Old Pune Heritage Walk: Shaniwar Wada, Dagdusheth & food stops

Taste modak at the temple where it belongs, not at a tourist stall

A 2 to 3 hour heritage walk through Old Pune starting at Shaniwar Wada, the 18th-century Peshwa fort palace, with a Pune-born English-speaking guide who shows you the lanes where the Maratha empire began and where India's public Ganesh festival tradition started in 1892. The group stays under eight people, and three food and beverage stops are included: a modak at Dagdusheth Halwai temple, tea or coffee, and a mastani at one of the original houses that invented the dessert. Hotel pickup and drop-off can be arranged if you request it at booking.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Pune's heritage and snacks

• Begin at Shaniwar Wada fort palace
• Walk to Lal Mahal childhood home
• Visit Bhausaheb Rangari Bhawan historic site
• Walk to Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Temple
• Shop at Tulsi Baug Market
• Try mastani dessert at original house
• Explore Victorian-era market hall

The experience

You begin at Shaniwar Wada, the 1732 fort palace where the Peshwa empire ruled half of India from these walls. From there you walk to Lal Mahal, the childhood home of Shivaji Maharaj, and hear the founding story of the Maratha empire on the ground where it started. The walk moves through the old lanes to Bhausaheb Rangari Bhawan, a quiet corner almost no other tour reaches. This is where India's public Ganesh festival tradition began in 1892, a piece of national history most visitors never see.

You taste a modak at the foot of Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Temple, one of India's most revered Ganesh shrines, eaten where it actually belongs instead of at a generic snack stall. The walk passes through Tulsi Baug Market, where the stalls sell traditional Maharashtrian sarees, jewelry, and handicrafts, then moves to Gujjar Mastani for a thick milkshake-meets-ice-cream that Pune invented: one of the original houses serving it. You finish at the Victorian-era market hall, built 130 years ago, where spice vendors and fabric stalls show you everyday Pune life among the stone arches.

Your guide is Pune-born and speaks English for the full walk. The group never exceeds eight people, so the narrow lanes feel like a local showing you their city rather than a tour bus making a stop. Bottled water is provided throughout, and the three food and beverage stops are included in the price.

What’s included

• Entrance fees to Shaniwar Wada and the temples.
• bottled drinking water throughout the walk.
• three food and beverage stops (modak at Dagdusheth Halwai temple, tea or coffee, and mastani at Gujjar Mastani).
• Pune-born English-speaking guide for the full 2 to 3 hours.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:30 and 16:30

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (15 to 65 years) · Child (3 to 14 years) · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Nine Tours

Is this one for you?At 2 to 3 hours, the walk leaves your morning or afternoon free for other parts of Pune, or it can anchor a full day if you add time at Tulsi Baug Market or the Victorian market hall on your own. The small group size and local guide mean you move at a pace that lets you absorb the history without the feeling of a scheduled tour.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 14 years). Under 3: they can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Bhausaheb Rangari Bhawan and why does it matter?

Bhausaheb Rangari Bhawan is the quiet lane where India's public Ganesh festival tradition began in 1892: a piece of national history almost no other tour in Pune shows you. It marks the start of a cultural practice that shaped the city's identity.

Do I need to arrange my own way to Shaniwar Wada, or is pickup included?

Hotel pickup and drop-off can be arranged. The meeting point is shared 24 hours before the walk and is typically near Shaniwar Wada. If you prefer to meet directly at the fort, that option is available too.

What food is included in the walk?

Three stops are included: a modak at Dagdusheth Halwai temple, a tea or coffee break, and a mastani at Gujjar Mastani, one of the original houses that invented the dessert. Additional food, drinks, or snacks beyond these three can be purchased along the way.

How long does the walk take and what is the pace like?

The walk takes 2 to 3 hours and is suitable for all physical fitness levels. You move through Old Pune's lanes at a pace that lets you absorb the history and stop at the food points without rushing.