History of Pune

The history of Pune is a colorful one dotted by regular interesting and significant events. Though the original agricultural settlement became known by Punnaka by the 8 th century, the earliest evidence of this region can be dated back to as early as 758 AD. Copper plates of these early times reveal this region to be under the rule of Rashtrakutas. Until 1818 it continued to be under the rule of various dynasties, predominantly the Mughals and Marathas. A look at the history of Pune will bear evidence of its medieval roots from the temples present there. The oldest among them is the Pataleshwar Cave Temple in Pune , cut from a single rock structure in the 8 th century. Also called the Panchaleshvara cave-temple complex, it is situated out of the old town, squarely in the middle of city off the Jungli Maharaj Road, and attracts hundreds of tourists each year.

The name of Pune always conjures up the name of Shivaji in our minds. The city is inextricably linked to the life of Maratha hero and king Chhatrapati Shivaji. This era began in 1635-36 when Shivaji came to stay here with his mother Jijabai. As the lore goes, the temple for the residing deity of the city, the Kasba Ganapati Mandir, was built by Jijabai. Later the prime minister of Shivaji, Peshwa Baji Rao I wanted to build his home here. Thus was formed the Shaniwarwada in Pune , a fortified palace considered the focal point of the old city. After Shivaji, the Peshwa dynasty took over Pune as their capital and this era saw the expansion of the city considerably. The year 1817 saw a breaking out between the Marathas and the British and an end of the Peshwa rule. After that till independence the history of Pune was dictated more or less by the British, who built a large cantonment in the east, realizing the importance of the city.

A large number of educational institutes came up in the latter half of 19 th century, enhancing Pune's reputation as an educational hub. During the struggle for independence, Pune played its role in history, producing great leaders in the likes of Mahadev Govind Ranade, R.G Bhandarkar, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Maharshi Vitthal Ramji Shinde and Jyotirao Phule. After independence, Pune became a reputed educational center attracting students from all over the country.

If you are interested in the history of Pune and historical structures, you can check out the Shaniarwada , Aga Khan's Palace , Shinde's Chatri , and the many temples which stand reminders of the city's past glory.