Pune Excursions

The city of Pune has a number of excursions that are worth visiting. Right from forts to pilgrim places to Buddhist caves, the excursions from Pune offer a large variety. The most popular excursion comprises of the Bhaja Caves and Karla Caves, which are visited by tourists in large numbers. Apart from that, the places to see around Poona also include the pilgrim cities of Alandi and Dehu. The forts of Shivneri and Sinhagad are also worth a mention. Read on further to get more information on tourist places near Puna, India.

Alandi
Alandi city, near Pune, is mainly known for housing the samadhi of Sant Dnyaneshwar, a popular saint of Maharashtra. Dnyaneshwar spent a few years of his life at the Alandi city and inspired the whole of the state to worship Lord Panduranga. More…

Bhaja Caves
Bhaja Caves, situated in the Aurangabad district, lie at a distance of 60 km from Pune. The caves are said to be as old as the 2nd century, i.e., the early Theravadin phase of Buddhism, when the Mauryans used to rule over India

Bhimashankar Temple
Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga, situated near Puna, is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of India. Lying at a distance of 128 km from the city, the temple is believed to be the resting place of Lord Shiva after the Tripurantaka samharam i.e., the annihilation of Rakshas Tripurasura by Lord Shiva.

Bhuleshwar Temple
Bhuleshwar Temple, perched on top of a hill, dates back to the time of the Pandavas. It is situated at a distance of 50 km from the Pune city and was built in the 13th century. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the temple was initially built to serve as a fort called Mangalgadh.

Dehu
Dehu is the place where Sant Tukaram was born and it is the place where he took mahasamadhi. Sant Tukaram was a very revered saint of Maharashtra and played a very important role in the Bhakti Movement of the state.

Jejuri Temple
The town of Jejuri is situated to the southeast of the Pune city. The town is home to one of the most famous temples of Maharashtra, known as Khandobachi Jejuri. The God of Jejuri, Mhalsakant or Malhari Martand or Khandoba, is very revered amongst the Dhangars, one of the oldest tribes in Maharashtra.

Karla Caves
Situated on the Pune-Mumbai Road, Karla Caves are approximately 40 km from the city of Pune. These caves date back to the 2nd century BC and represent the golden period of Buddhism in India.

Malshej Ghat
Malshej Ghat counts amongst the budding hill stations of Maharashtra. It is situated at the borders of Pune, Thane and Ahmednagar. Nestled in the Sahyadri hills, Malshej Ghat is known for its picturesque beauty, especially its cascading waterfalls.

Shivneri Fort
Shivneri Fort is situated at a distance of approximately 90 km from the Pune city. Sahaji, the father of Shivaji, got this fort constructed as a fortification from his enemies. It was here that Jijabai, the mother of Shivaji, spent the period of her pregnancy and gave birth to the great Shivaji Maharaj in the year 1627.

Sinhagad Fort
Sinhagarh Fort lies at a distance of 25 km from the Poona city of India. One of the popular picnic spots near the city, Sinhagarh is situated on a hill, at a height 700 m above the surrounding landscape. Due to its height, the fort also serves as a popular trekking destination for the people of Pune.