Maratha Empire

Pune is inextricably linked to the life of the Maratha hero and king, Chhatrapati Shivaji. The era of Pune's fame began when Chhatrapati Shivaji came to stay here with his mother Jijabai in 1635-36. They lived in a mansion known as "Lal Mahal," a monument can be visited at its original location in the city. According to local lore, the Kasba Ganapati Mandir, regarded as the presiding deity of the city (gramadevata), was built by Jijabai.[8]In the early 18th century, prime minister of Chhatrapati Shahu, Peshwe Baji Rao I wanted to make Pune his home, which was agreed to by the king. He built his palace on a slightly raised ground near the Mutha river. The fortified palace is known as Shaniwar Wada. Shaniwar Wada is considered by many to be the focal point of the old city of Pune. It was during the Peshwa period that Pune became virtually the Capital of India and center of peshwa rule that extended from Pune to Attock in Pakistan and pune soon rose to prominence.A historical fort at Kharda commemorates the Battle of Kharda fought between the Maratha Confederacy under the Peshwa at Poona and the Nizam of Hyderabad, in 1795.1817 saw a war breaking out between the Marathas and the British. A battle was fought in Kirkee (now "Khadki"), a town earlier outside the Pune city (though at present is considered to be well within the city limits). The Peshwas were defeated and the British forces took over the town. The British realized the importance of the city and built a large cantonment to the east of the city. Later, Pune was pronounced the Monsoon Capital of the Bombay Presidency. The city passed into British rule after the defeat of Marathas in the Battle of Ashti in 1818. Army bases established by the British on the outskirts of the city were later converted into cantonments of Pune and Khadki. The Pune Municipality was established in 1858. A number of esteemed educational institutes also came up here in the latter half of the 19th century, enhancing Pune's stature as an education hub.A Center of Struggle for India's Independence from the British RuleDuring the struggle for Indian independence, Pune took its place as an important center for social and religious reform movements that were sweeping the country. The presence of Bal Gangadhar Tilak dominated the political scene for six decades during this period. It was the home to some reformers who were stalwarts of the national movement, like Mahadev Govind Ranade, R.G Bhandarkar, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Maharshi Vitthal Ramji Shinde and Jyotirao Phule.

Educational and Research Hub

Three reputed colleges, College of Engineering, Pune, Sir Parashurambhau College and Fergusson College, have been located in Pune since the late 1800s. The Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, world-renowned for research and instruction in the Sanskrit and Prakrit languages --it currently houses more than 20,000 ancient manuscripts-- was established in 1917. The SNDT University for Women was established in 1916. Soon after Indian independence in 1947, the University of Pune, the National Defence Academy and National Chemical Laboratory were established. The number of institutions for higher education have multiplied in Pune since thenCollege of Engineering, Pune (COEP) is an engineering college in Pune, India. Established in 1854, it is the third oldest engineering college in Asia, and is a premier technical institution outside of the IITs.[POV] It is located in Pune (formerly Poona), Maharashtra. The students and alumni of COEP are colloquially referred to as COEPians.In 2004, the institute was granted complete autonomy by the state government, and declared a center for excellence in technical education.[citation needed] The institute now is an autonomous engineering school with permanent affiliation to the University of Pune.The college's study model referred to in the early 1950s as the 'Poona Model' is highly respected by the industry and public works. The institute contends that its autonomy now grants it greater flexibility in dynamically changing its syllabus to suit the changing needs of the industry.COEP has an enviable location, at the confluence of two rivers, the Mula and the Mutha. The beautiful campus with buildings that are over a century old and the old cafe on the banks of the rivers manage to conceal the tremendous urban sprawl around the college.Fergusson College (FC) is one of the well known colleges in India and is situated in the western city of Pune. Consistently ranked among the top 10 colleges of the country, FC has a huge legacy behind its name. Built in 1885, the college was named after its first patron, Sir James Fergusson, the then governor of Bombay province who donated a then princely sum of Rs 1,200. The college is now under the jurisdiction of University of Pune.The college is the second oldest college in Pune (after the College of Engineering, Pune) and is the first Science and Fine Arts college in Pune. Apart from its renowned Bsc courses, today Fergusson College is also regarded as one of the foremost institutions offering BA degrees in Economics, Mathematics and Psychology among other specialized subjects. Because of the college's beginning before the urban sprawl of Pune began, the College boasts of a beautiful tree-lined campus with smooth rolling hills in the background.The University of Pune (formerly the University of Poona), located in northwestern Pune, is one of India's premier universites. It was established on February 10, 1949. Spread over a sprawling 400 acre (1.6 km²) campus, the university is home to 46 academic departments.The University of Pune was established under the Poona University Act, passed by the Bombay legislature on February 10, 1948. In the same year, Dr. M.R. Jayakar assumed office as the first vice chancellor of the university. Shri B.G. Kher, Chief Minister and Education Minister of the government of Bombay, helped ensure the university received a large allocation of land for their campus. In early 1950, the university was allocated over 411 acres (1.7 km²).The National Defence Academy of India located in Khadakwasla, Pune, is a joint services academy where cadets of the three wings Army, Navy and Air Force are trained together before they go for their pre-commission training to their respective academies. It covers an area of roughly 8300 acres

Pune

Pune (IPA: puːneɪ, Marathi: पुणे) is a city located in the western Indian state of Maharashtra. Capital of Pune District and the 8th largest urban agglomeration in India with a population of 4.5 million, it is the second largest city in the state of Maharashtra. It is located roughly 150 kilometers east of Mumbai at an altitude of 560 meters above sea level. It is situated at the eastern edge of the Western ghats on the Deccan plateau.Pune is widely considered the cultural capital of Marathi-speaking Maharashtrians.[1] Pune has a reputation for its several esteemed colleges and educational institutions[2] — for this reason it is called the Oxford of the East (or 'Oxford of India').[3] It has a very strong presence in the automobile sector and is on its way to consolidate its position as the 'Detroit of India'[4][5] too. It is now home to many software and IT companies.(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) Time zone IST (UTC+5:30) Area• Elevation 700 km² (270 sq mi)• 560 m (1,837 ft) District(s) Pune Subdistrict Haveli Population• Density 4,485,000 (2005)• 6,407/km² (16,594/sq mi) Mayor Rajlakshmi Bhosale Codes• Pincode-4110--• Telephone-020• Vehicle • 411 0xx• +91(20)• MH 12 (Pune) MH 14 (PCMC)