Pune Travel and Things to Do Guide

It's not surprising that Pune, India's ninth largest metropolis and the cultural capital of state of Maharashtra, is connected to Mumbai by a six-lane, 94-kilometer-long highway; after all, Pune is the Indian home of automotive giants Mercedes Benz, General Motors, Volkswagen and Fiat, as well as a large number of automative-related companies, such as Saint-Gobain Sekurit, Robert Bosch, Visteon and Continental Corp. The city is also emerging as a dominant location for IT; and it is known as "The Oxford of the East" for its more than 150 business schools. Thus, planners can be assured that Pune event venues can accommodate any number of group requests.
Pune Airport (PNQ) is located approximately six miles northeast of the city. While the airport handles both domestic and international flights, currently its sole international carrier is Luftansa.
Chief among convention venues in Pune, the Lavasa International Convention Center is spread over 1.5 acres of land, offering 35,000 square feet of flexible floor space to cater for variety of events for 1,500. Hotel venues in Pune include the 416-room Pune Marriott Hotel and Convention Center with 12 meeting rooms comprising 18,955 square feet has the city's largest meeting room of 12,971 square feet and a maximum seating capacity of 2,000; and with an extended foyer area - beautifully landscaped - as a venue for outdoor events. The 177-room Le Meridien Pune has 10,000 square feet of meeting space.
A nod to acquire land for an ambitious project of setting up the Pune International Exhibition and Convention Centre (PIECC), a privately managed facility, is on. The project is expected to spread across 110 hectares. Phase I will comprise the center and two exhibition halls, with a hotel and a golf course proposed for Phase II. In addition, the Trump organization is all set up to start a luxury residential project in Pune, its first foray in India.
With so many business schools, a large student population contributes to Pune's vibrant culture. Great restaurants, museums and forts that border the city create a panoramic view. Get-aways from Pune include numerous historical sights that are a good option for post-tours, while caves and treks around the little mountains and hillocks make for interesting activities.