Old pics of old Pune, Part I

These are changing forms of Shaniwar-wada, probably the most popular and important monument in the city of Pune. It is from here that the Peshwas (prime-ministers of the Maratha king) ruled a big part of India for 150 years before the British came in.

In the center, you can see an old photo of the wada, apparently taken around 1870. There's a bustling market in front of it, with people wearing big turbans, which I didn't know were so common in this part of India. And there are those bamboo baskets full of roundy things; I think onions and potatos.

Top right, is how the wada looks at night these days: it hosts a light and sound show every night. There's no open ground in front of it anymore, so no market; although, it is surrounded by the densest commercial area of the city. There's a wide lawn in place of the open ground now, with fountains and a statue of Peshwa Bajirao (image at the bottom), the most influential Peshwa ruler. And then, there are no turbans. People just wear what the British gave us: shirts and pants.

Turbans. Big turbans. Hmm, need to revise my history.