Pune city tour with guide: Temples, palace and freedom sites

Pune's layers: from a plague-era temple to the palace where India's independence was held prisoner

A full-day guided tour of Pune covering five landmarks tied to the city's spiritual, cultural and political past. The route moves through Dagdu Sheth Ganesh temple (built 1892 by a grieving sweet maker), the Kelkar museum's one-man collection of Maratha artifacts and royal textiles, Shaniwarwada palace where the Peshwas ruled the Maratha Empire, Sadhu Vaswani's biographical museum, and Aga Khan Palace where Gandhi was imprisoned during the Quit India movement. An English-speaking guide leads the tour in an air-conditioned vehicle, with pickup from your hotel or the outskirts of Pune.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Pune's cultural and historical sites

• Visit Dagdu Shet Ganesh temple
• Tour Raja Dinkar Kelkar museum
• Explore Shaniwar Wada palace
• Visit Darshan museum on Sadhu Vaswani
• Tour Aga Khan Palace memorial

The experience

Dagdu Sheth Ganesh opens the day: a temple built in 1892 by a sweet maker who lost his son to plague, and the site where Lokmanya Tilak organized the first Ganesh festival to rally Indians against British rule. The guide walks you through the story of how a personal tragedy became a turning point in India's freedom movement, and why this temple remains Pune's most famous one.

The Kelkar museum holds one of the world's largest one-man collections: textiles, sculptures, antique vessels and Maratha swords gathered from remote parts of India by Dinkar Kelkar himself. Inside is Mastani Mahal, a room recreated from the original palace ruins: a space built around the legendary romance between Baji Rao, the Maratha prime minister, and Mastani. Shaniwarwada, the seat of the Peshwas who ruled the Maratha Empire between the 17th and 19th centuries, carries its own weight of stories: betrayal, tragic love, treachery, and the murder of Bajirao's grandson Narayanrao, whose ghost is said to haunt the palace on full-moon nights according to local belief.

The Darshan museum is a smaller, quieter stop: a multimedia space dedicated to Sadhu Vaswani, a spiritual teacher whose causes included women's upliftment and animal rights. November 25, his birth date, is now celebrated as International Meatless and Animal Rights Day. The tour closes at Aga Khan Palace, a national monument built in 1892 by Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah Aga Khan III. Gandhi, his wife Kasturba and his secretary Mahadevbhai Desai were imprisoned here during the Quit India movement in 1942, and the palace stands as a memorial to Gandhi's life and the independence struggle itself.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle for the full route.
• live guide in English.
• pickup from your hotel or the outskirts of Pune.
• entry to all five sites (Dagdu Sheth Ganesh, Kelkar museum, Shaniwarwada, Sadhu Vaswani Darshan museum, and Aga Khan Palace).
• all taxes, fees and handling charges.

Options for this experience

2 options

Pickup from city hotelsGuide in English · 09:00Pickup is included

Pickup in the outskirts of PuneGuide in English · 09:00Pickup from hotels in the outskirt areas of Wakad, Hinjewadi and Chinchwad is included

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Under 5: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48h

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by 5 Senses Walks

Is this one for you?Choose hotel pickup if you're staying in central Pune. Outskirts pickup works better if your accommodation is on the city's edge. Knees and shoulders must be covered at all temples and heritage sites, so plan your clothing accordingly. The tour suits all fitness levels and welcomes children from age 5.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 12 years). Under 5: they can't be included in the booking.

What is Dagdu Sheth Ganesh temple and why is it important to Pune's history?

Dagdu Sheth Ganesh is Pune's most famous temple, built in 1892 by a sweet maker grieving the loss of his son to plague. The temple became the birthplace of the annual Ganesh festival, which Lokmanya Tilak organized to unite Indians in their fight for freedom from British rule, making it a landmark of both spiritual and political significance.

What will I see at the Kelkar museum?

The Kelkar museum houses one of the world's largest one-man collections, gathered by Dinkar Kelkar from remote parts of India. You'll see embroidered textiles, sculptures, antique vessels and Maratha swords, plus Mastani Mahal: a room recreated from palace ruins that tells the story of the legendary romance between Maratha prime minister Baji Rao and Mastani.

Why is Shaniwarwada considered haunted?

Shaniwarwada was the seat of power for the Peshwas, the prime ministers of the Maratha Empire, built in 1730. Local legend says the palace is haunted by Narayanrao, grandson of Bajirao, who was murdered by his own family. The guide will share the stories of betrayal, tragic love and treachery that unfolded within its walls, and people believe supernatural activity still occurs on full-moon nights.

What is the connection between Aga Khan Palace and India's independence?

Aga Khan Palace, built in 1892, is a national monument of India's freedom movement. Gandhi, his wife Kasturba and his secretary Mahadevbhai Desai were imprisoned here during the Quit India movement in 1942. The palace stands as a memorial to Gandhi's life and India's struggle for independence from British rule.

How long does the tour take and what is included?

The tour runs approximately 7.5 hours and includes all taxes, fees and handling charges, transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle, and a live English-speaking guide. Pickup is included from either your hotel or the outskirts of Pune, depending on which option you choose at checkout.