I have visited Matheran 10 to 12 times and each time I found this place beautiful. Her beauty deteriorated with time, due to rampant commercialization of   this small hill station which is about 100 km away from Mumbai and at the height of 2625 feet above the sea level. It is also called poor man’s Mahabaleshwar which another famous hill station of Maharashtra which is about 4000 feet above the sea level and 290 km from Mumbai. The differences between the two are
1. Height,  2. Distance from Mumbai,  3. Too much commercial activities in the later, 4. Presence of Automobiles in the later,  5. Less forest cover,  6. Size ( Area)

Similarity lies in the view points. From numerous points you can observe the valley and villages below. It is like observing the city scene from the terrace of high rise building. 

The Mist

If  you want to visit Matheran you have four options to reach there.

By train:- From Mumbai to Neral , a station in Mumbai CST- Karjat Sections. From there you can travel up to Neral by Mini Diesel Loco Driven Train. It is a journey of 21 km takes 90mts time. My suggestion, travel by this train while going up. Come Down by share taxi. A point to be noted the train service is suspended during rainy season for three months.

By Share Taxi:- They are available near Neral stations East side and takes about 30mts for 11km journey up to Dasturi Naka. From there you either have to walk, or hire a horse or hire men pulled rickshaws to reach to the heart of Matheran, the Station. I always like to walk to there, a 3km walk along the narrow gauze Railway track and another a detouring walk of about 5km from the Naka.

By Your Own Car or Hired Taxis from Mumbai or Pune Up to Dasturi Naka, then same as above.

By Trek: - Young and even the old take this course for a beautiful experience.   

The Entry Fee:- You have to pay the entry fee to enter this hill station.

The Descriptions:- This hill station is about 7.35 Sq Km area, and all points can be accessed by walking. The roads are made red laterite earth, so your feet and pants will become Red( Not Of Communists Type). What will you get in return? Free supply of pure oxygen.  Since all types of vehicle are barred in this place, Air is 999.9 % pure. This has made this place unique in the whole world. I wonder, if there is any other hill station in the world, like this.

Walk through the wooded paths, and enjoy the greenery of trees making a green canopy over your head. 

In all other season you can enjoy the greener, in rainy season you have added companion the cloud and the mist. The clouds will move pass to the Western Ghat though this place and height. Two great waterfall of rainy season can be enjoyed in this time.

The points:-

Louisa point is best for watching the villages and the plain below.

Echo point for hearing your own voice in the distant hill.

Sun Set and Sun Rise points for obvious reasons.

Charlotte Lake is more beautiful in August, when it overflows.

Lords Point and King George point for watching and waterfall.

The most crowded area is the station area, hotels, souvenir shops, Chiki shops and restaurants are more in this area. There numerous bungalows of British Parsi  type architecture. This place was discovered by Mr.Malet, then collector of Thane district, in the year 1850 and Lord Elphinstone, then Governor of Bombay started to develop it to a hill station. It is an Eco sensitive Zone.  It is an ideal and popular weekend destination for Mumbai and Pune residents.

Visit this place once to enjoy its uniqueness.


I acknowledge ,I have taken help from my friends in the net and used their some image files which made this travelogue rich.