Our Guide to Pune, India is Ganesh Vijaypurkar, Head of Pune Citi Service Centre.
Citi's legacy in India dates back to 1902, and today Citi is among the most prominent foreign banks operating in the country and in Pune. Citi provides services to large local corporates, including Fortune 500 companies, small and medium-sized enterprises, multinationals and retail customers.
Established in 1999, the Pune branch serves clients from the manufacturing and Information Technology and Information Technology-enabled services (ITes) sectors. Pune is the one of India's fastest-growing hubs for these industries and is rapidly becoming an important destination for IT development and knowledge processing services with firms increasingly setting up a presence in the city.
Pune continues to attract both experienced professionals as well as new graduates who find the environment, culture, cost of living and climate very appealing. Large IT centers have been set up by both the Maharashtra State government as well as private consortiums to provide world-class facilities and top-notch services.
About Pune: Pune is marked by magnificent land and forts, and is well known for its academic and research institutions that attract students from all over the world.
The city's colorful history is closely linked to the Maratha Empire (1674-1818), and Pune is known for its role in India's social and religious reform movements. Pune is evolving into a cosmopolitan city, retaining both the archaic and modern aspects of its culture. I bear witness to the quaint charm of Pune, including its omnipresent cyclists and rickshaws that continue to intrigue me.
National Language: Marathi
Currency: The Indian rupee is the official currency.
Climate: Overall, the climate and temperature does not go to extremities and humidity is negligible. Pune is perfect for morning and evening walks any time of the year.
Pune Cuisine: Sorghum and pearl millet are the main ingredients of traditional Pune food. I especially love specialties such as Misal Pav, a spicy curry made of sprouted moth beans, and topped with fried Indian noodles, onions, lemon and coriander (cilantro). I am also very fond of Puran Poli, a sweet flat Indian bread stuffed with lentils, jaggery (traditional Indian sweetener made from sugarcane) and spices. A unique beverage in Pune is the Mastani, a thick milkshake containing dried fruit. I like to snack on Bakarvadi, a spicy tangy tea-time snack that looks like a crispy fried roll and is stuffed with a tangy mixture of coconut and poppy seeds.
Best Places for Dinner: There are a number of good restaurants as well as roadside eateries that serve local cuisine. I personally prefer looking for food with Pune's authentic taste, along with reasonable prices, at restaurants in areas such as Koregaon Park, J.M. Road, Fergusson College Road, Shivaji Nagar and Laxmi Road.
Best Places for a Weekend Away
Why I Enjoy Living in Pune: Pune is said to be the cultural capital of the state of Maharashtra. It epitomizes Marathi culture, which emphasizes education, arts and crafts, music and theatre. Pune culture itself reflects a blend of traditions with modernity, which I find very intriguing.