Shivajinagar, Pune

The circular Nandi mandapa at the Pataleshwar cave temple built in the Rashtrakuta era

Vetal hill from Law College

The area has a very long history with the 8th century Rashtrakuta era cave temple of Pataleshwar being the oldest man made structure in Pune.[1]

Shivajinagar was earlier known as Bhambwade. Later it came to known as Bhamburde.[2] It is believed that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj came to the temple of Rokdoba in the village and rested in Shirole Wada of Shirole family. During the Peshwa era, a factory making handcrafted paper operated from Bhamburde.[3]

During the Maratha Empire era, the Patil (Head) of the village were Shiledar Shirole (Patil) (शिलेदार शिरोळे-पाटील) family who also were Shiledar (warriors) in the Maratha army, Shirole family is now a very well known Political family.

In the 19th century, Jangali Maharaj, a saint revered mostly by Hindus, established his residence here. His memorial temple (Samadhi) is located in the area and the major road in Shivajinagar is named after him.

In 1880/1882, the Inamdar of Bhamburda, Shrimant Rajaram Naroji Shirole Patil leased 37 acres of land at the foot of Hanuman hill for 99 years to the Deccan Education Society. The society's most well known institution, Fergusson College was built on this land.[4]

After independence, the name of Bhamburde was changed to Shivajinagar. In early part of the 20th century, one of the oldest slums in Pune called Wadarwadi, initially occupied mostly by the nomadic Wadar community came into being on unused land of the Shirole, Bahirat families close to the Chaturshrungi Temple.[2]^:42

In 1928, a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was inaugurated on the grounds donated by the Shirole family. The Shri Shivaji military preparatory school was later built in the surrounding area.

A scene on the Riverbank on the Mutha river at Shivajinagar in the 1980s

Shivajinagar is situated on the West bank of the Mutha river with the older parts of Pune on the east side of the river. The area is surrounded on its Western side by the Vetal and Hanuman Hills. The village deity (Gramdaivat) is the temple of Rokdoba (God Hanuman) in Shivajinagar Gaothan. The Gaothan also has a temple of God Shri Ram.

Shivajinagar bus stand

College of Engineering, Pune (COEP)

The Mumbai – Pune old national highway begins from Shivajinagar which links Pune to Mumbai. MSRTC lt operates a bus station that connects Pune to almost all cities in Maharashtra as well in neighboring states. Shivajinagar is well connected to other parts of the city by local PMPML buses. Shivajinagar has Shivajinagar railway station. Pune to Lonavla suburban trains and few long-distance trains make a stop here at Shivajinagar and Pune railway stations.

Balgandharv Rang Mandir theatre

The area is home to many central, state and local government offices. These include

• Pune District Court
• Pune Municipal Corporation
• India Meteorological Department - Pune regional office. Popularly known as Shimla office.
• All India Radio - Akashwani Bhavan, Pune
• Cognizant Company
• ICC Tower.

The area has a number of renowned educational institutions with a long history such as Fergusson college,Modern College of Arts, Commerce and Science Shivajinagar,College of engineering and agricultural college.

Shivajinagar has many places dedicated to culture, sports, and recreation. These include:

• Mahatma Phule Museum of Industry.
• Bal Gandharva Ranga Mandir - The premier theatre in Pune for staging Marathi drama.
• Deccan Gymkhana - Oldest Sports Club and Society in the area.
• Chhatrapati Sambhaji Park - Park along the Mutha river bank.
• Vetal Hill and Hanuman Hill - Protected nature reserves on hills.
• City Pride Mangala Cinema Theatre.
• Rahul 70 mm Cinema Theatre
• The Pavilion Mall.
• Pune Central Mall.
• Shoppers Stop - the oldest Pune branch (2001)
• E-Square Theatre and Mall.
• City Pride Theatre and Mall.
• JW Marriott Hotel.

• Shivajinagar Station - Swargate Skywalk
• Pune Suburban Railway

1. Shivajinagar bus stand Time Table
2. Shivajinagar, Pune
3. Shivajinagar Railway Station