Anandashram is situated the elegant and magnificent building of Anandashram Sanstha in Appa Balwant Chowk, in the heart of Pune city. This institution was founded more than 130 years ago by the renowned and successful High Court Advocate Mr. Mahadevarao Chimanaji Apte ( 1845-1894 A.D). Mahadevarao’s uniqueness lies in donating all his property to the trust he formed for setting up Anandashram Sanstha.At the end of his life Mahadevarao decided to formally and ritually renounce but only after fulfilling his dream of Anandashram with the Shrisachchidananda temple therein. He tried for and got the permission from the British Government, well in advance for his Samadhi below the temple and then was initiated in atursannyas.

Thereafter, his nephew Mr. Hari Narayan Apte, the famous social reformer and historical and social novelist, thinker, journalist, and Sanskritist, etc. took the work of AnandashramSanstha forward on the three broad objectives outlined by the founder Mr Mahaderao Apte.

1. Encourage progress of Sanskrit language by publishing books in Sanskrit on all subjects of Hindu religion as well as Indian culture. Further tocollect, archive and preserve manuscripts of historically valuable Sanskrit works making them available to future scholars and researchers.

2. Build and maintain a temple of Shrisachchidananda Shivashankara

3. Encourage education of students by providing assistance for lodging, boarding, scholarships etc. The eligible students may study any discipline for subsistence or for their academic interest but should invariably possess very good character.

Over the years Anandashram Sanstha has been working diligently to progress the objectives set by the founders & much progress has been achieved. Over the years, while the context may have changed, the vision remains very relevant &indeed there is scope to do more work.