MUST SEE MUST DO
FROM GETTING ACRASH COURSE IN HISTORY TO STOMPING GRAPES LIKE THE FRENCH, THERE’S ALOT TO DO IN PUNE. SIMPLY PUNE TAKES YOU ON A TOUR AROUND THE CITY’S NOOKS AND CRANNIES
Wine and dine Malaka Spice
Want to ring in the grapes harvest season like the French do? With city restaurant Malaka Spice’s annual stomp and sangria festival, Puneites don’t always need to travel to Nashik to stomp, instead enjoy the wine festivities right at your doorstep.
Wine lovers throng here in large numbers each year to indulge in the grape stomping festivities within your city. Jump into the tub full of red grapes, soak your feet in the freshly squeezed juice and spend the day having fun with friends. To make the afternoon more fun and interactive, they even have quizzes on wines and games such as guessing the weight of a bowl-full of grapes.
Held in the month of February every year, it’s a day when revelers from Mumbai travel across the Expressway to join in the festivities. If you love your wines and want to join in the festivities, then head head here and enjoy. At Lane Number 5, Koregaon Park Tel 26152008
Heritage trail Sinhagad
Best known for the historic battle when Tanaji Malusare scaled the towering fort with the help of a giant lizard, Sinhagad is now an imposing reminder of the state’s history and a popular picnic spot. Barely 1,312 metres into the Sahyadri range, the fort holds the ruins of the erstwhile military stables, gates and temples. But the one treat that awaits visitors as they reach the top is the line of stalls offering fresh pithla-bhakar (a local snack), kanda bhaji and fresh curd in earthen pots. Buses run at regular intervals to the foothills and taxi services can take you up to the fort. But the real joy is in exploring Sinhagad on foot during the hour-long trek. And you might just spot cadets of the National Defense Academy running up the hill as part of their training programme. At 30 kms southwest
of Pune city
Cool down Sujata Mastani
The mastani deserves a special mention because its Pune’s own version of milk-and-ice cream falooda. Sixty years ago, this cold drinks shop transformed the milkshake into the exotic sounding mastani, topping it with home-made ice cream, fruit pulp, flavoured milk and nuts. Now synonymous with mastani, the drink named after the famed courtesan of the Peshwa dynasty, Sujata offers over a dozen flavours across its 16 outlets. The mango-kesar-pista is an all-time favourite and Puneites swear by it. You need a good appetite to finish an entire glass, so go there when you want a hearty dessert. Price Rs 60 At Nimbalkar Talim Chowk, Sadashiv Peth Tel 24474641
Down memory lane
Victory Theatre
We’ve got the swanky multiplexes in the city, but if you want to travel back in time, head to the ticket window at Victory theatre to catch the latest flick.
Housed in a quaint bungalow-like structure, this is one of the few single screen theatres remaining in the city. Besides its old world charm, Victory also has an interesting episode of history to boast of. The 75year-old theatre was earlier called Capitol and witnessed the historical Capitol Bomb Blast during the freedom movement.
In its recently revamped avatar, the quaint cinema hall now has a hi-tech sound system, world-class projection system, improved acoustics, light effects and interiors that match up to the city’s multiplexes. You will often spot the elderly who come here to relive the charm of the black and white classics they watched here 50 years ago. At 24/29, General Thimayya Road, Opposite Kalyani Bakery, Pune H.O. Tel 26132975