Pune

Pune balances big-city energy with a strong cultural and academic scene. Shaniwar Wada, the 18th-century seat of the Peshwas, the hilltop Sinhagad Fort, and the garden palace of the Aga Khan Palace (where Gandhi was interned) anchor its history, while the nearby hill station of Lonavala and the cave temples of Karla and Bhaja make easy day trips.