Pune's Petting Farms Offer Mental Wellness Break from City Life
Imagine escaping the constant hum of Pune's busy streets. You find yourself on a quiet weekend getaway at a local petting farm. Ducks totter close to your feet. Geese nibble gently from your open palms. Sheep lean comfortably against the fence, completely at ease.
A turtle sits peacefully in your hands. Budgies flutter down onto outstretched wrists. This slower, softer pace defines winter weekends for many Punekars seeking a genuine break from urban pressures.
They come specifically to lift their mental wellness through animal interaction. The experience provides a powerful antidote to city stress.
How a Petting Farm Operates
A typical petting tour begins with a brief orientation session. Guides explain proper behavior around animals during this introduction. They detail what feed to give each creature and demonstrate basic petting techniques.
This orientation is followed by a guided group activity. Visitors feed and interact directly with farm animals under supervision. The tour moves systematically from one enclosure to another.
Guides share interesting details about each animal or bird species. They allow ample time for visitors to engage meaningfully with the creatures.
Animals You Will Encounter
Expect to meet numerous animals that can trigger an oxytocin rush. The list includes horses, rabbits, ducks, and geese. You will also find emus, pigs, goats, and sheep.
Guinea pigs, turtles, parakeets, and golden pheasants complete the collection. Dogs, of course, remain ever-present favorites.
Cost Structure for Visitors
A day of petting animals carries specific pricing. Adults typically pay between ₹900 to ₹1,300 per session. Children's sessions cost ₹700 to ₹1,000.
The pricing varies further depending on weekends and holidays. Higher rates often apply during peak periods.
A Pause from Screens to Learn Empathy
Gaurav Kulkarni works as an IT professional. He visited an equestrian and petting farm in Talegaon near Pune recently. His partner Shalmali and their child accompanied him.
Kulkarni shared how open spaces like petting farms offer reconnection with nature. "We're all surrounded by technology twenty-four seven," he explained. "Not just work, but even my home is filled with tech. It seems to have pushed us away from nature."
For Shalmali, these experiences also teach empathy. "With animals, you feel alive," she said. "That's what stands out for me personally."
Shubra works as an interior designer. For her, petting farms provide true mental rejuvenation. "I had never felt so good and at peace," she revealed. "I'd recommend everyone in my circle to visit a petting farm at least once. It ensures their minds get calmer and better."
She added a thoughtful observation. "We think that we know a lot. Once you come here, you realize how little you know about animals around us."
Growing Popularity in Pune Region
Like Gaurav, Shalmali, and Shubra, nearly 1,000 to 1,200 people visit these petting farms every weekend. Radhika Srinivasan serves as chief operations officer for one establishment.
"That's the level of popularity a petting farm has today," Srinivasan stated. "The growth of IT-dominated areas like Hinjawadi, Baner, and Wakad has helped us reach more people. The expressway brought in more visitors from Pune and Mumbai both."
The trend clearly demonstrates urban residents' growing desire for nature-based wellness activities. Petting farms fill this need effectively across the Pune region.
