Diary of a Weekend Puneite: Happy-Rainy-People!

If you , like me, love the Pune rains, then this season would make you go all goo-goo-ga-ga! The showers in Pune don’t elicit the response that usually the passionate downpour of Mumbai does… given the amount of songs in Bollywood that are devoted to it. But there’s something to be said for the gentle non-stop pitter-patter of the rain in this twin town of Mumbai and yes, of course, it helps that the rains are filling the dams! As I get a picture from what the lane near home looks like, I am listing what makes me a happy-rainy-person.

My favourite moments growing up was being able to drive around the city in a wind-cheater on my Bajaj Sunny (I wish they brought this little baby bike back) or even be get all soaked without being leered at. Or having a cup of frothy coffee cups at Rutuja – a small bakery tucked away between Lane No 8 and Lane No 10 on Prabhat Road much before the coffee chains made their way into the city. The bakery still stands there today and every time I am nostalgic, I step right back into my teenage years in a single sip!

The other must-do still remains the one hour drive to Sinhagad Fort. And truly lives upto the adage of the journey being more important than any destination. The hike up is worth it for those that have the stamina along with the lure of Aunty’s cutting chai and pithla bhakri or kanda-bhajiya depending on when you get there. The fog, the drizzle and the endless green panoramic sight makes up for the 10km of a rough approach up to the fort.

Even Garden Court near the NDA earned its romantic chops with its scenic views in the rains… candle-lit tables, a pool on the side and the beautiful greenery along with the city views adds this to my monsoon bucket list. Watch the rain come down sitting right here even though the food and the service may seem patchyfor some.

And if you like to add a potent mix of silence and being soaked, I suggest you pick OshoTeerth Park – at Koregaon Park. One of my favourite Nullah Parks, where sewage water pushes the plants to grow faster, this one is even more serene and zen in the rains. Definitely, my pick to walk with someone hand in hand!

My picks this week are inspired by my little kiddy nieces in Atlanta.
Funky Monkey: Super popular for little kids and their yummy mummies in Mumbai, this one has opened doors in Nitesh Hub in Pune. I definitely think this will help any little one burn their energy when the grey skies rain on their parade.

Also worth picking up is Pune girl Namita Moolani’s book The Magic Spice Box. A perfect way to introduce spices and their taste into the palette of little kiddies with a story attached. Moolani also lists a kid-friendly recipe at the end of each chapter to make this practical and easy!

And yes, I’ve already bookmarked momaboard.com – a cool site that helps you customise iterinaries for your kids if you are visiting Pune or an expat moving to this city!

Nidhi TapariaNidhi Taparia has a day job as a senior executive working with a leading transnational. A weekend Puniete, Nidhi left the city 16 years ago to fall in love with Mumbai – but Pune still is her first crush. Diary of a Weekend Puneite appears every Saturday. The views expressed here are personal

 

 

 

 

Nidhi Taparia