Transition from Aamchi Mumbai to Punekar
Views — By Sreyoshi on June 22, 2011 at 11:58 AM
There’s a famous saying: “Home is where the heart is.” It’s so true. So true for me at least. My marriage has given me a wonderful opportunity to explore many places in India, one of them being Pune, where I am based currently with my better half.
Having spent a substantial time in aamchi Mumbai with my hubby, my initial reaction (when I was told we were required to shift to Pune), was of disgust and anger, till the time I set my feet in this beautiful place. Pune has a lot to offer to its new comers; it has a charm of its own which probably cannot be expressed in words. I strongly believe that it’s the people who make a place good or bad. This stands true for Pune as well. I love the simple people of this city, who are ever willing to lend you a helping hand, whenever needed.
Pune is a city bustling with people, mostly college students, as the city is considered the education hub of India. I simply love gazing at the young energetic crowd of this city while on the move and recollecting my own college days, which were so fun filled. Those days cannot come back, but those moments can surely be replenished in Pune, which is filled with amazing hang out places like Sheesha, Not Just Jazz By The Bay and Hard Rock Café, to name a few.
Pune leads a slow, peaceful life, which is in stark contrast to the everyday hustle bustle of Mumbai. Waking up late in the morning and reading the newspaper with a cup of hot tea in your balcony is something which I am sure any Mumbai-kar would die for. If you are in Pune, you can get all of that, in addition to saving hours travelling from one place to another. Having said that, I must mention that it is almost mandatory to own a two wheeler in Pune, failing which the auto walas will surely take you for a ride. Keeping a fare meter handy is definitely an intelligent thing to do.
Pune is slowly catching up with other metropolitan cities in terms of shopping malls, five star hotels and designer stores. Though a small city, it definitely boasts of stores like Mango, Satya Paul, Tommy Hilfiger and the like. The must visit malls of this city are Jewel Square in Koregaon Park and Inorbit in Viman Nagar. The restaurants here like Mainland China, Sigree, Sicilia are at par with that of any metro city, in terms of taste and ambience. If you want to have a lavish meal and also spend lavishly, the buffet at Hyatt or Westin is surely a feast for the stomach, literally! Pune local cuisine has a taste of coconut and garlic, with large use of chillies. A typical Pune meal which includes Puran Poli, bhakri with pithla, Vada Pav, misal, and kacchi dhabeli are mouth watering delicacy to titillate your taste buds. Mastani, a thick milkshake containing dried fruit, is a speciality of the city. It is named after Mastani, the second wife of the Peshwa Baji Rao I in the 17th century.
In terms of infrastructure, Pune is increasingly acquiring importance as one of the main infrastructural supports of Maharashtra. Hence, if one is planning to invest in a property, Pune is the right place. Places like Wakad, Hinjewadi, Baner, which are fast developing, are apt to choose from.
Last, but surely not the least, the city is surrounded by tourist destinations like Mahabaleshwar, Lonavla – Khandala, Panchgani, ideal for spending the weekend with your family and friends. The city which boasts of an amazing weather gives ample options to the travel freaks to go for long drives, especially during the monsoons either towards the Mumbai-Pune highway or the Pune-Bangalore highway.
If you are skeptical about shifting to this wonderful land, think twice. The city will welcome you with open arms all the time and will make you hum what I am humming right now – “This is my home…and this is where my heart is.”
