Hi,
There are few places in our minds that have a very warm feeling and you feel good or relaxed being there. It might be the nearby coffee shop, or a cinema hall, or a hotel or even a temple. You like to be to that place without second thought. One of those places in my mind is the Pune Central off the very prestigious Bund Garden Road.
Its over 4 years in Pune and from the last one and half year I am going to this place almost every weekend or more so at least once in a fortnight. I still remember when I entered it for the first time; I was taken by a surprise to see such a grand Mall inviting us all for a great shopping experience.
My car is gift from the Central itself. How? It happened in those days some 1.5 years back. It was 7:00 PM and was trying to get home with my family to Sinhagad Road where I stay. I had a two wheeler which can occupy only two and was looking for a rickshaw for Dad and Mum and a sister. As cooperatives these autowallas are, they denied to come to the place or else demanded Rs.200 (Half return). Wasted almost an hour to get one back home and finally, got it at 8:15 PM and reached home by 9.00. Then and there I decided to have a car and started researching on MS for the best options. Therefore came my baby - Palio Stile. Thus this place has got a sweet attachment with some sweet memories in the past.
Enough of the flashback, now let me tell about the stores prospects;
It is a 4 storey building with each floor dedicated for a special segments of shopping for different classes of people. As soon you enter your senses feel the great fragrances of all those lovely perfumes and scents. That is the ground floor where you can also buy kids wear, ladies wear, toys, electronic items, luggage items (Bags, suitcases) etc. Next floor is dedicated to the generation next , youngsters casuals, third floor is for full suits, traditional wear, sports wear, Planet M etc and the fourth floor is dedicated for the Food Bazaar - Big bazaar. - fruits, groceries, cold drinks, milk products, confectionary, poultry, frozen food, tea, household stuff etc...
The mall has two level parking systems for two wheelers and four wheelers. The space is ample but on weekends it might get full sometimes and may have to wait for your turn to get in. They charge you Rs.20 for the parking, but a good thing is that you can produce that ticket at the payment counter against your shopping and that shall be deducted from you total shopping bill! I am not sure if any other has such facility.
The mall is big and you need at least two hours to roam the whole mall and enjoy window shopping too. The most special feature of this mall is its live music. Sometimes, they engage the rock bands and they perform LIVE- Just great. Imagine, you are having your sip of Java Green Coffee and in front of you is a Live band performing and singing one of your favorite songs, isn’t it great.
The ambience of the mall is fantastic and the staff is very courteous and quick. I have traveled almost all the showroom across Pune, even the Central near E-square, but this one better than anyone. I have observed that this place has the finest range of all the major brands of clothes and has a great variety to choose from. To add to it they have some discounts going on... so go out and freak out with your shopping instincts.
Well having some negatives too which I should bring to your notice. If you are thirsty then you need to be on either ground floor or the 4th floor where is you can get water to quench your thirst.
At the fourth floor you also have Bowl - the Chinese hotel. It also has some Indian delicacies like Paratha which you can have after getting tired shopping. The quality is good and taste is fine. But the staff is casual and boring. So order at your own risk.....
Finally, I can say that this place is really an example of Eat, Shop, Enjoy concept that Central boast around many Indian cities..
Even today I visit the place very frequently and enjoy shopping every time I go there. Give your shot too..
Enjoy
Dinesh