Nana Wada

Updated April 5, 2026

Nana Wada is a well-regarded tourist attraction located in Pune, India. With a rating of 4.3 out of 5, it stands out as one of the top-rated tourist attractions in the area.

Location

You can find Nana Wada at 715, PMC Vidyalaya Rd, Budhwar Peth, Pune, Maharashtra 411002, India.

Visiting Nana Wada

Located in Pune, India, Nana Wada is a tourist attraction that visitors to the area may find worth exploring.

Planning Your Visit

The tourist attraction is located at 715, PMC Vidyalaya Rd, Budhwar Peth, Pune, Maharashtra 411002, India. GPS coordinates: 18.518363, 73.855918. Check locally for current opening hours and any admission fees before visiting.

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Wandering through the tangled lanes of Budhwar Peth, Pune, you might just stumble across a slice of Maratha history that barely gets a mention in most guidebooks. Nana Wada, the 18th-century home of Nana Phadnavis, sits practically in the shadow of the famous Shaniwar Wada, but it’s a totally different vibe.

Built around 1780, this 20,000-square-foot mansion is a showcase of wooden carvings and Peshwa-era architecture. It’s the kind of place that makes you pause and imagine the Maratha Empire in full swing.

These days, the building plays host to a municipal school and some government offices. But you can still wander the ground floor if you want to soak up those ornate halls and get a close look at the craftsmanship.

Every corner begs for a photo—cypress-shaped pillars, banana flower details on the beams, and that classic courtyard layout. The grey stone walls with their white borders show off how the Peshwa bigwigs lived.

If you’re hoping for a guided tour, check locally. Sometimes you’ll get lucky, but honestly, the place is usually quiet enough that you can wander at your own pace—no tour groups elbowing you out of the way.

Key Takeaways

• Nana Wada is an 18th-century mansion in Pune, packed with Maratha architecture and detailed wooden work.
• Only the ground floor is open to visitors; the rest is used by a school and municipal offices.
• It’s tucked in Budhwar Peth, right near Shaniwar Wada, so you can easily hit both in a single outing.

About Nana Wada

This old mansion in Budhwar Peth was once home to one of the Maratha Empire’s most powerful administrators. It’s still a bit of a hidden gem, overshadowed by Pune’s better-known landmarks.

History and Significance

Nana Phadnavis built the wada around 1780, back when he was the Peshwas’ chief administrator. When you set foot here, you’re basically standing in the nerve center of Maratha power during a pretty dramatic stretch of Indian history.

The place sprawls across about 20,000 square feet. Nana Phadnavis ran the show here, managing the empire’s affairs from 1742 to 1800.

Unlike Shaniwar Wada, which has seen its share of destruction, Nana Wada is still standing. After Nana Phadnavis passed away, the property changed hands a few times.

In 1907, the Deccan Education Society turned part of it into the New English School. These days, municipal offices and a school fill most of the rooms, so only the ground floor is really open to the public. That’s part of its charm, though. You’re not just walking through a museum—it’s still alive.

What Makes It Special

You won’t find wooden architecture like this in any new building. The pillars are carved to look like cypress trees, with banana flower motifs on the capitals—details that show just how skilled Maratha craftsmen were in the 18th century.

It’s a three-story building with wooden arches and beams that have somehow survived for over two centuries. What really sets Nana Wada apart is the atmosphere. You can actually get close to the woodwork, take your time, and not worry about a crowd breathing down your neck.

The courtyard is classic wada design—sunlight streaming in, natural ventilation, and a real sense of how people lived before modern comforts. Sometimes there are exhibitions on Maratha culture and the freedom movement, but it’s best to ask what’s on when you visit.

What to See and Do

Nana Wada gives you the rare chance to step into an 18th-century Peshwa mansion right in the heart of old Pune. It’s a sprawling place, but with government offices and a school taking up space, you’ll mostly be exploring the ground floor.

Main Attractions and Highlights

The ground floor is where all the best original features are. The black polished sagwan (teak) wood jumps out at you, especially in the bits that survived a big fire during the British era.

Don’t forget to look up. The ceilings and carved brackets are pure Peshwa-era style. The woodwork on the columns and supports is on another level—definitely not something you see every day.

A few things to keep an eye out for:

• The Diwan Khana (audience hall) with its shiny black wood
• Nana Phadnavis’s original seat—imagine the decisions made there
• A hidden emergency stairway tucked into the walls
• Neo-Gothic arches that were added during British reconstruction
• Grey stone walls with those crisp white borders wrapping around the property

The Swarajya museum is tucked inside, highlighting freedom fighters like Bal Gangadhar Tilak and other icons from Maharashtra’s independence movement.

Keep in mind, the upper floors are usually off-limits since the building is still in use as a records office and school.

Best Time to Visit

If you want the best weather for exploring heritage sites, hit up Nana Wada between October and March. Pune is a lot more comfortable then, and you won’t be melting as you wander.

The wada usually opens around 8am, but since it’s a working government building, hours can shift a bit. Weekday mornings are your best bet—less school rush, more peace.

It’s right next to Shaniwar Wada, so you can easily see both in a single stroll through the old city. If you’re curious about the history, try to join a heritage walk. Several local groups run weekend tours through Budhwar Peth, but check what’s on when you’re in town.

Visitor Information

You’ll find Nana Wada in Budhwar Peth at 715 PMC Vidyalaya Road. It’s so close to Shaniwar Wada, you could walk there in five minutes.

The ground floor is the main area open to visitors, since the rest is taken up by a school and municipal offices.

Location and How to Get There

Nana Wada sits right in the historic heart of Pune, in Budhwar Peth. The address is 715 PMC Vidyalaya Road, and honestly, if you’re at Shaniwar Wada, you’re almost there already.

Getting there isn’t complicated. Any auto-rickshaw will know the area, though you might have to say “near Shaniwar Wada” if they look puzzled. Local buses run through Budhwar Peth all the time.

Coming from Mumbai? The drive is about three hours if traffic doesn’t ruin your plans. But most people check out Nana Wada while walking around Pune’s heritage district. The streets are narrow, classic old Pune style, so if you’re driving, good luck with parking—it’s a bit of a squeeze.

Tips for Visitors

Only the ground floor at Nana Wada is reliably open to visitors, so keep your hopes realistic. The rest of the building is still buzzing with government offices and a municipal school, so don’t be surprised if you’re turned away from certain areas.

Always check locally for the latest visiting hours—seriously, things can change on a whim. One week you might waltz right in, and the next, the place is closed off for some official event or sudden restoration.

Compared to the chaos at Shaniwar Wada, Nana Wada feels like a secret. Sometimes you’ll find yourself wandering quiet rooms, free to linger and snap photos of those gorgeous old wooden carvings without anyone breathing down your neck.

If you’re planning to hop between a few wadas, definitely wear comfortable shoes. And here’s a little insider tip: there’s a hidden emergency stairway tucked inside the walls. Most guides never mention it, so if you’re feeling bold, ask one of the staff to show you where it is—you might just get lucky.