History and Culture of Pune
From the Rashtrakutas and Yadavas to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the Peshwas and modern IT: how Pune became the cultural capital of Maharashtra.
Quick facts
- Ruled by:
- Rashtrakutas, Satavahanas, Yadavas, Marathas, Peshwas, British
- Municipality:
- Since 1858
- Municipal Corporation:
- Since 15 February 1950
- Known as:
- Cultural capital of Maharashtra
A long history
Pune's story goes back many centuries. Over time the region was ruled by the Satavahanas, the Rashtrakutas and the Yadavas. The modern city took shape when Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Rajmata Jijabai rebuilt the town in the seventeenth century.
In the eighteenth century the Peshwas made Pune the seat of the Maratha empire, and the city grew fast, with new peths, wadas, temples and gardens. After the Peshwa rule ended in 1818, the British took over Pune and the region around it.
A city run by its people
Pune got a municipality in 1858, and city services such as roads and water began to develop. On 15 February 1950 it became the Pune Municipal Corporation. A great test came on 12 July 1961, when the Panshet dam burst and flood waters swept through the riverside parts of the city. The rebuilding after the flood shaped much of modern Pune. See Pune Municipal Corporation.
Tradition and history
Pune was at the centre of the Maratha empire. Landmarks such as Shaniwar Wada and Lal Mahal still tell that story. The public Ganesh festival, promoted by Lokmanya Tilak, made the city famous across India for Ganeshotsav. See Ganesh Festival.
Learning and literature
Pune has long been called a city of learning, home to Savitribai Phule Pune University, Fergusson College and many other famous institutions. Great Marathi writers such as Pu La Deshpande lived and wrote here.
Music, theatre and the arts
Pune is a centre of Indian classical music. The Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav, held every December, is one of the best-known music festivals in the country. Marathi theatre is just as strong, with stages such as Balgandharva Rangmandir and Yashwantrao Chavan Natyagruha.
Pune today
Today Pune hosts the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) and many literary festivals, and it has grown into one of India's major IT and industrial cities. It manages to keep its traditions alive while growing into a modern city.
More in Pune at a Glance
- ATMs in Pune How to find the nearest ATM in Pune, free withdrawals and charges, cash without a card through UPI, and what to do if cash does not come out.
- Pune in Brief A short introduction to Pune: where it is, how it grew, its weather and what the city is known for today.
- Pune and the Armed Forces Home of the National Defence Academy and the Army's Southern Command, Pune has been a military city for more than two hundred years.
- Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) The civic body that runs Pune city: its history since 1858, its 75 years as a corporation, its size today and the work it does.
- Frequently Asked Questions about Pune Quick answers to the questions people most often ask about Pune.
Questions and answers
Who founded modern Pune?
The modern town was rebuilt by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Rajmata Jijabai in the seventeenth century, and it grew greatly under the Peshwas.
When did the Panshet flood happen?
On 12 July 1961, when the Panshet dam burst and flooded the riverside parts of Pune.
Why is Pune called the cultural capital of Maharashtra?
For its history, its colleges, its writers, its music and theatre, and festivals such as Ganeshotsav and Sawai Gandharva.
Sources: Facts from Pune Municipal Corporation (pmc.gov.in) and the Census of India 2011, checked 9 October 2026.