This blog is dedicated to all Mumbaikars and Punekars who keeps arguing over which city is better? If you ask this question to person born and brought in Mumbai (say HardCore Mumbaikar), “Mumbai is the place to Live on Earth”. But if you ask the same question to HardCore Punekar well “Nothing can match Pune”. My purpose is not to debate on this issue. I neither belong to Mumbai nor to Pune. But I have spent almost three years in Mumbai and now living in Pune from last three months. I am stating the difference in lifestyle that I observed between these so nearby and equivalent cities.
Mumbai, the financial hub of India, is also the city of high spirit. Whether rains or storms, whether bomb blasts or floods…you can’t take away the spirit of Mumbai. Large number of diverse cultured people has truly given Mumbai its Metropolitan status. Pune, the cultural hub of maharashtra, is also the city known for its educational facilities. IT revolution has helped a great deal in progress of this city.
But like every city both these cities have its own advantages and disadvantages. Like weather in Mumbai is worst. If anybody first time visiting Mumbai, try visiting in May. Believe me it will be so hot and sweaty that it will be unbearable. But another aspect is very soon one get used to it. One will not feel same heat next year. On the contrary Pune’s climate is very pleasant. Evening/Night walk in Pune is one of the pleasurable moment of my life.
Public transport is superb in Mumbai. Auto- Rickshaws/taxis are hallmark of this city. Auto drivers will never cheat you. Fix fare is applicable across Mumbai. But reverse is the case in Pune. Auto fares are customized according to Location and your attire. Travelling by Auto at Night in Pune is nightmare. You will never be sure of what fare you need to pay beforehand.
Mumbai is huge city. There are many Mumbaikars who travels 100 km distance by local train to reach their work location. But due to such increased travel time, life is so fast paced that one needs to keep running whole day. But Pune is comparatively very small. One can travel whole Pune on Two Wheeler. Hence pace of life in Pune is quite slow and relaxed. In Pune I get up late..sleep late..eat late..work late..break signals.. :)
If the skill of catching the right train, with right Dibba, with right place in minimum time is USP of Mumbaikar.. Skill of breaking traffic signal with calculated speed, with calculated risk is USP of Punekar. :)
There are so many Mumbaikars who are yet to learn driving two-wheeler. Because one never feel its need in Mumbai (thanks to Superb public Transport). But in Pune every second person beyond the age of 18 is on two-wheelers. Every lady driver resembled a terrorist with their faces covered beyond recognition, with only their eyes exposed (that too covered with sunglasses). :)
The most entertaining aspect in Pune is listening to ‘Shuddha Marathi’ here. I am well-versed with Marathi but still I get startled some time hearing such shuddha words. Punekars are also very foody. Hard Core Punekars can remember atleast twenty hotels\restaurant across city. They will give so many options while deciding party location that you keep wondering. There are so many youngsters living in Pune (Thanks to IT revolution and large numbers of colleges around). Due to this whole Pune looks young and vibrant. It indeed becomes good city for bachelors.
The most noteworthy thing of Mumbai is its liveliness. Mumbai never sleeps. If one visits Dadar /Thane station area at midnight, there will be so many people running around that one wonders is it really midnight or afternoon. But Pune seems to be going to sleep quite early. Most shops close down by 10. In Mumbai if you are hungry at 2AM and have nothing to eat at home, just visit nearest station area, you will get something. But in Pune it’s unimaginable.
Pune, in spite of all its differences, has a lot that I won’t get in Mumbai. The superb weather is so pleasant that you don’t have to bother about the sweat marks showing on your clothes when you go out. The pace of life in Pune is another wonderful aspect that I love this city for. People here have a life beyond work, where they come in the evenings and either go for walks or just laze around at home, whereas in Mumbai, you spend half your time travelling long distances, thus making it so fast paced that you crave for a break very soon. Every city has its ups and downs and though I have been a Puneri for only the last three months, I might yet be very partial to Mumbai, but Pune and its lifestyle has surely affected me and my life. It is truly said that ‘Home is where the heart is’ and Pune seems like my home.
