8 Reasons Why You Should Visit Pune Over Mumbai

When you’re visiting a place as a tourist, you’d like to go around and explore as best as possible. But when you encounter warm, humid, uncomfortable weather all the time, it ruins your mood and drains your energy. That’s what Mumbai is like—humid and sweaty. Pune, on the other hand, is cool and pleasant at any time of the year, with occasional drizzles and a pleasant breeze bringing alive the romantic in everybody. Pune’s weather beats Mumbai’s any day.

Who would like to be stuck in traffic for hours while out to explore the city? No one. If you are in Mumbai, the overwhelming traffic will set you back by three hours every single day. That is not the ideal scenario when you are visiting for a limited time. Pune is a smaller city with manageable traffic, and you spend no more than 15 to 20 minutes commuting. This leaves you with more time to go around and explore the place.

Mumbai is a concrete jungle with highrises dotting the skyline. When there are too many people at one place, it is bound to get crowded, stifling, and dirty. In comparison, Pune has managed to save its greenery and open spaces. The city is cleaner and greener, and much less crowded than Mumbai. Being a tourist in Pune is always a pleasant experience.

Pune is home to cuisine from all over the world. From high-end restaurants to street food and Parsi cuisine to Italian food, there’s so much variety. Whether you are a non-vegetarian, vegetarian, or vegan, you will find a wide range of food available to your delight. Eating out is cheaper than in Mumbai, which makes sampling the different kinds of food much more enjoyable.

Tourists love to shop, and there are few places better or cheaper than Pune when it comes to shopping. From high-end designer labels to budget options, Pune offers a wide variety to suit every taste. Unlike Mumbai, where things are generally on the higher side, Pune is affordable, and shopping to your heart’s content will not drain your bank account.

Mumbai might be the more glamorous cousin of Pune, but when it comes to music and nightlife, the latter is hard to beat. The happening nightlife even manages to draw many people from Mumbai to Pune. Over the years, the city has hosted some impressive music shows, including events featuring David Guetta, Akon, and Enrique. Also, Pune hosts two EDM festivals—Bacardi NH7 Weekender and The Sunburn.

Pune is more affordable than Mumbai, so if you are looking to rent a home or hotel for your stay, it could be well within your budget. Eating out, shopping, visiting tourist attractions, and even splurging on luxury items will not burn a hole in your pocket. Those visiting Pune from other states will find it easier to have a good time on a budget as compared to its more expensive counterpart, Mumbai.

Pune serves as the gateway to various other beautiful places, many of them hill stations. Lonavla, Lavasa, Khandala, and Mahabaleshwar are some of the scenic destinations easily accessible from Pune. All of these places are a few hours drive from the city and make for perfect weekend getaways. If you’re visiting Pune, you can easily drive to these nearby regions for a rejuvenating experience.

While Mumbai has its own charm, there are reasons why Pune scores bigger. Visit Pune any time of the year to find out for yourself.