Vintage Pune

Sir Jamshed Jeejeebhoy, a rich Parsi philanthropist, wanted to build a bund on the Mula-Mutha rivers to ensure water supply to the Pune Cantonment area. Colonel Jarvis, a Mumbai-based engineer, showed willingness to undertake the task. The site that Jamshedjee chose to build the bund was 862 feet wide and rocky in appearance. The construction was to cost him Rs. 75,000 or 7,500 pounds. Jamshedjee was ready to pay the amount immediately and deposited it with the state treasury.

As the cost of construction escalated to Rs. 1,76,050, Jamshedjee met these added costs as well. The construction material was imported from England and one Mr. Brown was appointed as chief engineer. The construction, which started on March 1844, was completed in 1850 under the Mumbai-based Captain Stuart. This bund has been built only with compact rocks. It is 843 feet long, 13 and a half feet wide and 17 feet high. It has four wooden sluice gates.

According to a description found in some old books, Bund Garden used to stretch from the road to the banks of the river. A variety of flowering shrubs and fruit trees, benches and fountains present there make for a pleasant atmosphere.