Erstwhile Poona, now Pune, was once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire. Called the ‘Queen of the Deccan’ for its scenic beauty and idyllic setting on the Sahyadri Mountain Range, Pune also boasts of beautiful architecture, museums and a wide array of restaurants, cafes and entertainment. Pune is the second largest city of the state of Maharashtra (after Mumbai), and is a base for several exciting walks and hikes in nearby hill-stations, to crumbling hilltop Maratha forts and places of pilgrimage.
