Pune,
called the ‘Queen of the Deccan’, is the cultural
capital of Maharahtra. Blessed with a salubrious climate,
this one-time capital of the Marathas associated with
the warrior-king Shivaji, is gaining a new-found importance.
Pune is today recognised as one of the leading metros
in India and is fast becoming one of the major centres
of industry and commerce in the country. Besides a prestigious
university, the Film and Television Institute of India
and the National Defence Academy are based here. For
many western visitors, the city's major attraction is
the Osho Commune International, better known as the
ashram of Bhagwan Rajneesh.
Although
a small town, the big-city influence of Mumbai has rubbed
off on Pune with fast express commuter trains reducing
the distance from Pune to Mumbai to less than four hours
so that many people commute daily between the two cities.
As a result, Pune has adopted a modern lifestyle, and
a business centre, golf courses and theatres have built
up the city as a corporate and business destination.
The city has more than adequate convention halls with
state-of-the-art support facilities.
