|
|
Kesari Wada is located in Narayan Peth,
Pune , about 6 to
8-km from Pune railway station. It is one among Pune city's heritage
buildings with many tales to tell. Dipped in history and culture this
building enjoys immense significance in the pages of the Maratha history.
This was the Wada where once Sayajirao Gaikwad, the prince of Baroda
state used to live. The Wada built by the Gaikwads is being pulled down to
make way for a modern structure. It was in this building where nightlong
discussions were held on how to overthrow colonial rule.
Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak bought the Wada from Sayajirao Gaikwad in
1905. Tilak brought out his two newspapers, the Kesari, in Marathi and
Maratha in English from here. The Wada continues to house the offices of
Kesari, and mementos of Tilak, including his writing desk original letters
and documents, and the first India national flag unfurled by Madame Cama.
A statue of Tilak indicates the building in which he resided.
The Wada is visited by a large number of people during the Ganapati festival, the public celebrations of which were started by Tilak in the courtyard of this Wada over a century ago. Kids who are studying about the history of India at school would be interested in seeing the small museum dedicated to Lokmanya Tilak. Admission is free for everyone.
Pune is well connected by air, rail and road with the important places within and beyond the state. For local transportation taxis, city buses and auto rickshaws are available.
Accommodation is available at the hotels in Pune.