Budhwar Peth, Business district in Pune, India
Budhwar Peth is a business district in central Pune, India, where traditional textile dealers, booksellers, and electronics markets line the streets. The streets alternate between narrow lanes with small storefronts and wider junctions where pedestrians weave between mopeds and delivery vans.
The area was known as Mohitabad in the 1660s under the Mughals and later renamed when the Peshwas took control of Pune. It grew into a major market district by the early 19th century, attracting traders from surrounding villages.
Budhwar Peth takes its name from Wednesday (Budhwar), when the main market day traditionally took place. The Ganesh temples in the neighborhood, especially the one at Tulshibaug Square, draw crowds during the festival who sing, pray, and offer sweets.
The neighborhood is easily reached on foot from central stops in Pune, with the narrow lanes becoming especially crowded during daytime hours. Visitors wanting to shop or see the temples should aim for early morning or late morning to avoid the heaviest crowds.
Bhide Wada near Limbraj Maharaj Mandir housed the first girls' school in Maharashtra from January 1848, founded by social reformers against fierce resistance at the time. The original wooden beams and courtyards of the wada still remain and show the architecture of that era.
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