Pune in Brief
A short introduction to Pune: where it is, how it grew, its weather and what the city is known for today.
Quick facts
- State:
- Maharashtra
- District:
- Pune
- Rivers:
- Mula, Mutha, Pavana, Indrayani
- Height:
- About 560 m above sea level
- Civic bodies:
- PMC and PCMC
- Language:
- Marathi
Where Pune is
Pune lies about 150 km south-east of Mumbai, on the Deccan plateau. The Sahyadri hills, also called the Western Ghats, rise to the west of the city. The Mula and Mutha rivers meet in the city and flow on east as the Mula Mutha, to join the Bhima.
How Pune grew
- The village of Kasba: Pune began as a small settlement near the rivers. Copper plates from the eighth century already mention it.
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj: in the seventeenth century, Rajmata Jijabai and young Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj lived at Lal Mahal, and the town was rebuilt.
- The Peshwas: from the 1720s Pune became the seat of the Peshwas and the political centre of the Maratha empire. The peths were laid out in this period.
- British times: after 1818 the British built the Cantonment and Kirkee (Khadki). Pune became the monsoon capital of the Bombay Presidency.
- After Independence: education, defence and industry made Pune grow fast. From the 1990s IT parks at Hinjewadi, Kharadi and Magarpatta brought people from all over India.
Weather
Pune has a pleasant climate for most of the year. Summer (March to May) is hot and dry. The monsoon (June to September) brings steady rain and green hills. Winter (November to February) has cool mornings and evenings.
Known for
- Colleges and universities, which bring students from across India and abroad.
- The Ganesh festival, the palkhis, music and Marathi theatre.
- Food: misal, vada pav, mastani, bakarwadi and the Irani cafes of Camp.
- IT companies and the automobile industry at Pimpri Chinchwad, Chakan and Ranjangaon.
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.
- 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.
- 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
Why is Pune called the Oxford of the East?
Because of its many old and famous colleges and universities, which draw students from all over India and abroad.
Which rivers flow through Pune?
The Mula and Mutha meet in the city. The Pavana and Indrayani flow through Pimpri Chinchwad and the north of the district.
Sources: Written by PuneDiary. Facts checked 10 October 2026.