Pune and its surroundings are full of tourist destinations and that too for all types of tourists ranging from nature lovers, history lovers, adventure lovers to luxurious holiday resort lovers. If you are tired of city life and the maddening crowd around you then you definitely want to get away. You may not want to drive or travel long distance then Rajmachi is the perfect solution for you. Rajmachi is the place to unwind you. Rajmachi is just 30 kilometres away from Pune towards Lonavala.Rajmachi is a famous for its two peaks named Manaranjan in the west and Shrivardhan in the east on the Sahyadri hill range in the state of Maharashtra. The Rajmachi is situated near the popular twin hill stations Lonavala and Khandala. The height of Shrivardhan peak is 3000 feet while the other peak Manaranjan is 2700 feet high. In between the two peaks you can find a picturesque plateau. There are two forts in Rajmachi one on Shrivardhan and the other is on the Manaranjan. The Shrivardhan fort was constructed mainly to keep an eye on the Konkan region which was visible from here while the other fort Manaranjan was for different use as it has strong walls, three doors, secret exits, residential quarters, many water storage tanks, etc. The forts reveal the history of Rajmachi and witness the political unrest in the region. There were many rulers who ruled from these forts. The Rajmachi fort was initially built by Satavahanas. In short, we can see the various rulers who captured the Rajmachi forts in different time periods are as follows:Adilshahi of Bijapur > Shivaji Maharaj (1657) > Aurangzeb the Mughal Emperor (1704) > Marathas (1705) >Shahu Maharaj > Kanhoji Angre (1713) >the British (1818) > Government of India (now)Here one can enjoy trekking from Tungrali lake region till Rajmachi. The complete route is magnificent and full of natural sceneries to make you feel refreshed throughout the way. Here one can find beautiful mountains, lush green forests, rocky path ways, lakes, river, waterfalls, ancient caves and unpolluted plenty fresh air to enjoy.What to see here?• The Manaranjan Fort• The Shrivardhan fort• Tungrali Lake• Kondhavi Caves (Buddhist caves 200BC)• Bhairoba Temple• Ulhas River• Dense forest• 200 years old water reservoir down the forest• Shiva temple built in Hemdpanti style at the west side of reservoir• Flora and Fauna in the wild region• Wild life sanctuary in RajmachiRajmachi offers a complete package for nature and history lovers. It is a place for adventure too as it gives the best trekking experience to beginners and sooths the feelings of those who want to lose themselves in natural bliss. Do take a refreshing bath in Ulhas River which has unpolluted and fresh water for an extraordinary experience. Though this place is quite unexplored but the rapid construction is becoming a big threat to the beautiful forests surrounding the city and the wild life.Routes to reach Rajmachi:1. Via Kondivade Village near Karjat2. Via LonavalaThe first route is short in distance but rough and the other one is long but easy to approach. Rainy season makes the route more eye-catching and appropriate as the mountains are covered in green carpet and waterfalls adds the beauty. Visitors from Pune should choose the decent Lonavala and the visitors from Mumbai should go for Karjat route that makes easy reach.Restaurants:There are no restaurants on the top but one can take the food and water from base village (Udhevadi) or better from Lonavala.AccommodationThere are rented accommodations available in the base village if someone wants to stay here. One can get the Maharashtrian style food here.TransportationThere are buses, auto rickshaws, taxi services available to reach there. Buses are the most inexpensive local transport from Pune station to reach Rajmachi. One can take train from Pune to Lonavala then hire a taxi or rickshaw from there.Best time to visitWinter and rainy seasons are best. Avoid hot summer.In short, it is place worth visiting for all age groups. The magnificent views from top can make you spellbound and the refreshing air of dense forests can take your tiredness away in minutes. Do visit the place once and share your experience. Be an eco friendly tourist.Ruchi Mahajan