Pune Independence Movement Tour: Aga Khan Palace & Freedom Sites

Stand in the rooms where India's freedom fighters plotted against the British

A day tour of Pune's independence movement heritage sites with a local guide, hotel pickup and lunch included. You visit Aga Khan Palace where Mahatma Gandhi was imprisoned during the Quit India movement, Kesariwada where Lokmanya Tilak lived and ran his freedom publications, and Phule Wada where the social reformer opened a well to serve people excluded by caste. The tour runs six hours and suits travelers interested in India's modern history and social reform movements.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Pune's independence heritage sites

• Orientation in Pune
• Visit Aga Khan Palace
• Tour Kesariwada heritage house
• See Phule Wada and historic well

The experience

Pune was the epicenter of India's struggle for independence, and this tour traces that history through three heritage sites that shaped the nation. You start at Aga Khan Palace, built in 1892 as a private residence but now a national monument. In 1942, during the Quit India movement, Mahatma Gandhi, his wife Kasturba and his secretary Mahadevbhai Desai were imprisoned here. A turning point that made the palace itself a symbol of India's resistance. The guided tour shows you the rooms and courtyards where these events unfolded and explains why this place became a memorial to Gandhi's life and principles.

Next is Kesariwada, the heritage house where Lokmanya Tilak spent his final 15 years. From this courtyard, he ran two freedom newspapers, Kesari and Maratha, and hosted strategic meetings between revolutionaries plotting against British rule. Tilak also started the annual Ganesh festival here as a way to unite Indians across caste lines for the independence cause. The house itself is a record of how a single residence became a nerve center of the freedom movement.

The third stop is Phule Wada, home to Mahatma Phule, a 19th-century social reformer who fought caste restrictions and worked to expand rights for farmers and low-caste people. You see the famous well he opened to provide drinking water to people treated as outcasts: a radical act at the time. Phule was also the first to open a school for girls in the region, and his wife became the first female teacher. The tour connects these three figures across different approaches to freedom and equality, showing how Pune's independence movement was also a social revolution.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from your accommodation.
• a local guide speaking English throughout the tour.
• lunch.
• all taxes, fees and handling charges.

Options for this experience

2 options

Pickup is included from city hotels.Guide in English · 09:00Pickup is included for city hotels, except in Wakad, Chakan, Chinchwad and Hinjewadi.

Hotel in OutskirtsGuide in English · 09:00For the outskirts of Pune, pickup is included from Hinjewadi, Chinchwad and Wakad.

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.

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

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48h

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelers

Operated by 5 Senses Walks

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to understand India's independence movement through the actual places where it unfolded, rather than reading about it: the guide connects the three sites into a single narrative of how Pune became a center of both political resistance and social reform. The six-hour format fits a full day without rushing, and the midday lunch break gives you time to absorb what you've seen before moving to the next site.

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Top questions

Can children come?

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

What exactly did Mahatma Gandhi do at Aga Khan Palace?

Aga Khan Palace was where Gandhi, his wife Kasturba and his secretary Mahadevbhai Desai were imprisoned in 1942 during the Quit India movement. The palace is now a national monument, and the guided tour shows you the rooms and spaces where they were held and explains the historical significance of their imprisonment there.

Who was Lokmanya Tilak and why does his house matter?

Lokmanya Tilak was one of India's greatest freedom fighters. He lived at Kesariwada for the last 15 years of his life and ran two freedom newspapers, Kesari and Maratha, from the house. Revolutionary leaders held strategic meetings in the courtyard to plan their resistance against British rule, and Tilak also started the annual Ganesh festival there as a way to unite Indians for the independence cause.

What is the well at Phule Wada, and why is it historically important?

Mahatma Phule opened the well at Phule Wada to provide drinking water to people who were treated as outcasts due to caste restrictions. At that time, this was a radical act of social reform. The well stands as a physical symbol of Phule's work to eradicate caste discrimination and expand rights for farmers and low-caste people in 19th-century India.

How long does the tour take and what's included?

The tour runs six hours and includes hotel pickup and drop-off, a local English-speaking guide, lunch, and all taxes and fees. You'll visit three heritage sites across Pune's freedom movement trail, with the guide explaining the history and significance of each location.

What should I wear on this tour?

Modest dress covering knees and shoulders is recommended out of respect for the heritage sites you'll visit, particularly the palaces and religious spaces. Comfortable walking shoes are also a good idea since you'll be moving between multiple locations.