Gardens in Pune, Plus Lakes and Hills: Sarasbaug, Empress Garden, the Japanese Garden, Pashan and Tekdis

Last updated: 14 November 2026 · 9 min read · By Rahul Sharma

For a city of its size, Pune has a surprising amount of green space: Peshwa-era gardens, old colonial parks, a Japanese garden, lakes for birdwatching and a ring of small hills, called tekdis, where thousands of Punekars walk every morning. This guide covers the best of them, with what to expect and when to go.

Quick answer: for a relaxed evening, go to Sarasbaug or the Pu La Deshpande Japanese garden on Sinhagad Road. For a morning walk, climb Vetal tekdi, Taljai or Parvati. For water and birds, head to Pashan lake or the Khadakwasla dam backwaters.

Pune’s green spaces at a glance

Gardens in the city

Sarasbaug

Sarasbaug began as a lake built under Nanasaheb Peshwa, with a Ganpati temple on an island in the middle. The temple was completed in 1784; the lake later dried up and the municipal corporation turned the area into a public garden in the 1960s. Today the roughly 25-acre garden is one of the city’s busiest evening spots, with lawns, walking paths, the Talyatla Ganpati temple and food stalls at the gate.

Next to it is the former Peshwe Park zoo site. The zoo opened in 1953 and its animals were moved to the Katraj zoo between 1999 and 2005. For the temple’s history, see our famous temples in Pune guide.

Empress Garden

Near the Race Course in Camp, Empress Garden is a large botanical garden run by the Agri-Horticultural Society of Western India. It is known for its old trees, shaded walking paths and a winter flower show that draws plant lovers from across the city. It is a good morning spot for families and for anyone looking for nurseries and seasonal plants.

Pu La Deshpande Udyan (Japanese garden)

On Sinhagad Road, this garden named after the Marathi writer Pu La Deshpande is officially the Pune-Okayama Friendship Garden and is often simply called the Japanese garden. It was developed with help from Okayama, Pune’s sister city in Japan, and is modelled on Okayama’s famous Korakuen garden, with ponds, small bridges and carefully placed trees. A Mughal-style section with fountains sits alongside.

It is one of the most peaceful gardens in the city, and photography is popular here. Go early or late to avoid the midday heat.

Osho Teerth Park and Koregaon Park

Behind the Osho meditation resort in Koregaon Park, Osho Teerth is a park built around a natural stream, with bamboo groves and wooden bridges. Visiting hours are limited, usually to mornings and late afternoons, so check before you go.

Bund Garden (Mahatma Gandhi Udyan) and riverside walks

On the Mula-Mutha near the Yerawada bridge, Bund Garden is one of Pune’s oldest public gardens. The riverfront here is being redeveloped in phases, so some stretches may be closed for work.

Lakes and dams

Pashan lake

Pashan lake in west Pune is the city’s best-known birdwatching spot in winter, when migratory birds arrive. Early morning is the best time. The area around the lake has walking paths, but water levels and conditions vary through the year.

Khadakwasla dam

About 20 km south-west of the city centre, Khadakwasla is one of the dams that supply Pune’s drinking water. Its backwaters, with Sinhagad in the background, are a favourite evening drive, and roadside stalls sell bhutta (corn) and bhajji in the monsoon.

Swimming and entering the water are dangerous and prohibited; the dam is a water supply reservoir and drownings have happened here. Our dam storage updates track how much water the city has.

Further out: Panshet, Varasgaon, Mulshi and Temghar

For a half-day trip, the Panshet and Varasgaon dams beyond Khadakwasla, Mulshi lake towards Tamhini, and the Temghar backwaters offer quieter scenery. Combine them with a drive described in our hill stations near Pune guide.

Tekdis: Pune’s morning-walk hills

Pune’s small hills are its real outdoor gyms. Every morning they fill with walkers, joggers and laughter clubs.

• Vetal tekdi: the largest green hill in the middle of the city, between Kothrud, Pashan and Senapati Bapat Road, with a quarry lake and wide views.
• Hanuman tekdi: a short climb near Senapati Bapat Road, often combined with Vetal tekdi.
• Taljai: a forested hill near Parvati and Sahakar Nagar, with a temple and wide trails.
• Parvati hill: a stone stairway to Peshwa-era temples; best at sunrise.
• ARAI hill: near Kothrud and Paud Road, with gentle trails and city views.

Carry water, avoid walking alone at dusk on isolated trails, and stay on marked paths. Fires on the hills are common in the dry months, so do not smoke or light anything.

The zoo: Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park, Katraj

The Katraj zoo in south Pune houses tigers, leopards, elephants, birds and a snake park, and is the city’s main family outing on weekends. Weekday mornings are much calmer. Read about the zoo’s role in a new public health programme in our story on Katraj zoo and One Health surveillance.

Tips for visiting

• Check timings: most municipal gardens close for a few hours in the afternoon and open again in the evening; some close one day a week. The Pune Municipal Corporation lists its gardens and timings.
• Entry fees: usually small for city gardens; the zoo and some parks charge more. Keep change and UPI ready.
• Weather: October to February is the best season. Avoid long walks in the April and May afternoon heat; see our Pune weather updates.
• Leave no trace: carry your waste back, especially on the tekdis and at dam backwaters.

Frequently asked questions