At first glance, it looks like a castle straight out of medieval Europe, but it is not. This castle-like structure is actually a university and it is not in Europe but in Pune, Maharashtra, which is often considered as the education capital of India. No surprises, the massive building with a towering bell tower was not built to be a University. It was, in fact, built to serve as a monsoon residence for the governor of British-era Bombay.
A statue of Savitribai Phule, after whom the Pune University is presently named
The building was constructed in 1864, an initiative of Sir Bartle Frere, the then governor of Bombay. Built of basalt stone, it was designed by James Trubshaw, who was an English architect and civil engineer. It was modelled in lines of Prince Albert’s Osborne House on the Isle of Wight, while the bell tower was inspired by Giotto’s Bell Tower in Florence, Italy.
The entrance leading to the grand interiors
The massive mansion had a staggering cost of 175,000 pound sterling (GBP) and it was more than six times the amount obtained from sale of the previous residence of the governor. Frere faced severe criticism and the British Parliament declared it as “a typical instance of the extravagance and insubordination of the Governors of Bombay.” Although Frere tried to defend himself, he had to leave India in 1867, when his dream mansion was still not habitable. Even after the criticism, the extravagance continued with the new governor Sir Seymour Fitz Gerald spending enormous amounts on the furnishing and decorations of the building interiors. The furnishing included a 500GBP chandelier, which can be seen even today.
In 1949, the palatial residence of the Governor of Bombay was converted into Pune University and later in 2014, it was renamed as the Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU). Savitribai Phule was a teacher, a social reformer, an educationalist and also a poet from Maharashtra.
Crests of different governors of Bombay
Today, the huge campus, measuring 411 acres, is located in the northwestern part of Pune. The governor house still stands and serves as the administrative block along with offices of the dean and the vice chancellor.
Decorative gargoyles (water outlet)
The university arranges a free and specially curated tour of the campus on the last Saturday of every month. The flag of the University flutters atop the bell tower and welcomes visitors to the grand campus. The building follows the Gothic style of architecture complete with porches, arches and decorative slender pillars. It also has an interesting set of gargoyles (decorative water outlets) featuring the heads of crocodile, bison, elephant and lion. Also present in between arches are crests of the different governors of Bombay.
The ball room turned auditorium
The interiors are grand and beautifully restored with adaptive reuse. The grand ballroom has been turned into an auditorium. The huge dining room serves as a seminar hall. But the interiors have been kept in its former glory — complete with wood flooring, antique furniture, decorative ceilings and huge chandeliers.
The dining room-turned-seminar room
The most interesting part of the Pune University heritage tour is a 300-foot-long underground tunnel that once connected the kitchen to the ballroom. The museum is the last stop of the tour and the newly opened museum houses exhibits from history, geology and anthropology. Weapons from the 19th-century Maratha armoury are also on display.
Necessary Information:
Decorative ceiling of the ball room
- The heritage walk of the Pune University usually happens on the last Saturday of every month
- The dates are announced on the university website. No prior booking is required. Participants need to reach the Potdar Sankul inside the university campus at 11 am. The walk starts at 11.30 am
- There are photography restrictions in certain portions inside the university building
