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	'''Vetal Hill''' ([[Marathi language\|Marathi]]: वेताळ टेकडी ) is a prominent hill in the city limits of [[Pune]], [[India]]. The hill is the highest point within the city limits, with an elevation of 2600 ft. There is a temple of [[Vetala]] located on the top of the hill from which the hill derives its name. The [[Indian Forest Department]] maintains an observation deck near the temple. The hill is also known by its Marathi name, Vetal Tekdi.		'''Vetal Hill''' ([[Marathi language\|Marathi]]: वेताळ टेकडी ) is a prominent hill in the city limits of [[Pune]], [[India]]. The hill is the highest point within the city limits, with an elevation of 2600 ft. There is a temple of [[Betal\|Vetala]] located on the top of the hill from which the hill derives its name. The [[Indian Forest Department]] maintains an observation deck near the temple. The hill is also known by its Marathi name, Vetal Tekdi.

	==Location and physiography==		==Location and physiography==

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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2018}}
{{unreferenced|date=September 2017}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Vetal Hill
| photo = Vetal tekdi.jpg
| photo_caption = Vetal Hill
| elevation_ft = 2600
| location = {{flagicon|IND}} [[Pune]], [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]
| range = [[Western Ghats]]
| easiest_route =
| map = India Maharashtra#India
|coordinates ={{coord|18|31|31|N|73|48|55|E|region:IN|display=title}}
}}

'''Vetal Hill''' ([[Marathi language|Marathi]]: वेताळ टेकडी ) is a prominent hill in the city limits of [[Pune]], [[India]]. The hill is the highest point within the city limits, with an elevation of 2600 ft. There is a temple of [[Vetala]] located on the top of the hill from which the hill derives its name. The [[Indian Forest Department]] maintains an observation deck near the temple. The hill is also known by its Marathi name, Vetal Tekdi.

==Location and physiography==
Vetal Hill is a part of Bhamburda Van Vihar located on the western side of Pune Municipal Corporation within the city limits. Vetal Tekdi is prominent and is visible from [[Pashan]], [[Panchavati]], [[Chatturshrungi]] and other parts of the city. It has two spurs, [[Fergusson Hill, Pune|Fergusson College Hill]] and [[Chatturshrungi Hill]]. The geographical area is 180 30’ to 180 32’ N and 730 49’ to 730 52’ E covering an area of {{convert|10.5|km2|mi2}}.

It runs North-South with some spurs running perpendicular to this hill. Vetal hill runs across areas like [[MIT College]], [[SNDT Women's University]], [[ILS Law College]], [[Gokhale Nagar]], [[Symbiosis Society]] and Chatturshrungi.{{Clarify|date=November 2008}}.

There is one access road leading up the hill from the south. This can be used to access the [[Automotive Research Association of India]] campus located on the hill. There is a public parking lot also located along this road, however access is restricted to this between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm.

[[File:Vetal hill range panorama.jpg|thumb|center|750px|Vetal Hill Panorama, the summit is in the centre.]]

==Climate==
[[File:Vetal tekdi forest.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A small forest fire on a hot summer day in Vetal Tekdi]]
Summers are hot and dry on the hill. The summit is difficult to climb during the monsoon season and is usually foggy. Winter days are also cool and foggy. Sunrise and sunset at Vetal hill attracts many photographers.


The area shares almost same climatic conditions as that of Pune.

==Flora==
The forest type in this area is dry-[[deciduous]] as that of hills around Pune. Medium-sized trees along with shrubs constitute majority of the vegetation. Diversity of herbaceous species is at its peak in monsoon months. Some parasites like ''Dendropthoe'' and ''[[Striga]]'' are also reported in the area. One important characteristic of the area is total absent of [[epiphytic]] species. Detailed Floristic Study of Vetal Hill was carried out by V. N. Joshi and M. S. Kumbhojakar of [[Agharkar Research Institute]], Pune in 1997. They enumerated occurrence of 416 species of [[angiosperms]] belonging to 101 families, 2 [[pteridophytes]] and one [[Bryophyte]].

Much before Joshi and Kumbhojkar’s work, ecological survey of the hill was conducted by Ezekiel around 1917-1918. Joshi, Kumbhojkar and Kulkarni in their work on changing floristic pattern of Vetal hill (1992) reported absence of 30 species which were reported by Ezekiel.

The dominant plant community in the area is ''[[Boswellia serrata]]''-''[[Anogeissus latifolia]]''. Other dominant members of this area are ''[[Dalbergia]] lanceolaria'', ''[[Acacia chundra]]'', ''[[Dolichandrone falcata]]'', ''[[Albizzia]] procera'', ''[[Capparis]] grandis''. Some herbaceous and shrubby weeds which are now naturalized in the area include ''[[Tridax procumbens]]'', ''[[Lagascea]] mollis'', ''[[Cassia (genus)|Cassia]] uniflora'', ''[[Lantana camara]]''. Plantation of some exotic species like ''[[Gliricidia sepium]]'', ''[[Leucaena leucocephala]]'' has been undertaken by forest department. ''[[Dalbergia melanoxylon]]'' is one interesting example for spread of exotic species. This species was planted by Britishers in Pune University area. This species was totally absent on other areas of Pune. Recently however, the species is observed to be spreading in and around the area of the Vetal Hill, and is on the verge of becoming dominant species there.

The area is important on account of the occurrence of some important endemic species. Some examples of the endemic species found here are ''[[Jatropha]] nana'', ''[[Cissus]] woodrowii'', ''Mussanda laxa'', ''Indoneesiella echioides'', etc.

==Current status==
{{POV-check|date=November 2008}}
During the last few years the area has been subjected to various stresses of anthropogenic activities. Plantation of exotic species by forest department, urban development, tree cutting are few of them. Many afforestation programs have been undertaken either by [[Pune Municipal Corporation]] or by state forest Department have resulted in growth of many ornamental and exotic species. The Forest Department has also build proper fences to safeguard animals and birds especially [[Peafowl|peacocks]] also providing them with appropriate water supply. This has affected in some or other way on the natural vegetation of the hill.
A new road connecting [[Balbharati]] and [[Paud Phata]] is proposed so as to decrease traffic pressure in [[Nal Stop]] Chowk. The road will cut across a nearly two kilometre patch of forest on vetal hill, cutting close to ten thousand fully matured and grown trees. The proposed bypass will bring automobile pollution, noise and congestion into the heart of a green area at the foot and lower ridge of the Vetal hill. This is a catastrophic proposal and will destroy one of the last virgin green areas left in Pune.

Several citizen groups and activists have opposed the proposal. Twelve NGOs recently wrote a letter to the PMC opposing the road. [http://www.rescuepune.blogspot.com/ A blog] and an online petition was promoted to stop the construction of the road. [[Nagrik Chetana Manch]] has gone to the Mumbai high Court in a [[Public Interest Litigation|PIL]] and the HC has stayed the construction of the road.
Due to increased urbanization and increased population the biotic pressure in the form of cutting of trees has increased on forest of Vetal Hill.

==References==
<references/>

{{Pune topics}}

[[Category:Hills of Pune]]

Vetal Hill - Revision history

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