Saras Baug is a vast area of picturesque gardens surrounding a temple in the centre of Pune. The central 18th-century temple is the park’s highlight, attracting visitors and devotees year-round. The temple’s pretty moat and spacious fields make it an ideal spot to take your children for a picnic on a sunny day. The entire complex, named after a type of crane bird, is spread across 25 acres (10 hectares) of land.
Enter the park via its large entrance, which consists of three gates topped with white minarets. Make your way to the Talyatla Ganapati Temple to discover the monument’s rich history, dating back as far as 1750. The temple’s construction was finally completed 34 years later and has since been renovated several times. Listen to the soothing chants of the temple’s devotees.
Admire the moat that flows around the spiritual structure. The moat marks the site where the lake once flourished. Make a wish at the temple’s icon. It is said that if you return at the same time for 21 days in a row, your wish will come true.
Take a leisurely stroll through the pretty gardens. Set up a picnic in an open space on the grass with friends or family. There are benches dotted around the park where you can take a seat. Watch locals playing cricket or other sports on the fields. Try to spot fish below the leaves in the pond. Explore different sections of the garden, marked by fences, to see diverse species of exotic trees.
There are streets full of restaurants and cafés around the park. Try some Indian cuisine at a nearby establishment.
Saras Baug is between the Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum and the Parvati Temples complex, just south of the city centre. The Peshve Park Lake and the Jhopadpatti Canal border the park. Take a bus to one of the stops just outside the complex to discover the tranquility of this garden that is free to enter.
