4 Helpful Tips for Staying in Pune, India
In 2022 I traveled to Pune, India where I was healed from a complex stage 5 fistula. I know first hand that traveling to a new country for medical reasons is overwhelming. Especially when you are already unwell.
I have spent more than 4 months in Pune. And I have learnt a few important tips for staying in Pune. Including,
-
How to get around
-
Where to shop
-
Where to stay
-
Is Pune safe?
How to get Around
In general getting around India is easy. There are so many options for transportation. Here are a few key tips for staying in Pune I learnt about transportation.
For getting around the city of Pune. Just like most places in India, the tuk tuk, rik shaw, or auto as they are called in Pune is the best method.
They are widely available everywhere. There are two methods of ordering one. First, you can approach or wave one down on the street. The driver should flip the meter, which calculates the fare. If he does not (sometimes they say it’s broken), you will have to negotiate the price. Which can be a pain as they often want to over charge foreigners.
To avoid this haggling, you can order an auto using Uber or Ola apps instead. This way the price is set beforehand. And you do not have to explain the destination to the driver who may or may not speak English.
You can also order cars through Uber and Ola. But for city driving they take a lot longer to negotiate the traffic.
When traveling from the airport in Mumbai you can organize an Uber using the app. Uber also has a desk just inside the main exit doors of the airport.
There are also local taxi services where you pay ahead and get a receipt. I have used both services with good results. You can ask to stop at a bathroom halfway, but it’s best to ask at the start of the trip.
Where to Shop
As someone who does not really eat out. Finding good grocery stores is essential for me while traveling.
Local fruits and vegetables are available everywhere. And India has the widest variety of produce of any country I have ever been to. One time we were caught inside a produce stall during a monsoonal rain. And I counted over 145 different fruits and vegetables available inside the small stall.
For groceries I discovered two very good stores. And this is may my most important insider tips for staying in Pune.
First grocery store is Nature’s Basket. This is the go-to grocery store for foreigners looking for international groceries. They have most common grocery items. Although the prices of some items are very high by Indian standards. Nature’s Basket is conveniently located in Koregaon Park.
Dorabjee’s Camp is the name of the second grocery store I recommend. This is one of the best grocery stores I have ever been to anywhere in the world. It has all the items that I could have possibly ever wanted. And most of those items with organic options.
They have an amazing selection of local produce. Three floors of groceries. Frozen foods. Fresh meat. And all very affordable by international standards.
You can take an auto to Dorabjee’s. I found it easiest to order the auto using an app so that the driver knew where to take me.
Where to Stay
There are two types of accommodation that I am including in my tips for staying in Pune.
The first is the Sunderban Hotel Resort. This is the accommodation that was recommended to me by Healing Hands Clinic when I visited. It is a modern hotel, clean, quiet and peaceful.
Although I visited this beautiful location many times. Unfortunately it was out of our price range for long term accommodation. And I wanted a full kitchen.
For the duration of our stay in Pune, we stayed in Air BnBs.
There are a wide range of accommodations available for you on AirBnB. The selection is almost overwhelming. We stayed in more than 6 different Air BnBs all over the city of Pune. There are a few key things that I learnt to look for.
-
Koregaon park is the best location to stay in
-
Accommodations for less than $40 AUD per night were very small. They were usually a single room that contained both the bed and kitchen
-
It is noisy all over the city
-
In all of the places we stayed the cleanliness was not great, but some were better than others
Koregaon Park is the posh area of Pune city. It is where a lot of the European restaurants, night clubs and bars are. Women walk around in shorts. People eat European pastries. And there are plenty of trees around.
It is the best area to stay in the city by far.
Tips for Staying in Pune: Is Pune Safe?
Overall during my time in Pune I felt safe. I was there with my male partner, so I do know that this would have affected my feeling of overall safety.
There is a lot of poverty in Pune. And this can of course lead to people being more desperate or pushy than they would otherwise be.
This just means be aware of your surroundings at all times. There may be opportunists who may see you as a walking ATM. You may be asked to watch a magic show, then have to pay. Or someone may push you to buy flowers from them. Some people can be too pushy.
So although I never really felt unsafe. I did feel uncomfortable many times. The level of obvious suffering around is heartbreaking. As a normal, generally good person, I do not want to see anyone suffer. Especially children and women. But it is unfortunately a part of walking down the streets of Pune. And it can be upsetting.
Pune is a wonderful city. With lots of cultural sites to see. And of course it has the most important site for all of us; Healing Hands clinic. I hope these tips for staying in Pune, India will help you along your journey to being fistula free!