Katraj
Katraj is suburb of Pune in the Indian state of Maharashtra, and within the jurisdiction of Pune Municipal Corporation.
Katraj is famous for its Peshwa-era lake that supplied water to the city during that period. The village lies at the foot of the Katraj Ghat or mountain pass on the main National Highway 4 connecting Pune with places south of the city, such as Kolhapur and Bangalore. In recent decades area surrounding the lake and the village of Katraj became part the City of Pune. The former rural area is now surrounded by residential complexes. The lakeside hosts the Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park. Bharati Vidyapeeth, a deemed university, has its main campus here. A large Jain temple was built here in late 20th century.
Getting around Katraj the local way
- Get aroundThere is a massive army of three-wheeled rickshaws.
- Get aroundSome prepaid rickshaw stands can be found at Shivajinagar, Swargate Bus Depot and Pune Airport.
- Get aroundAll rickshaws plying in the Pune Municipal Corporation limits are supposed to charge according to the meter.
- Get aroundIf they still refuse, walk away: there are plenty of other rickshaws on the roads.
- Get aroundIn fact, drivers of rickshaws that you flag down from the streets (if practical and possible) will often be more agreeable than those waiting in stands, who demand more fare.
- Get aroundNowadays, many auto rickshaw drivers try to charge extra for long distances or very short distances, or they refuse the fare.
- Get aroundIt is very common for rickshaw drivers plying between 11PM and 6AM to demand 1½ times the normal rates for the journey.
- Get aroundYou are advised to get this cleared with the driver before boarding the rickshaw.
From Wikivoyage: Pune, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-09.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons (see Commons), Wikimedia Commons.