tongue (3/57) was also good. In the second innings, four-fers from Siraj (4/83) and Prasidh Krishna (4/62) reduced England to 247, despite a 92-run opening stand between Zak Crawley (64 in 57 balls, with 14 fours) and Ben Duckett (43 in 38 balls, with five fours and two sixes). They led by 23 runs. In India's second innings, key contributions came from Yashasvi Jaiswal (118 in 164 balls, with 14 fours and two sixes), Akash Deep (66 in 94 balls, with 12 fours), Ravindra Jadeja (53 in 77 balls, with five fours) and Washington Sundar (53 in 46 balls, with four boundaries and four sixes). They all took India to 396 runs, giving them a 373-run lead and giving a target of 374 runs to England to win the series.
Time of India
43 minutes ago
- Time of India
BPO, IT industry to disappear because of AI? Billionaire Vinod Khosla makes big prediction on Nikhil Kamath's podcast
While speaking on Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath 's podcast People by WTF, Indian-origin billionaire and venture capitalist warned that the recent surge in AI could potentially wipe out the BPO and IT industries in India—unless they undergo a major transformation to adapt and stay relevant. When asked about whether India's IT Sector would be able to survive the AI shift, Khosla said, ""I think, it's very—you know, BPO as a business will disappear." Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Product Management healthcare Leadership Design Thinking MCA Project Management Degree Management Public Policy Operations Management Finance Data Science Technology Artificial Intelligence MBA Data Analytics Data Science Others CXO Digital Marketing PGDM others Healthcare Cybersecurity Skills you'll gain: Creating Effective Product Roadmap User Research & Translating it to Product Design Key Metrics via Product Analytics Hand-On Projects Using Cutting Edge Tools Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business ISB Product Management Starts on May 14, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Product Strategy & Competitive Advantage Tactics Product Development Processes & Market Orientations Product Analytics & Data-Driven Decision Making Agile Development, Design Thinking, & Product Leadership Duration: 40 Weeks IIM Kozhikode Professional Certificate in Product Management Starts on Jun 26, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Product Strategy & Roadmapping User-Centric Product Design Agile Product Development Market Analysis & Product Launch Duration: 24 Weeks Indian School of Business Professional Certificate in Product Management Starts on Jun 26, 2024 Get Details "Software IT services will mostly disappear. Disappear means transform pretty radically. Whether some of those companies can transform or not will determine whether they survive or not," added Khosla. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like We Have No Words For Dog The Bounty Hunter's Transformation Cash Roadster Undo "Here's the problem, right? If I can do a system integration service for one-fifth the cost, the customer will always take one-fifth—modulo trust. So, will some of these vendors drop their prices by 5X, or 80 percent, or at least by 60 percent, and then expand their services?" said the billionaire. Is college education dead? In an age where artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping how we work, learn, and live, American billionaire and Silicon Valley veteran Vinod Khosla has issued what might be the most radical take on higher education to date: 'College is dead.' Live Events Khosla's thesis is clear, provocative, and packed with implications: "If every child in India has a free AI tutor, something entirely possible today, it would be better than the best education a rich person can buy." That single line challenges the very foundation of elitism in global education. Khosla's argument rests on a transformative idea: the highest quality education is no longer exclusive to the wealthy. Through AI, it can be compressed, scaled, and made universally accessible. Pointing to CK-12—the nonprofit ed-tech platform co-founded by his wife Neeru Khosla—he explained how AI-powered, adaptive tutoring has the potential to replace the traditional, teacher-led classroom model. "You don't have to go back to college for three or five years to switch from electrical engineering to mechanical engineering, or from medicine to something else," he said during the podcast, questioning the rigidity of degree-based specialization. In his vision, AI enables continuous, borderless, self-paced learning. This shift, Khosla argues, isn't incremental—it's seismic. AI tutors can surpass even elite human educators in personalization, accessibility, and subject mastery. And with that, the longstanding monopoly of universities over skill validation and credentialing faces a deep and urgent challenge.
