So what’s been new? What’s trending? What has been the talk of the town for the last month? What has caused a flutter and war of words on Twitter? It is IPL (Indian Premier League), of course. The glamorous event that lasts for more than a month and encompasses eight of the major cities of India! No, this is not a blog about the IPL or the cheerleaders (some say they get more camera time than the players!), or the actual gods of the cricketing arena. The focus of this blog is you!
You are a fan. You want to watch the semi finals and the final of the IPL. Chances are you would have to travel to Pune, Bangalore, and Chennai. How would you reach the stadium? Where would you go for dinner? Where would you celebrate a win or mourn a loss? These are the questions that you would like to have answers for and you would get them in this series of blogs.
The first city to be tackled is Pune. Pune is the eighth largest metropolis in India and was also the eighth team to be inducted into the IPL itinerary. Economically, Pune is an important city and is quite prosperous. Despite being a hub of giant corporations and reputed educational institutes, Pune is completely unmarred by the hubris of decadency like other big metropolises of India. Pune is a prime tourist attraction owing to its natural beauty. The outskirts of the city are dotted with forests and hills that provide for excellent trekking, camping, and excursion activities. The climate of Pune is also mild and remains cool for most of the year. Coming back to your IPL holiday in Pune, the first thing you would want to know is how to reach the magnificent Subrato Roy Sahara Stadium.
How to reach the stadium?
- The first advice would be to start from your location at least three hours before the scheduled entrance timing. This would give you enough time to figure out the route and you can also avoid the rush to the stadium.
- If you are travelling in a four wheeler, it would be better to not use the expressway. Instead, they must keep left while driving, and take the exit on the left near the Kiwale junction. This exit is the starting point of a service road which reaches the stadium.
- On a two wheeler, you would do good to use the Dehu Road-Katraj bypass, cross Kiwale junction and reach Mamurdi village road off the bypass.
Killing Time on Off Days
- You can start your off day with a visit to the Panshet Dam. This spot is quite serene and provides for an excellent family outing or picnic. You can also try your hands at some adventurous water sports like kayaking or wind surfing at the recently developed water sports complex.
- If you have the time and the means, you must visit the Bhatgar Dam, 40 kms from Pune. Built on river Velvandi, Bhatgar Dam has one of the highest river dam walls in India. The surrounding area consists of green forests and beautiful landscapes; an ideal place for a lazy outing or picnic
- Depending on the duration of your trip to Pune, you can also plan a trip to two of Bollywood’s favorite hill stations—Lonavala and Khandala. The twin hill stations offer a delighting plethora of hills, greenery, and cascading waterfalls.
- You can take some time out to visit the much acclaimed National War Museum located at the Pune Cantonment. The museum contains the forgotten remains of the various weapons used during the different wars India has had to fight. On display in the museum is a MIG 23 BN that was used in the Kargil War.
Dining
- Malaka Spice- Located in Koregaon Park, this restaurant serves Malaysian, Thai, Vietnamese, Korean, and Japanese delicacies. If you like a little wine with your food, Malaka Spice also features a well stocked bar.
- High Spirits- High Spirits is a pub-restaurant that is known for its delicious servings of Continental, North Indian, and Mexican cuisines. the only spoiler about this place is the fact that stag enrty is generally not allowed; so, do not forget to bring your girlfriend or spouse along.
- The Village Restaurant- Situated in Hadapsar, this restaurant caters to guests with a penchant for Indian delicacies. Various delicacies such as Mahrashtrian, Gujarati, Nort Indian, Rajathani, South Indian, and Mughlai find their way to the kitchen at this restaurant. To whet your taste buds, this restaurant also serves tangy street foods!
After Match Delights
Your team either wins or loses the match. In either case, a pub would be the place to be for after match delights/mourning. Some of the pubs that you can hit on the way home are:-
- High Spirits
- 1000 Oaks at Pune Camp
- Kiva Lounge
- Apache
- Not Just Jazz By The Bay
If you are looking to enjoy the much reputed nightlife of Pune, here is a list of Night Clubs that would be certain to entertain your this wish:-
- Scream at Hotel Le Meridian
- Polaris at Koregaon Park Road
- Area 51 at Pancard Clubs, Baner
- Lush Lounge and Grille at Dhole Patil Road