I’ve gotten lazy about posting my tourist blogs from living here in Pune. In September, I’ll have been here a year, and I’ve not even nearly caught up on sharing experiences and places we have visited. I figured it was finally time to make a start on correcting that. My friend Eleanor suggested this place for us to take the kids on a little outing, considering I’d seen a couple planes from the road as we passed it, I figured Lewis would enjoy having a look-see…and, he did.
“The National War Museum was built in 1997 and is a memorial for Indian soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the nation. It was established by citizens of Pune under the Express Citizen Forum which established the War Memorial Fund. The museum is situated in Pune Cantonment and has been opened up for the public since 1998.”
Known as the National War Memorial, or the National War Museum, these expansive grounds are dedicated to the Indian soldiers who lost their lives during various battles in their history. The only war memorial in South Asia constructed by using funds raised from the general public, it has on display a MIG 23 BN plane that was used in the Kargil War as its main attraction. Apart from this impressive plane, the museum has exhibits such as battlefield photographs, bullet trams, armoury and uniforms of the soldiers and a lot more.
From the outside as you drive past, (which we do fairly regularly) this place looks like a posh garden with a few war-lookin’ planes, but, once you step inside, there’s much more to it than you’d first expect. The gardens and outdoor exhibits don’t offer much in the way of shade (Unlike the Seven Wonders park, which was lovely and shaded thanks to some tall, old trees), so I did find myself sweaty and sporting a rather pink layer of sun by the time we were finished. There are a couple indoor spaces containing impressive, expansive and very well-kept exhibits, though, which provide a nice break from the relentless Indian sun outside.
Lewis loved the collection of tanks in the gardens, if Col had joined us, he’d have been fascinated by the armoury, I loved the noticeboard of messages from members of the public to the soldiers of the army, and I think we all loved the pipers who permitted us to listen in on their practicing for a huge military ceremony the following day.
There was something for everyone – this would be a perfect place to visit just now while the weather is a little cooler, and people have visitors coming to Pune before school starts. Col has reminded me that we came back from this little adventure ‘buzzing’, I’m not sure if it was the pipers, or the soldier (above) who wanted a selfie with me, or the fact we were there with lovely friends, but it really did make for a lovely morning!
Open: Every day
Visiting Timing: 0900 Hours to 1730 Hours
Visiting Duration: Around 1-2 hours