Pune
Located in the Sahyadri mountain range, near the Western Coast, Pune was the bastion of the all powerful Maratha Empire under the reign of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Today, Pune is an important commercial, industrial and educational centre. It is the eighth largest metropolis in India. Hinduism is the most commonly practised religion in Pune, and many Churches, Masjids, Gurudwaras, Jain temples and other religious buildings are found throughout the city. The most visited temple is likely the Chaturshringi Temple, located on the slopes of a hill in the northwest of the city. During Navratri, there is a large procession to this temple and worshippers gather from around the country to pray here. The presiding god of Pune city is the Kasba Ganapati, whose temple is found in Kasba Peth in central Pune. Since 1894, Pune has celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi as a ten-day long festival, in which most neighborhoods put up a pandal (tent) with an idol of Ganesha, often amidst a religious setting, complete with decorative lights and festive music. This festival culminates with a parade of Ganesh idols from across the city carried to the local rivers to be immersed. The Kasba Ganapati, as the presiding deity of the city, is the first in this parade. In addition to its various temples, historical attractions in and around Pune include the rock-cut Pataleshwar cave temple, Aga Khan Palace and Sinhagad fort.
