Pune is a sprawling city in the western Indian state of Maharashtra. It was once the glorious residence of the Peshwas (prime ministers) of the Maratha Empire, which lasted from 1674 to 1818 – the Marathas played a vigorous role in India’s struggle for freedom. Today it is a sprawling, modern city. The grand Aga Khan Palace can be seen here. Built in 1892, the palace now stands as a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, whose ashes are preserved in the garden. In fact, Pune is home to several palaces and temples that hark back to the city’s Maratha heritage, the most important of these being the Shaniwar Wada Palace. The Sinhagad Fort is located on the Bhuleshwar Range of the Sahyadri Mountains and is popular for its picturesque trekking trails. Pune received global recognitions for its homegrown ashram, Osho International Meditation Resort, founded by the late guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh.