Matheran, Mumbai

Every thing is beautifull and all the place is to be like because of the nature.There is no word to express about the beautifull and enjoyable Matheran, i myself with all my family members of 35 visiting every year for atleast a week or more, since from last 16 years. It is cheap and best, where not even the middle class but even lower class people can enjoy there without any tensions. the people are very wise and halal worked. The atmosphere, seasons are cool. the price are too barable. No doubt the hill station is small, but beleive, it will make your tense mind in a way as if you will feel as a purified honey, in a sense that it will give you an enjoyment on every angle of the hill, the smell of red mud, which you feel good in touching your body, the horse riding and mostly enjoying in walking. I really appreciate the nature by adopting this beautifull hill station.

It is a hill station in Karjat Tahsil and is also the smallest hill station in India. It is located on the Western Ghats range at an elevation of around 800 m (2,625 feet) above sea level.

Matheran is a great stress buster for the frazzled Mumbai soul. Its a small hill station in Raigad District about 600m high and densely forested with clean fresh air. About 2 hrs drive from Mumbai via Karjat upto Dasturi car park beyond which no vehicles are permitted, you can then walk 3km to your hotel or take a horse ride or hand riksha. Most of the hotels and resorts are near the main market area, and available at all budget ranges. A toy train runs from Neral to the Matheran market but takes too long. The train track is better for walking as the main road is very dusty due to the horses. Sturdy sneakers are a must for a comfortable visit. A walking stick also helps a lot and helps to shoo away naughty monkeys who are always waiting to snatch any food stuff from your hand. The best pass time in Matheran is to walk or take a horseride to the various Points through the densely forested trails. Walking is much nicer. You can spot several birds, pretty butterflies, langurs and if lucky the giant squirrel, on these trails. Great views from the Points. Charlotte lake is another nice spot. All cuisines at all prices are available near the market area, however many hotels offer meals inclusive rates. Divadkars offers good Marathi meals. Gujarati thalis are the most popular on offer in the various restaurants. Must buys are local chikki, honey, footwear, accessories and local handicrafts. Hotels offer good discounts in off season which is the best time to go to avoid crowds and enjoy a peaceful rejuvenating 2 - 4 day break. Monsoons are magical and misty though quite a few of the hotels are closed at this time. The best time is immediately after the monsoons when the trails are not slushy, the crowds havent arrived and the wildflowers are in full bloom.

I love Matheran, I went three times last year and intend going often this year too. Its a dense evergreen forested plateau about 650m high and barely 2hours drive from grotty Mumbai. Cars are allowed upto Dasturi car park after that you have to walk or horse ride or sit in a hand riksha. A toy train plies between Neral in the plains and Matheran. The ride is scenic on the uphill stretch but unduly long. Sturdy walking shoes and preferably a walking stick or pole are a must for an enjoyable stay. The stick comes in handy to ward off some of the over aggressive monkeys who are waiting to snatch whatever goodies you purchase at the market. MTDC hotel is the only one at Dasturi, for the rest its a trudge uphill. Choose the railway track to walk along, its a lot easier than the rubble strewn mud path where horse traffic creates a permanent air of red mud particulate matter. There are several well laid trails through the forests leading to various view points with quaint names like Panorama Point, Monkey Point, Chowk Point etc. On these trails you will spot monkeys, pretty wildflowers, huge blue mormon butterflies and occasionally, langurs and giant squirrels. You will hear but may not see easily through the foliage, many many sweet sounding birds. Snakes running across the trails are also common, they are non poisonous [mostly]. Charlotte lake is the main water body and watersupply source for Matheran. The market is around the railway station. All cuisines are available at all budgets. Divadkars is excellent for their vegetarian, non-Guju thali. I always eat there. Good local buys are chikkis, jambul honey - the darker the more medicinal, leather footwear, accessories and dried grass handicrafts. Bargain hard as there is plenty of competition. The locals are helpful, courteous and very aware of the benefits of tourism to their economy. The climate is always pleasant even in mid summer due to the evergreen forest canopy. Even when its full of tourists, there are always forest trails where you can be alone. However off season is preferable as the hotel rates get slashed. Monsoons are the best when its misty and full of waterfalls but the pathways will be slushy. Electricity supply is erratic and there is daily load shedding as in the rest of Maharashtra. Do take your worst clothing which you can discard. The red mud permeates everything !!! A few days here every two to three months, rejuvenates the Mumbai hassled soul.

Only 90 km from Mumbai and 120 km from Pune, Matheran is a place that is an easy getaway. Apart from being a hill station, Matheran is most famous for its environment. The reason for this is the fact that no auto vehicles are permitted here which leads to a nigh pollution free zone. This adds to the feel of a hill station and hence Matheran is cooler and less humid than many places. In fact the air is so clean that the lights of Mumbai are visible in the nights, being a hill station you will find the many points or scenic locations as in Sunrise, Sunset, Lovers’ point ET all. These places give a panoramic view of the surrounding forests. Also you can find many herbs in this place. Tiding the horses is an absolute delight here. Also worth mentioning is the mini train that does its round through the day here. Transportation is mainly the train, the horse carts and hand drawn carts. Also present is the Lake Charlotte and the market place. The market place offers great value and the massage and acupressure spindles are famous here. You will of course see a lot of Monkeys (both and black and red faced). It would be advisable that you don’t get too close to them. If you want to there is a monkey point too where you can find all the monkeys you can see at one place together. The roads are not made from asphalt but from red earth which only adds to the ethnic value of this place. This place is a must go for its breath taking views, clean atmosphere, and hiking fans. Provides a definite re charge.

Nirvana !!! A must visit for every one at least once in your lifetime. You have to be there to see how beautiful and natural the place is.

visit once in life & you will love to hate this place.Looted the people by local residance no proper guidance from people government. Not secure to go.

I have been going to Matheran since I was a kid along with my parents,I must have gone atleast 15 times, and am in love with the place. It is a small hill station situated about a 100 kms from Mumbai filled with the nicest people, you can go horseback riding,or go hiking on the shaded roads, go shopping, relax in your hotel, go sightseeing and see the breath taking valleys, feed the monkeys...There are no cement roads so your clothes will get dirty more often than u wld like. What I like about the place? Everything, first- cars or bikes are not allowed so there is no pollution at all,the horses, the monkeys, the people, the relaxing atmosphere, the sights. What I dislike? Nothing. How to get there? Take a train from Bombay(Dadar) to Neral station, from there u can take a cab on the top of the hill which will cost u about 50 rupees per seat or u can go by the mini train if it's been repaired(the tracks got displaced due to last year's floods) There is a entrance fee to get in matheran. I think its 25 or 50 rupees, I'm not sure though. My 1st favorite place u ask- Bombay/Mumbai.

We had so much fun staying in Materan. It was fun riding the horses to places. If you want you can walk the way there but it took us a long time on a horse to the hotels. There are many mokeys every where. I recmond it to everyone that loves the outdoors.