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In 1818, Pune was taken over by the East India Company. Though the capital city of Maharashtra, Mumbai is attracts larger number of tourists, Pune is a popular tourist destination being the cultural capital of Maharashtra. Now, Pune has even gained fame as an important commercial and educational centre as well.
Most of the places to see and visit in Pune may not have been very famous, but that should not deter the tourists from visiting them. They have their own qualities that can be experienced only after seeing them. Most of the places to see in Pune are related to the Marathas, who at one point of time controlled much of the north and western India and challenged the might of Mughal Empire as well as that of British.
In the Maratha Kingdom, Pune was the centre of power and all the places around Pune reflect the might and glory of Marathas. Sinhagad, a hilltop fort, is the epitome of the bravery and cleverness of Maratha warriors. Raigad Fort was the place closely associated with the life and times of Shivaji, an icon of Maratha pride. Bhimashankar is a place known as much for its religious importance as for its natural surroundings. Jejuri has one of the most important temples in Maharashtra situated on a hilltop.
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