Gate-side books and snacks at WHSmith in NITB
WHSmith sits inside Pune’s NITB terminal, past security and close enough to most domestic gates that you can duck in even on a 20–30 minute wait. It’s the familiar green-and-white sign you’ll spot near other F&B counters before the main boarding area opens up.
Books and magazines dominate one side of WHSmith, with paperback prices generally in the ₹399–₹799 range for English bestsellers. You’ll also find newspapers in English and Marathi, useful if you’re boarding one of the early-morning IndiGo or Air India departures and want something light for a 60–90 minute hop.
The other side is grab-and-go: packaged snacks, chocolate bars, soft drinks, and bottled water, with MRP usually visible on the shelf. Expect a 10–20% markup versus a city shop, which is normal for NITB, but still cheaper than buying snacks on many low-cost carriers ex-Pune.
There’s a small rack of basic travel items here: power adapters, charging cables, neck pillows, eye masks, and stationery. If you forgot a phone cable before a late-night departure (post-22:00 is when delays stack up on PNQ’s departure board), this is one of the few spots still likely to have a workable USB-C or Lightning lead.
Staff in NITB typically keep WHSmith open from the first wave of departures around 04:00 until the later evening flights around 22:30–23:00. Quick tap-and-go card payments usually beat cash; lines move faster when two tills are open during the 19:00–21:00 bank of flights.
Tip: If your gate is at the far end of NITB, stop at WHSmith before you walk down; options thin out after the central area and you’ll pay more on board for the same bottle of water.