Quick Getaways near Pune

Sinhagad - The Lion Fort or Sinhagad, situated around 25 km southwest of Pune, is situated atop a steep hill. Now almost ruined, the fort has an interesting history and an important place to visit and see around Pune. According to legends, the Maratha forces used trained lizards to carry the ropes up the hillside. This is also the place where Mahatma Gandhi met another stalwart of Indian freedom struggle, Bal Gangadhar Tilak in 1915 for the first time.

Khandala being the smaller of the two is relatively calmer and is the pride of the Sahyadri Mountains. It is endowed with abundant natural beauty and like Lonavala, Khandala also provides a popular gateway from the hustle and bustle of cities of Mumbai and Pune. The lush greenery of the mountains especially during the monsoons and the misty paths make it a must-see getaway.

Karla & Bhaja caves - The Karla Caves were carved by the monks and the artisans who tried to imitate the carvings on wood. Out side the cave a stambha with four back-to-back Lions stands. This pillar is associated with Ashoka and is believed to have been kept there later. The Bhaja caves are older and more peaceful than the Karla caves. Out of the 18 Bhaja caves ten are viharas and one is an open chaitya.

Lohegadh & Visapur - A ridge separates the twin forts of Lohegadh and Visapur at 1350 m with 1 km between them. Lohegadh was Shivaji's stronghold during his reign. A waterfall in the trek to Lohegadh is the highlight of the trek. A number of mischievous monkeys can create trouble so watch out. Though not much remains of the fort, the trek to the top is still worth it. While Visapur might be right next to it, there is not much to see! Dating back to the 1700s, visiting these forts (one kilometer apart), which were taken and lost by Shivaji, makes for a strenuous hike.

Alibag - If you wish to start from Pune early morning and come back the same night, while enjoying the beauty of the sea, there is no better choice than Alibag. Situated at a distance of 120 km from Pune, the Kulaba Fort of Alibag is not to be missed. Just keep a check on the sequence of tide and fall while visiting this Fort, otherwise you may be stranded here for a good 5-6 hours.

Events in Pune

The Pune Festival usually held around late August-early September during Ganesh Chaturthi, is the biggest festival in the city of Pune. Beginning on the day of the installation of idols of Elephant headed Lord Ganesha, one of the most loved deities of the Hindus, it goes on till the immersion of the Lord's idols on the tenth day. The opening ceremony features some of the best musicians and dancers of the country. Classical dance and music concerts, folk dance, a village festival including bullock cart races and wrestling is held during this time.

Getting There & Away to Pune

	Flights available to Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Calcutta, Madras, Bangalore and Ahmedabad from Pune Airport itself. Mumbai is the nearest International Airport to Pune.
	Pune is linked with Mumbai (170 km), Nasik (209 km), Aurangabad (230 km), Chennai (1,088 km), Delhi and other major cities of India. From Mumbai there are regular trains.
	The excellent road network connects Pune with most of the important cities in Maharashtra and India. The Mumbai-Pune Express Highway offers a safe and fast access between Mumbai and Pune. Pune is also well connected with Goa, Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Shirdi, Bangalore, Indore, Hyderabad and Aurangabad through road.

Getting Around in Pune

Pune has a very good transport system. There are trains, auto-rickshaws, buses and also private taxis for sightseeing.