The most interesting thing I’ve done as a Local Guide happened on 3rd August 2019 when my extended morning walk turned out to be of 7 hours and 16 kms.
Pigeons eating grains in perfect harmony with humans in one of the most modern industrial concrete jungle of India - Pune. Photo - Omkareshwar Temple Pune.
Last August me and my friend who also happens to be a great google local guide decided to explore and click photos of various historical heritage structures in Pune associated with Maratha empire, Indian freedom movement and British rule (Pune being an Army Cantonment) that got lost to high-rise buildings and factories due to rapid industrialization of Pune after LPG reforms 1991.
The above image is of Google Fit related to our Heritage Walk of the mentioned day.
So we set our foot on our journey and in this process we discovered that Pune being melting pot of different cultures is home to people of every faith and region. We covered various heritage buildings associated with Maratha empire and clicked photos of numerous religious shrines belonging to nearly every major faith practised in India. We also covered various buildings associated with British Government and their officers.
I am posting some of the photos I have clicked on that day.
Shanivarwada- the area around this place houses various buildings related to Peshwe, Maratha aristocrats, Indian freedom movement and numerous Hindu temples.
Mahatma Phule Mandai - a traditional Marketplace.
Vishrambaug wada - Peshwewada.
Tulshibaug Ram Mandir - next to hustling and bustling Tulsibag shopping lane.
Nanawada - House of Maratha Nobel.
Shanivarwada - de facto Capital of India during peak of Maratha power.
Trishund Ganpati
Nagarkarwada - House of Maratha Nobel.
Theosophical Society Pune Chapter associated with Colonel Olocot, Madam Blavatsky and Annie Besant.
House of Indian freedom fighter and social reformer Gopal Krishna Gokhale.
Prarthana Samaj - Here freedom fighters used to held their meetings.
Camp area Pune - the area houses religious shrines of various faith, British architectural themed buildings and houses of British officers.
Rahmatullah Dargah - Pune Camp.
Shivaji Market - Pune Camp.
Synagogue in Pune Camp
Jain Temple Pune Camp
Saint Paul’s Cathedral Pune
British themed buildings in Camp Pune.
We were tired after walking around 16 km for continuous 7 hours and capturing and exploring 100’s of heritage sites. That day will be an unforgettable memory for both of us. Few days after that we both uploaded our photos on maps and till date it has helped a lot of people.
Thanks for reading my story.