My husband went to Pune, India, for training, so when he left, I wasn't really thinking about sightseeing or souvenirs. His trip was mainly for work, and I assumed he'd spend his days in the training room and his evenings back at the hotel.
But at the end of the training, the organizers surprised them with a city tour of Pune before taking them back to the hotel.
I thought, Oh, that's nice! He'll finally get to see a little bit of Pune. And he did. Well… a little bit.
Their city tour had two stops: the Aga Khan Palace and Phoenix Mall.
A Quick Stop at Aga Khan Palace
Their first stop was the Aga Khan Palace, one of Pune's historic landmarks.
Unfortunately, my husband didn't come home with many photos from the visit. In fact, he only had two photos from the palace. One was a photo of the palace from the outside. The other was of Mahatma Gandhi. That's it. No long photo album. No collection of architectural details. No dramatic travel shots. Just two photos.
But at the end of the training, the organizers surprised them with a city tour of Pune before taking them back to the hotel.
I thought, Oh, that's nice! He'll finally get to see a little bit of Pune. And he did. Well… a little bit.
Their city tour had two stops: the Aga Khan Palace and Phoenix Mall.
A Quick Stop at Aga Khan Palace
Their first stop was the Aga Khan Palace, one of Pune's historic landmarks.
Unfortunately, my husband didn't come home with many photos from the visit. In fact, he only had two photos from the palace. One was a photo of the palace from the outside. The other was of Mahatma Gandhi. That's it. No long photo album. No collection of architectural details. No dramatic travel shots. Just two photos.
But even with only those two pictures, I became curious about the place. The Aga Khan Palace is an important historical site, particularly because of its connection to Mahatma Gandhi and India's independence movement. Seeing the photo of Gandhi made me want to know more about the history behind the place.
It made me think that even a short visit can give you a glimpse of a much bigger story.
Then Came Phoenix Mall
After the palace, the group went to Phoenix Mall. And this was where the trip became more interesting for me. The participants were given some free time to shop and buy souvenirs before heading back to their hotel.
And suddenly, I had a mission. What should my husband bring home from India? The funny thing was, I had no idea. I started thinking about all the things I could possibly ask for. Indian clothes? Spices? Something handmade? Food? A traditional souvenir? But because I wasn't there, I didn't know what would be practical to bring home. So I went with the easiest and safest request: “Buy me a fridge magnet.”
At least I knew exactly what I wanted. And apparently, there were several fridge magnets to choose from at the mall. Among all the choices, I chose two fridge magnets.
Was It Really a City Tour?
If I were to imagine a "city tour of Pune," I probably would have pictured several landmarks, beautiful streets, local food, temples, markets, and lots of photographs.
My husband's version was much simpler:
Aga Khan Palace.
Phoenix Mall.
Two palace photos.
And two fridge magnets.
But maybe that's the beauty of traveling. You don't always get to see everything. Sometimes you only get a small glimpse of a place.
And sometimes, the souvenir you bring home isn't something grand or expensive. Sometimes, it's just a little fridge magnet. And for someone waiting at home, that's more than enough.
Tourist Spots in Pune
After writing about my husband's very short version of a Pune city tour, I became curious about what I would actually want to see if I had the chance to visit Pune myself. Pune has much more to offer than the two places my husband managed to see. So here are places that I discovered.
Aga Khan Palace
Shaniwar Wada
Sinhagad Fort
Pataleshwar Cave Temple
Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum
Tulshibaug and local markets
What Souvenirs Should You Buy in Pune?
And now we come to the most important question: What should you actually bring home from Pune?
When my husband asked what I wanted, I immediately said, “Buy me a fridge magnet.” In hindsight, I probably should have done a little research first.
Pune has plenty of souvenirs that would have been fun to bring home, including traditional crafts, textiles, spices, and perhaps my favorite category, local food!
If I were choosing souvenirs from Pune now, these would be my options.
Bhakarwadi
First would be bhakarwadi, a crispy, rolled Maharashtrian snack with a spicy, tangy, and slightly sweet filling.
Chiwda
Another snack worth looking for is chiwda, a crunchy mixture made with flattened rice and spices. It comes in different varieties and is a popular snack in Maharashtra.
Shrewsbury Biscuits
For something sweet, Shrewsbury biscuits are a classic Pune treat. These buttery, shortbread-style biscuits are particularly associated with Kayani Bakery.
Maharashtrian Spices and Chutneys
For anyone who enjoys cooking, packaged Maharashtrian spices, chutneys, and other local condiments would make interesting souvenirs.
If I ever get the chance to visit Pune myself, though, I'll know better. I'll visit the historic landmarks. I'll explore the markets. I'll try the local food. And I'll probably still buy a fridge magnet.
