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Mahatma Phule Market Pune Address: Amrale Rd Mandai, Shukrawar Peth, Pune, Maharashtra, 411002, India
Mahatma Phule Market (officially Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Mandai) is the largest retail market for fresh fruits and vegetables in Pune. The Mandai has been running in an iconic building designed and built by the British.
In Mahatma Phule Mandai, you'll find over 500 stalls selling fresh produce of the day. People all across Pune come to shop here. These shops have everything from a variety of potatoes to a buffet of green vegetables and colourful fruits. Many chefs, film stars and politicians also visit this place for their daily grocery needs.
Tourists interested in the history of Pune, too, come to this British colonial legacy, as part of Pune heritage walks.
History of Mahatma Phule Market Pune
Mahatma Phule Market took shape in Shaniwar Wada as a bunch of open-air grocery shops. But as the population increased, Pune Municipal Corporation (then Poona Municipality) moved it to the current location in Shukrawar Peth.
The municipality acquired the land in 1882 and inaugurated the Mandai in 1886. They named it Reay Market, after Lord Reay (the then Governor of Bombay). The name was changed to Mahatma Phule Mandai, after the social activist Jyotiba Phule, in 1938.
A public museum and the office of the municipality were also within the building complex. But they were later relocated.
Architecture of Mahatma Phule Market
The market is built with local grey stone in the neo-Gothic architectural style. It comprises a tall, octagonal tower, surrounded by a verandah. Eight shopping alleys branch out from the tower on the ground floor. Each alley has a separate arched entry point.
The market complex was designed by Walter Ducat, with inputs from architect Vasudev Bapuji Kanitkar and engineer Narso Ramchandra Godbole.
Image Gallery of Mahatma Phule Market Pune
Things to do at Mahatma Phule Market Pune
1. Buying fresh vegetables – Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Market has over 500 stalls of fruits and vegetables. It is a one-stop place for all the grocery needs of the local people. Fresh produce is available at lower prices than other places in the city.
2. Shopping for home essentials – The popularity of Mahatma Phule Mandai also led to the setting up of other shops in the area. You'll find stores selling religious products, bakery items and handicrafts, along with fashionable clothes, perfumes and cosmetics. The place is also filled with street hawkers and others selling on their bikes and cars.
3. Taking a heritage walk – Mahatma Phule Market is over 130 years old, and it’s a part of colonial history. So, it is included in the heritage walk tours around Pune. You can visit it along with other historical places during your tour.
4. Celebrating Ganesh festival – Akhil Mandai Ganapati Mandal organises an annual Lord Ganesh festival here. The Ganesh-Sharada idol is made from eco-friendly materials.
5. Attending art exhibition – The market also hosts an art exhibition to promote local art and culture. Artists set up stalls to showcase their designs and products. Music and theatre performances are also organised.
Mahatma Phule Market Timings
Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Mandai opens early around 6 AM, but only a few shops are open before 9 in the morning. Most shops remain open until 8 PM, so you can visit it anytime during the day. But it is best to visit it during the evening hours.
Winter, from November to February, is the best season to visit Mahatma Phule Market Pune and explore it. The weather of Pune remains pleasant during those days, so you can spend as much time shopping as you want. You'll need at least 2-3 hours to check all the stalls here.
Also, plan your visit during the weekdays when the place isn’t a lot crowded.
How to reach Mahatma Phule Market?
Mahatma Phule Market is in the centre of the city, only about 4 km away from Pune railway station and Swargate bus stop. From the airport, it is about 12 km away. And following are the different ways to reach Mahatma Phule Market Pune –
By bus – You can get a bus up to Mandai bus stop. From there, Mahatma Phule Market is only a few metres away.
By auto-rickshaws – You can take auto-rickshaws to the market. They’re available in plenty all over Pune. It takes only about 30-45 minutes to reach the market from most parts of the city.
By taxi/cab – Taxis and cabs are also available all over Pune. And you can book one for the whole day from top car rental companies in Pune if you want to explore Mahatma Phule Market and the neighbourhood areas.
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