Pune is synonymous with Chitale, which is synonymous with Pune. One cannot exist without the other. Deeply entrenched in the minds of even out-of-towners, Chitale Bandhu Mithaiwale is to Pune what the Taj Mahal is to India.

Begin with a pedha (a soft, round and mildly-flavoured sweet), an all-time favourite available in more than half a dozen varieties.

If pedhas aren't your thing, head to the burfi section. Innovation is the keyword. Other than the standard badam (almond), pista (pistachio), mixed dry fruit and malai (cream), there are burfis of every kind: any fruit you can possibly imagine will find its way into one. Mangoes, coconuts, pomegranates, oranges, pineapples, apples – all used to create sweet magic.

And this is just the beginning. An entire section is devoted to laddoos (nearly a dozen types), many types of chivdas (a slightly-spicy mixture of flattened rice, nuts and pulses) and an equally staggering array of quick-pick, savoury snacks. That’s Chitale Bandhu for you. Fits in a sentence here, but takes a large shop to accommodate it all. The delicacies are many, and the confusion natural. Consider yourself warned.

But don't be intimidated. Staff at Chitale is warm and friendly, patiently helping you make your choices. Once you’ve stacked up on the sweets, a stroll down the savoury section will bring you face-to-face with a strong contender for the leading position at Chitale. As famous as the pedha is in fact the bakharwadi.

Commanding a separate section in the shop, it needs a paragraph to do it full justice. An iconic production from the house of Chitale, it is like a Swiss Roll, only crisp, sweet-n-spicy and infinitely more delicious. The perfect tea-time snack, this bite-size savoury is copied by many, but none come within miles of the uniqueness that is the Chitale offering.

Kept alongside are chakali, dhokla, kachori, surali wadi, shev, chivda and more – enough savouries to stock your house for a month.

For all the sweets they sell, Chitale are notoriously famous for their conduct. Such as the serious signs asking you to maintain your silence. Or the no-nonsense ones telling you that packing charges will be extra.

In typical Pune-style, Chitale needs an afternoon siesta. Don’t plan on visiting the store between 12 and 4 in the afternoon or you’ll be sorely disappointed. This is true of their Sadashiv Peth and Deccan stores, while luckily the recently-opened one in Aundh is more mindful of the cosmopolitan nature of customers and stays open all day.

It has rules and strict timings and no-nonsense atmosphere, but Chitale enjoys a fine patronage. And naturally so, with such marvellous delicacies up for grabs, all is forgiven.