Business or Pleasure?
Most Americans don’t travel to India for leisure. More likely, they come here on business. In recent years, India has become a world business leader. Mumbai is a hotbed of business activity with many American companies moving their world headquarters here. But what many people don’t know is that you don’t have to stay in Mumbai to work in Mumbai. Two hours away is the much smaller and welcoming town of Pune. It is popular and very easy to get a car rental to Pune.
Caves and Cool Temps
Pune is a historical city in India. It is best known for the Caves of Pataleshwar and the Temple of Shiva. These are just two of many beautiful historical sites in Pune. With the exception of the infamous “monsoon season,” the climate in Pune is pleasant. The altitude of the city creates cooler temperatures than other cities in the region.
Academia Central
Pune is known for its many institutes of higher learning. There are literally dozens of colleges and universities in this “campus town.” The University of Pune is the largest academic institution in the city. The International Institute of Information Technology and the Indian Institute of Science and Education and Research are affiliated with the U of P. Dr. Patil University and the Film and Television Institute of India are lesser known, along with many other schools.
Campus Life
With all the college students residing in Pune to attend school, you better believe there are coffee shops, internet cafe’s and night clubs galore! If it’s clubbing you’re interested in, there are many hotspots to choose from! The Elevate Lounge and the Irish House are very popular with the collegiate crowd. The 1 Lounge and Club Oiche come in close behind in popularity.
When Your Stomach Growls
For a city the size of Pune, about 7,000,000, (still half the size of Mumbai!) you know there are a lot of restaurants. There are somewhere near 1800 restaurants in Pune, and they range in cuisine from Italian to Chinese to American to Mexican! Some of the most popular restaurants in Pune are Seasonal Tastes, Daily Treats and Kangan Restaurant.
Rest for the Weary
Of course there are a myriad of hotels to choose from if you’re looking for a place to stay. Five Star Hotels abound, topped by the Vivanta by Taj and the JW Marriott. For the budget traveller, there is the Hotel Woodland and the Green Gate Resort, just for starters.
The Airport
Pune has an impressive airport. It is also home to the Indian Air Force base, Lohegaon. The airport hosts nine different airlines: Air India, Air India Express, Go Air, IndiGo, Jagson Airlines, Jet Airways, Jet Konnect, Lufthansa and Spice Jet. Most of these airlines are not international, but rather shuttle services to the larger hubs, like Mumbai. There is rickshaw rental, taxicab service and car rental in Pune airport.
