Stand on the bridge over the Pavana at Chinchwad and you can see two versions of the same city: the low skyline of the old village on one bank, and the long sheds and office blocks of the industrial belt on the other. Pimpri-Chinchwad grew up around its factories, and its landmarks are the ones that came with that growth — a saint's shrine, a church, a handful of parks, and the odd piece of public art.
The city suits travellers who are already in the Pune area and want a half-day or a full day that is not the usual fort-and-museum circuit, as well as pilgrims heading to Alandi and Dehu, and cricket followers in town for a match at Gahunje. This guide covers the specific places named in the city's own listings, in the order worth doing them.
Top things to do in Pimpri-Chinchwad
1. Alandi
Alandi is the resting place of the 13th-century Marathi saint Sant Dnyaneshwar, and his devotees hold that he is still alive. A temple complex was built at his samadhi, and it draws pilgrims throughout the year, particularly from the Varkari sect.
It is the single most substantial thing to see in this part of the region, so give it the best part of a morning rather than tacking it onto another stop. Dress and behave as you would at any working place of pilgrimage, and expect crowds on the days that matter to the Varkari calendar.
2. Dehu
Dehu sits on the banks of the Indrayani River and is associated with Sant Tukaram Maharaj, the 17th-century poet-saint of the Bhakti movement in Maharashtra. Hundreds of thousands of people come for the annual Pandharpur Wari, when the paduka, the symbolic sandals of the saint, are carried to Pandharpur in a palkhi.
If your visit does not coincide with the Wari, the town is far quieter and easier to walk. Combine it with Alandi if you are following the Bhakti trail, since the two towns hold the samadhi places of the region's two most revered saints.
3. Pimpri Chinchwad Science Park
A science centre housing a museum, an art gallery, an auditorium, an amphitheatre and a planetarium. It is the most family-friendly stop in the city and works well when the weather is too hot or too wet to be outdoors.
It is closed on Sundays, so plan it for a weekday. Tickets are separate for the museum and for the shows, and children below fifteen pay a lower rate than adults.
4. Chapekar Wada
The house of the Chapekar brothers, Indian revolutionaries of the British period, now converted into a museum. Chinchwad is their birthplace: Damodar Hari, Balkrishna Hari and Vasudeo Hari, who assassinated W. C. Rand, chairman of the Special Plague Committee of Poona, on 22 June 1897.
It is a small, focused stop rather than a whole afternoon, and it pairs naturally with the other heritage sites in the older parts of the city. It is open through the day into the early evening.
5. Ghorawadi Caves
Also known as Ghoradeshwar Caves or Shelarwadi Caves, this is a cave with carvings and statues of Buddhist and Hindu deities. It is the closest thing here to a straightforward archaeological outing.
Go in the cooler hours, since the approach and the site itself offer little shade. Wear shoes with grip, and carry water.
6. Indori Fort
A fort built by Sarsenapati Khandojirao Yesajirao Dabhade in 1720–21. The entrance gate is in good condition, and the fort has nine bastions connected by a fortification wall. The walls are 30–40 ft high, made of basalt rock with brickwork at the top, and there is a temple of Kadjai inside. The mint building within the fort is in shambles.
The walls and the gate are the reason to come; the ruined mint is of interest mainly if you already follow Maratha military history. Start early, as there is little shelter once you are on the ramparts.
7. Sangram Durg
Also known as Chakan Fort. It is the second of the area's forts and is best treated as a separate outing rather than an addition to Indori Fort.
As with any fort visit in this region, go in the morning during the cooler months and take water with you.
8. Our Lady Consoler of the Afflicted Church
A church in the city and one of its named places of worship. It is a quiet stop that suits travellers interested in the city's religious mix, which includes a significant Christian presence alongside Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism.
Visit outside service times if you want to look around undisturbed, and keep the visit brief and respectful.
9. गणपती मंदिर
A Ganapati temple in the city. Chinchwad in particular is noted for the shrine of Morya Gosavi, a prominent saint of the Ganapatya denomination, which worships Lord Ganesha as the Supreme Being; the inscription on that temple records that its construction began in 1658 CE.
Ganesha is widely venerated here, so this is an easy stop to fold into a walk through the older neighbourhoods. Remove your shoes before entering, as at any temple.
10. श्री विठ्ठल रुखमिणी देऊळ
A temple to Vitthal and Rukmini. The Vithoba tradition runs through this whole region, from the Varkari pilgrims at Alandi and Dehu to the Wari itself, so a stop here gives context to the larger pilgrimage sites.
Pair it with गणपती मंदिर if you are covering the city's places of worship in one outing.
11. PCMC park
A park in the city, and one of the two named green spaces. It is the simplest place to slow down between the temples, the museum and the forts.
Early morning and late afternoon are the comfortable hours for most of the year. In May, expect heavy dusty winds, and in the monsoon months of June to September, most of the city's annual rainfall.
12. Hemu Kalani Udyan
A second park in the city, useful as a break in a day that otherwise runs between built-up stops.
Winter, from October to January, is the most pleasant season for sitting outdoors, though night temperatures can fall below 10 °C.
13. Ghodaa (artwork)
A public artwork in the city, and the one piece of public art named among its places. It is a quick stop rather than a destination in its own right.
Look it up as you pass through the city centre rather than making a special trip; it works best as a photograph on the way to something else.
14. Annasaheb Magar PCMC Stadium
A multipurpose stadium owned and managed by the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation. Check what is scheduled before you go, since it is a working venue rather than a visitor attraction.
It is worth knowing about if you are in the city for sport, alongside the PCMC Hockey Stadium, also known as Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, which is a field hockey stadium.
15. Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium
Located at Gahunje, this stadium hosts both one-day internationals and test matches and serves as the home ground of the Maharashtra cricket team. If a match falls during your visit, it is the biggest event in the city's calendar.
Book ahead for international fixtures, and arrange your transport to Gahunje in advance, as match-day traffic builds early.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at Alandi, the resting place of Sant Dnyaneshwar, while the temple complex is at its calmest. If you have time and transport, continue to Dehu on the Indrayani River, associated with Sant Tukaram Maharaj.
Afternoon: Return to the city and take in Chapekar Wada, the house of the Chapekar brothers, then the Ganapati temple and श्री विठ्ठल रुखमिणी देऊळ, followed by Our Lady Consoler of the Afflicted Church. If the weather is against you, swap the temples for Pimpri Chinchwad Science Park, which is closed on Sundays.
Evening: Finish at PCMC park or Hemu Kalani Udyan, pausing at Ghodaa (artwork) on the way. If a match is on at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Gahunje, that is your evening instead.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time of year to visit Pimpri-Chinchwad?
October to January is the most comfortable stretch, with daytime temperatures around 26 °C, though nights can drop below 10 °C. Summer runs from February to May and can reach 42 °C, and most of the annual rainfall falls between June and September, with July the wettest month.
Is the Pimpri Chinchwad Science Park open every day?
No. It is open 10AM–5PM but closed on Sundays. Museum entry and show tickets are priced separately, with lower rates for children below fifteen.
Can I see the area's pilgrimage sites in a single day?
Alandi and Dehu are the two main ones, holding the samadhi places of Sant Dnyaneshwar and Sant Tukaram respectively. Both are manageable in a morning if you start early, leaving the afternoon for the city itself.
Do I need to book for the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium?
It hosts one-day internationals and test matches, so if a fixture falls during your trip, book in advance and allow extra time to reach Gahunje.
Work out which season suits you, pick your two or three priorities from the list above, and start planning your trip to Pimpri-Chinchwad.