Pune`s monuments could appear mediocre at first sight. However, they have left their individual unmatched mark. In fact, Pune is best enjoyed by benefitting an acquaintance with its past and apprising how that performs in the city of the present day. Also, the impressive forts on the city`s outskirts, most notably Sinhagad, should never be missed for their grandeur.

Parvati Temple
Parvati Temple is an excellent viewpoint for savouring city views. Depending on the level of atmospheric fog on a day, one can distinguish the monuments of the Old City (straight ahead), Deccan (rotating on 11 o`clock) and Camp (2 o`clock). A precipitous climb of approximately hundred steps brings one to this shrine. The third Peshwa, Balaji Bajirao, alias Nana Saheb built the temple, in 1749. It is a superior instance of the Maratha style of temple architecture. This moderately popular meeting spot for Punaikars also has four smaller temples, dedicated to Ganesha, Bhavani, Vishnu and Surya respectively.

The Peshwa Museum in the temple complex is petite, but sufficed with Peshwa ethos. Numerous artefacts of that time can be seen here, be it weapons, kitchen utensils, coins or written records. Built on what was once the kitchen of the Peshwa wada, its wooden pillars and ceiling are as it was from the original domicile.

Entry is free fro every visitor. Visitings can be done from 10 a.m. till sunset, daily.

Shaniwar Wada
An out and out innovation of the Peshwas, precisely Baji Rao I, Shaniwar Wada is in reality a majestic haveli, complete with superlative features, dejectedly to which almost nothing stands today. It now remains just anothert park of entertainment for evening strolls.

The peths
The peths were the ancient settlements of the Peshwas, the brilliancy and magic of it understood only when one circumvents the whole wonder, which once strangely served as the residences of both the nobles and the working class.

Raja Dinkar Keikar Museum
This museum, located at 1378, Shukrawar Peth, is a perplexing edifice. There is noteworthy diversity in the everyday objects one perceives. There are miniatures from the era of the Peshwas, as well as musical instruments from the Mughal and Maratha periods. More than half the arrays are from other parts of the country. One is made to believe that what is on display is just a tenth of Dinkar Kelkar`s eccentric collection. The display is incoherent and the tagging poor, yet this comes under a must-see. There also is a rebuilding of an audience room from Mastani Mahal.

Museum visiting timings are from 9:30 a.m.- 5 p.m. One can pay a visit daily.

Camp Area
The Camp area in Pune stands widely in contrast with the others, with its crowd of elite, colonial British buildings, still holding back their imperial charm. The families residing here belong to the regal and upper-class quality of families, with other instances of colonial architecture lie educational institutions, clubs, churches, or seminar halls.

Churches and others
Dispersed around the Camp are also the city`s graceful churches - the Catholic St. Patrick`s, the Protestant St. Mary`s (1825), to the south, St. Paul`s (1867) and St. Xavier`s (1865). They are inclined to resemble small English parish churches, and one can be enjoyably surprised at the spaciousness, and even the occasional stained glass windows (for example, in St. Mary`s).

Grippingly, it is the microscopic population of Jews that has given Pune its most imposing monument. Located on Moledina Road, Lai Deval, literally meaning `Red Temple` was built by the Baghdadi Jew, David Sassoon, in 1867. It is a moving Gothic red-brick structure, with a towering, four-cornered clock tower. The synagogue is an operating place of worship for the city`s Bene-Israel Jewish population.

Lai Deval Synagogue does not allow viweing inside the synagogue, only exterior viewing is permitted.

The Osho International Commune
Since the Osho community settled on Koregaon Park in the 1970s, it has progressively embellished its part of the neighbourhood with incredible ingenuity. Bamboo groves co-exist with olden banyans. It is worth a visit for its characteristic mansion architecture and the Osho Teerth Park, a drainage canal altered into a spectacular Zen garden, a landscaping spectacle. Pune`s other important public space, the Empress Garden, is also nearby.

The Osho Commune has high-tech facilities and loads of New Age self-help courses. It has been distinguished as a "spiritual Disneyland". The commune offers hour-long conducted tours for visitors. Timings to visit the commune are from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Lunch hours comprise 2 pm.m. -2.30 p.m.

Gandhi`s confinement
Across the river from Osho-land is the Aga Khan Palace. The building was handed over to the British during the historic house arrest in 1942 of Mahatma Gandhi, his wife Kasturba, and his secretary Mahadev Desai. The Mahatma had spent two years in confinement in this palace, during which he lost both Kasturba and Desai. There is a poignant samadhi dedicated to these two stellars within the palace grounds.

The Mahatma Gandhi Museum consists of a few rooms with photographs. Trashy photo-collages baffle the visitor, both for the dilapidated state of the prints and for their haphazardness.

The museum visiting hours are from 9 a.m. till sunset. It can be visited daily.

The Deccan
The third fundamental section of Pune is named after the Deccan Gymkhana, to the southwest of the city, built in 1879. The area is home to an awesomely middle class Maharashtrian population. It is also the territory where an astonishing number of educational institutions have come up, leading to Pune sometimes being referred to as "Oxford of the East".