Kirkee War Cemetery Pune Entry Fee
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Kirkee War Cemetery Pune Address: Mula Rd Khadki, Pune, Maharashtra, 411003, India
Pune is a vibrant city that offers an experience to its visitors. From forts to universities, gardens to trekking spots, museums to shopping arcades, there is something for every person visiting Pune. Apart from all these treasure troves, the city is also an Army and Airforce base with the prestigious National Defence Academy (NDA) and Southern Command Headquarters right here!
And thus, it is befitting to lay the martyrs of war to rest here and pay our respects at the historical- Kirkee War Memorial. The memorial is a tranquil garden with headstones and pillars, where you can walk in and feel at peace. The place pays homage to the two crucial World Wars of the era- WW1 and WW2.
#Trivia: Around 30 to 35 lakhs are spent every year on the maintenance of the Kirkee War Cemetery.
All about Kirkee War Cemetery
The Kirkee War Cemetery holds more than 100 years of history and is funded and maintained by The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC). Established in 1914, this cemetery was initially created to maintain the graves of servicemen and women who lost their lives in the Great War of India and Pakistan. But after the partition of 1947, no one could maintain the place.
Today there are around 1668 grave headstones of the soldiers who lost their lives in western and central during World War 1 and 2. The cemetery has most of the headstones of British soldiers, while 151 Indian, American, African, and French soldiers also lie here in peace. There is further a cross of sacrifice where 629 unmarked headstones are from World War 2. Their identity will always be a mystery for all.
#Trivia: The cemetery holds the headstones of all the martyrs and not the actual graves. They are buried in their respective countries as a mark of respect.
Architecture of the Kirkee War Cemetery
A whiff of tranquillity can be felt in the air when you enter the cemetery. The well-maintained, lush green place gives inner peace to the visitors. Gulmohar trees surround the picturesque cemetery, and the dwarf colourful rose trees form the headstone border. This quaint cemetery tells the tale of thousands of soldiers. A stroll through the place, and you will get to know their story from the engravings on the graves.
Each epitaph on the gravestone has the name of the soldier, the rank he held at the time of death, and his age. The graves also have a seal of the regiment he belonged to and the sign of the soldier's religion. On some graves, you can also find messages from the soldier's family and friends.
The jaw-dropping beauty of the place lies within the Trellis with a shaded walkway, and it feels nothing short of a haven. It is surrounded by pink and white bougainvillae cascaded around it in turf.
#Trivia: George Wittet's gravestone can be found here. He is the architect of the Gateway of India. We can find the gravestone of the designer of the Victoria of Terminus, Frederick William Stevens.
Image Gallery of Kirkee War Cemetery Pune
Location of Kirkee War Cemetery
At about 7.4 Km from the Pune city centre is the Kirkee War Cemetery. It is situated on Elphinstone Road in the Khadki Cantonment Area. It lies near the famous Holkar bridge and the Ordinance factory.
Entry fee and timings of Kirkee War Cemetery
You can witness the enchanting beauty of Kirkee War Cemetery without paying any entry fee or camera fee. The place is open throughout the week from 8 am to 4 pm.
Best time to visit Kirkee War Cemetery
You can explore the ever-welcoming city of Pune throughout the year. March to May experience peak summers with temperatures soaring up to 36 degrees Celsius and more. So, try to plan your visit from June to March and experience the most temperate and favourable weather conditions in Pune, making it a great time to visit the Kirkee War Cemetery and other tourist spots of Pune.
How to reach Kirkee War Cemetery?
The Kirkee War Cemetery is quite a famous tourist attraction of Pune. It is about 5-6 km from the Pune railway station. You can hire a cab from top car rental companies in Pune or a local auto rickshaw to reach your destination.
If you land at the airport, then grab a cab to Kirkee War Cemetery. You will easily cover the 13-14 km distance in around 25-30 minutes.
The place is well-known among locals, and you will not have any difficulty reaching it.
This hidden gem of Pune, Kirkee War Cemetery, is a must-visit place for all tourists. The surreal aura of the place with the patriotism that these martyrs arouse in you is painful to pen down.
Stroll through the place, sit and relax there, read the engravings on the gravestones and let the soldiers tell you their stories of war. Book a Pune Tour package with Pune Tourism, a division of Holidays DNA to explore the city to the fullest. Please fill the Contact Us form to get in touch with us.