Kesari Wada
Home of Lokmanya Tilak and of the Kesari newspaper. A museum on Tilak and one of the best-known Ganesh festivals of Pune.
Quick facts
- Location:
- Narayan Peth
- Known for:
- Lokmanya Tilak and the Kesari newspaper
- Earlier name:
- Gaikwad Wada
- Timings:
- Check before visiting
History
Kesari Wada was the home and office of Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, one of the leaders of India's freedom movement. The wada was earlier known as Gaikwad Wada, after the Gaikwads of Baroda who owned it.
From here Tilak ran Kesari, his Marathi newspaper, which he had started in 1881 with his colleagues. Kesari spread the ideas of self-rule to readers across Maharashtra, and the paper is still published.
Tilak also promoted the public Ganesh festival from 1893, as a way to bring people together. The Ganesh festival at Kesari Wada keeps that tradition.
What you can see today
- A small museum with photographs, documents and personal items of Lokmanya Tilak.
- The room where Tilak worked.
- During Ganeshotsav, the Kesari Wada Ganpati and its programmes.
How to reach
Kesari Wada is in Narayan Peth, close to Laxmi Road and Tilak Road. Autos and city buses come close by.
Tips for visitors
- Plan for half an hour to an hour.
- During the Ganesh festival the area is very crowded in the evenings.
More in Historical Pune
- Shaniwar Wada The fortified palace of the Peshwas in the heart of old Pune. Built in 1732, burnt in 1828, and still the best-known landmark of the city.
- Lal Mahal The palace where Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj spent his childhood with Jijabai. Rebuilt in the old city next to Shaniwar Wada.
- Vishrambaug Wada The mansion of Peshwa Bajirao II, known for its carved wooden front. One of the finest wadas still standing in Pune.
- Aga Khan Palace A grand palace from 1892 where Mahatma Gandhi was held during the Quit India movement. Kasturba Gandhi's memorial is here.
- Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum One man's lifetime collection of everyday Indian art: lamps, musical instruments, nutcrackers and more, in a museum in the old city.
- Pataleshwar Cave Temple A rock-cut Shiva temple from about the eighth century, carved out of a single hill right in the middle of Shivajinagar.
Questions and answers
Why is it called Kesari Wada?
Because the Kesari newspaper, started by Lokmanya Tilak and his colleagues in 1881, was run from here.
Is there a Tilak museum in Kesari Wada?
Yes. A small museum shows photographs, documents and personal items of Lokmanya Tilak.
Sources: Written by PuneDiary. Facts checked 10 October 2026.