Pune (Poona)

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Pune map 

Hotels     

Local transportation

Restaurants      

Baba places      

Emergency      

  U.S. telephone prefix:    011-91-212-number

Pune (the Marathi name for Poona) is a large city in the Deccan plateau, about 170 kilometres (106 miles) southeast of Mumbai. No matter how you travel, the route passes through the ghats, the mountainous hill ranges surrounding Pune. The roads through the ghats are steep and winding, and the scenery is spectacular.

Pune has a long and proud history. During the 17th century the district was associated with Shivaji, the warrior who resisted Moghul expansion and helped to unite Maharashtra. (Shivaji is known to be one of Meher Baba's veiled minor incarnations.) During the British Raj, Pune was a British military post and popular vacation spot. It was there that Meher Baba was born, grew up, and became unveiled by the Perfect Master Hazrat Babajan. During the 1960s Pune was also the spot where Meher Baba spent the summer months and gave a number of darshan programs, including the 1962 East-West Gathering.

Pune Baba places  

Meher Baba's House      Pumpkin_House      Babajan's Tomb      Guruprasad_Memorial       Bund_Gardens      Sassoon_Hospital      Baba Centre 

While in Pune, you may wish to spend time visiting places associated with Meher Baba's life and work. See the Pilgrim Reservations Office for pamphlets with additional information.

Meher Baba's House  

Down an alley off Dastur Meher Road is the home where Meher Baba and His family lived from 1918 on. The address is 765 Dastur Meher Road, and the alley is located to the left of Fatima General Stores and across from Ahuramazda Cycle Stores. Inside is a room (known as Baba's room) where Meher Baba kept Himself secluded after being unveiled by Hazrat Babajan. The room contains a number of personal items associated with Meher Baba's life. Baba's house is a private family residence, but Baba followers are welcome to visit Baba's room between 11:00 am to 1:00 pm and 4:00 to 8:00 pm.

Pumpkin House  

Located diagonally across from Baba's house is the home where Meher Baba spent some of His childhood and boyhood until 1918. The house gets its name from a large round stone at the entrance.  

Hazrat Babajan's Tomb  

Hazrat Babajan's Tomb used to be about three blocks south of Baba's house on Dastur Meher Road beneath the neem tree where Babajan used to sit and where Meher Baba first met her.

Guruprasad Memorial  

Guruprasad, the palace of the Maharani of Baroda, was where Meher Baba often spent the summer months during the 1960s. It was the site of many darshan programs, including the 1962 East-West Gathering and the 1969 Darshan. The palace no longer stands, but a small memorial building has been constructed on the property, using original materials from Meher Baba's bedroom. It also contains a chair on which Meher Baba sat and gave darshan.  

24 Bund Gardens Road
Open daily from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm (Wednesdays from 9:00 to 11:00 am and 5:30 to 7:00 pm)
 

Bund Gardens  

Meher Baba often visited these gardens on the banks of the Mula River. Near the parapet wall is a large mango tree with a cement base where Babajan often sat. Later Meher Baba also sat here on various occasions with His followers. 

Sassoon Hospital 

This hospital, on Sassoon and Dr. Ambedkar Roads, is where Meher Baba was born on February 25, 1894. A new hospital building now stands on the site of the original wing where Meher Baba was born. Nearby you may still be able to find a plaque commemorating Meher Baba's birth. 

Avatar Meher Baba Pune Centre  

This centre is somewhat difficult to find. It is located on a side road behind the K.E.M. Hospital. Meher Baba gave darshan a number of times in its large hall. A wide variety of Baba books and pamphlets are also on sale here. Visitors are welcome at meetings on Mondays at 7:00 pm.
441/1, Somwar Peth
Pune 411 001
Hours: Daily 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and 4:00 to 9:00 pm
Phone:627-846

Emergency contact  

Jhangu & Gulnar Sukadwalla
841 Dastur Meher Road (near Meher Baba's House)
Camp Pune, M.S. 411 001
Phone: 630-596