Vishrambaug Wada, Pune, Maharashtra India

The Pune Municipal Corporation has turned the Vishrambaug Wada into a heritage museum. It is an attempt to unveil the entire known history of Pune. The exhibition called “Punawadi te Punyanagari” is the main attraction in the Vishrambaug Wada. Nominal entry fee is charged and you see some of the beautiful paintings, artifacts and pieces of writings taking an overview of the development of the city of Pune over the period of time.Apart from this, the ground floor of the building has been now given to the Laxmi Road branch of the Post Office.This is a three-storyed mansion, known for its beautiful entrance and balcony with carved woodwork typical of the Peshwa period. The 260 ft long and 815 ft broad Teen-Chowki Wada was built by the last Peshwa, Bajirao II as his residence at a cost of Rs. 2 lakhs. The Wada's eye-catching wooden facade is memorizing in its beauty, and has beautiful columns carved in the Suru form. On October 31,1880 a surprise fire engulfed the Wada ravaging the entire structure. Vishranbaug Wada was restored to its somewhat original appearance by public subscriptions and municipal contributions. For many years till 1958 it was to serve as the offices of the Poona Corporation. Today it houses assorted offices: a strange fate for what was once a king's abode.