Written by: raghu
Matheran
Matheran is tiny hill station with exceptionally striking pastoral beauty. It is set in the mountainous region in between Mumbai and Pune. The term ‘Matheran’ suggests "forest on top". Amidst the green Jumbo forest, it is indeed the most impressive and notable hill
station in Maharashtra.
Hugh Poyntz Malet, who was the collector of Thane district, discovered this pretty resort in 1850. During camping around the village, he came across a spring and it still bears his name.
ORIENTATION
It is located at an altitude of 803 meters. It is situated about 108 kms from Mumbai City, in the Karjat Tehsil of Maharashtra.
WEATHER
Temperature: 12.35 to 36.35 (Celcius)
Rainfall in Matheran varies from 0.0 to 828.0 mm/month.
Best time to visit: Though Matheran is a year round destination, the best time to visit is from October to May. Average temperatures range from 16° C in winter, to 32° C in summer.
Entry Fee: There is an entry fee of Rs.25 per head, which you need to buy to enter Matheran. These tickets are sold at the small ticket window at the entry of the main gate and have a map behind it.
GETTING THERE / ROUTE INFORMATION
Matheran is 100 km from Mumbai and 26 km from Neral, from where you can get the toy train to Matheran, a journey of 1½ hours. You can get to Neral on a local train on the Mumbai-Pune line, a journey of 2 hours from Mumbai Central. The drive via Karjat and Neral is 108 km.
By Air
The nearest airport, Mumbai, 100 km, is well connected with national and international flights. From there, you’ll need to switch to train or road.
By Rail
The rail journey to Matheran is half the fun of your trip. Neral, the nearest railhead (21 km), is connected to Mumbai, Pune and other parts of Maharashtra. From here, a special, narrow gauge "toy train" gets you up, puffing and wheezing all the way. Except during the monsoon season (June-September), there are several trains a day on the mountain railway. These take 2 hours to cover the climb to their destination. Stations on the way have names like Water pipe and there is also the famous One Kiss Tunnel. During the monsoon, the service is restricted to one train a day and during heavy rains even this can be cancelled due to landslides.
By Road
State Transport buses regularly ply from Mumbai and Pune. A taxi from Neral to Matheran takes about half-hour to reach. Taxis stop about 2.5 km from the center of the hill station. After parking the car at the base of the hill, You can go to the top on horse.
SHOPPING INFORMATION
Shop for Chikki, honey walking sticks, and custom-made leather footwear. Matheran is a foot freak delight and the more you bargain the more you will get!
PICTURES OF MATHERAN
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MAJOR ATTRACTIONS
Its 8 sq. kms cover a hilltop in the Sahyadri Hills, and its proximity to Mumbai ensures its’ continued popularity for weekend getaways.
There seems to be an obsession with unusually named lookout points; Matheran has 33 such points from where you can feast your eyes on the Sahyadris and the valleys below, and admire rosy sunrises and sunsets.
Matheran does not have any internal motorized transport, making it all the more special. The only modes of transport are horses, donkeys, by foot or a ”Taxi” which basically is a cart pulled by a guy.
Charlotte Lake is the prime attraction of Matheran, owing to its greenery and picturesque surroundings. The hoary charm of British and Parsi homes still allures people from both far and near. Malet Spring draws everyone’s attention with its scenic setting and clear waters. Panthers’ Caves and Paymaster Park are big attractions for children. One can take a wonderful view of the Towers of Bhivpuri Power House, Karjat Palasdari Lake, Borgaon Village and Rambaug Point from the renowned Alexander Point.
Declared an Eco-sensitive region by the Union Environment Ministry, Matheran is an exceptionally beautiful place, in the company of sightseeing places like Mount Berry, Luisa Point, Echo Point, One tree Hill, Garbut Point, Olympia Racecourse and Hart point. A large number of medicinal plants and herbs thrive in the region. The red laterite earth here completes the vision of the bucolic and unscathed hill resort.
NightLife: Well, there is no nightlife in Matheran.
Nearby spots: Panvel, Karnala, Lonavla, Poona and Mumbai.
TOURIST INFORMATION
Carry light woollens for winter. Walking-sticks.
Accommodation
Regarding places to stay, this serene place has a few ancient bungalows that have been turned into Hotels and guesthouses. Here, you can avail all basic facilities. Since this place falls under environment friendly region, construction is not allowed here. Probably that’s why Matheran has maintained its lovely charisma. Thus, come to Matheran and see yourself, the beauty and splendor that have been bestowed upon it by Mother Nature.
From simple lodges to luxury resorts, an MTDC bungalow to pure vegetarian guesthouses, Matheran has accommodation options to cater to all budgets.
Good Info Man
Last week i visited this place toy train is fun
To view pics of Matheran, click on the following link.
http://picasaweb.google.com/sudarshan.multimedia/Matheran#