Ishwari NandawanKatraj, Pune

Katraj is a suburb in Pune, Maharashtra, and falls under the jurisdiction of the Pune Municipal Corporation. A nice locality to live in, Katraj is spoken highly of for its peaceful and quaint surroundings, beautiful landmarks, and its lush greenery, and hilly landscapes.

The city is popularly known for its Peshwa-era (18th century) lake in Katraj, which is well-known for providing the city with water during that time. The village is located on the main National Highway 4, which connects Pune to locations south of the city like Kolhapur and Bangalore, at the base of the Katraj Ghat or the mountain pass. The area around the lake and the village of Katraj have recently been incorporated into the city of Pune. There are now residential developments all around the formerly rural area. The famous Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park is situated near the famous lake of Katraj. The main campus of Bharati Vidyapeeth, a deemed university, is located in Katraj. A massive Jain temple was also constructed in the area during the late 20th century. 

Brief Description – Katraj

Katraj’s real estate has seen a boom in contemporary times, as it echoes the real estate boom that the city of Pune oversees. 

Katraj is a suburban neighbourhood in southern Pune that is governed by the Pune Municipal Corporation. The area is home to the well-known Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park and Katraj Lake. With Bibwewadi, Ambegaon Budruk, Kondhwa, and Dhankawadi on all sides, Katraj is strategically situated on the NH-65 and Pune-Satara Road, which makes it a very prime location. Numerous completed and unfinished residential apartment buildings can be found there. These include Wonder City, Sawant Vihar, Acme Sawant Azalea, Goel Ganga Osian Park, Nancy Lake Homes, and Wonder Bharati Vihar. 

The Katraj Lake is incredibly famous for its relevance in today’s times as well. During the Peshwa era, public tanks constructed over Katraj Nahar proved to be of great use and convenience to locals of various paths (places in Pune). The water network construction still holds value as it continues to serve the city. 

What’s Great About Katraj?

Katraj is considered to be a very good locality to live in, in Pune, Maharashtra. With spectacular views of the Sahyadri Hills and the incredible scenic beauty of the national park and lake, Katraj is a dream neighbourhood for people who wish to live a greener, more peaceful life. Nestled in the arms of nature, Katraj, even with its close proximity to the environment, is close to the hustle and bustle of the city. Katraj, well-equipped with all the contemporary amenities like good schools and universities, efficient hospitals and health care facilities, modern markets, and shopping complexes, is a wonderful neighbourhood to live in. 

What’s Not Great About Katraj?

Since the beautiful neighbourhood of Katraj is located on the outskirts of the city, travelling there can be slightly bothersome if you don't have access to your own conveyance. With no metro station or line at the moment near the neighbourhood, public transportation can be a hassle. The only mode of public transport to Katraj is through bus services. With roads like Pune-Satara Road and the NH-65, transport is not difficult for people travelling in their own vehicles.

Physical Infrastructure and Liveability Index

Several major roads, including the NH-65 and the Pune-Satara Road, provide the area with good connectivity (Katraj-Kondhwa Road). There are numerous bus routes run by the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) that connect Katraj to various locations throughout the city. One of the busiest stops in the area is the Katraj Bus Stop. It is also easy to find taxis and auto-rickshaws for public transportation. The distance between Katraj and the city centre is almost 9 km, which can be travelled in 30 to 40 minutes. There are excellent transport connections from Katraj to both the Pune Junction railway station (11 km) and the Pune International Airport (18 km).

Pune is considered to be one of the best places to live in India. Katraj, a suburb in the city, is considered one of the nicest neighbourhoods to live in, due to its close proximity to nature. Even though the area is nestled slightly away from the main city, it is not devoid of the hubbub that the metropolitan has. It is well connected to the modern amenities and facilities that the city provides.  

Nearby Katraj – Distance Calculator

Situated at the southern end of Pune, Katraj is located on the outskirts of the city. Even though the city is on the outskirts, it is well connected to the main areas of the city and outside via the NH-65 and the Pune-Satara Road.

Approximate Time from Current Katraj to

Karjat to Lonavala- 58 min 

Karjat to Kondana Caves- 36 min 

Karjat to Khandala- 50 min 

Karjat to Mumbai- 1 hr 36 min 

Karjat to Mahabaleshwar- 4 hr 51 min 

Commute Distance from Current Katraj to 

Karjat to Lonavala- 33.2 km 

Karjat to Kondana Caves- 2.5 km

Karjat to Khandala- 29.3 km

Karjat to Mumbai- 62.6 km 

Karjat to Mahabaleshwar- 215.1 km

How Do People Rate Katraj in Maharashtra?

People speak highly about the neighbourhood of Katraj. Since it is situated in Pune, which is considered a highly coveted location to live in India, because of its ease of living, the neighbourhood is also representative of the ease of living in Pune. The neighbourhood is in close proximity to the major commercial and residential hubs of Pune. It is also close to the train station, the Pune International Airport, and with the projected metro rail in the future, the connectivity of the area is going to be very efficient. 

How to Visit Katraj in Maharashtra?

You’ll find a number of ways to reach Katraj, via cab, aeroplane, train, and bus.

• If you’re travelling via train, (SVJR) Shivajinagar, (PUNE) PUNE JN, (GPR) GHORPURI, (SSV) Sasvad Road, (HDP) Hadapsar, (KK) KHADKI, and (MJBK) Manjari Budruk are some of the train stations very close to Katraj. 
• If you’re travelling via bus, the Katraj stop is the nearest bus stop. 
• If you’re travelling via cab, well that can drop you right outside the doorsteps of your house. 
• The nearest airport for you will be Pune International Airport, in case you’re travelling via flight and have to go to Katraj. 

Katraj Comparison

Katraj is a very good locality to live in. Close to the hustle and bustle of the city yet under the warm embrace of nature. 

• In comparison to Koregaon Park, which is a very affluent neighbourhood in Pune, housing many clubs and fancy restaurants, Katraj seems a lot more laid back and relaxed. With lesser commercial hubs and a peaceful environment, Katraj is for people who enjoy the quaint kind of life. 
• Pimpri-Chinchwad is an upcoming commercial hub in Pune. Ever so busy and bustling, the energy of Pimpri-Chinchwad is very different from Katraj which is peaceful.
• New Kalyani Nagar is an emerging residential neighbourhood in Pune's Eastern Corridor. Housing affordability in the area is the main factor driving demand for homes there. Katraj is also considered to be an affordable residential area.