What Do Pune’s Old Temples and Stone Carvings Reveal? Dharohar Heritage Walk Offers a Closer Look
Somwar Peth, 7th October 2026: In the narrow lanes and old neighbourhoods of Pune, history often survives not only in monuments but also in stone, architecture, courtyards and everyday cultural practices. A heritage walk in Somwar Peth this weekend will invite participants to explore these layers of the city’s past.
Organised by the PCERF Sub-centre of SMEF’s Brick Group of Institutes, ‘Dharohar | धरोहर’ will take participants through the Nageshwar Parisar on Saturday, October 10, focusing on the architectural and cultural heritage of one of old Pune’s historic neighbourhoods.
The 250-metre walk will be led by Dr Sudhir Ramesh Deshpande, heritage researcher, author and Associate Professor at SMEF’s Brick School of Architecture. The route will include the Trishund Ganpati Temple, Nageshwar Temple and Kalaram Mandir, allowing participants to examine the relationship between religious traditions, architecture and cultural memory.
Deshpande said the walk is designed to encourage participants to engage with heritage through observation rather than simply listening to a historical account.
“Heritage is not only about monuments or buildings. It is also about understanding the relationship between a place, its people and the traditions that have shaped it,” Deshpande said.
Participants will be encouraged to observe details such as doorways, stonework, carvings, courtyards and the spatial arrangement of the neighbourhood. The experience will also include a heritage sketching session, followed by breakfast.
According to Deshpande, sketching can help participants notice architectural details that might otherwise be overlooked.
“Once you start drawing a building or a detail, you begin noticing its proportions, textures and materials more carefully,” he said.
The organisers said the participatory format is aimed at students, academicians and professionals interested in architecture, history, culture and urban spaces.
The programme comes ahead of Navratri and seeks to highlight Pune’s living heritage, rather than treating historic sites as isolated monuments.
The walk will begin at 7:30 am on October 10 from Trishund Temple in Somwar Peth and conclude at 9:30 am, followed by breakfast.
Kasba Peth Metro Station is approximately 500 metres from the gathering point.
The registration fee is ₹400, with participation limited to 40 people. Participants have been asked to carry their own sketching materials and water.
Registeration link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSebouaIM5pzvAbutPrHk9BS6Ge_VQu9i9Zkzs5Yng-NEx3hIQ/viewform
The organisers describe the experience in three words: Walk. Observe. Sketch. Discover.
