The Shadow and the Road
I have visited Matheran 10 to 12 times and each time I found this place be...
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The Shadow and the Road
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 
The View Of The Western Range
The Charlotte Lake
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.
The View As Seen In JulyThe Toy Train And The Green Canopy
The British Type Cottages
The Matheran Map
Matheran Station
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 Aman Lodge Station At Dasturi Naka
Is the Gateway to Matheran
The Scene In Rainy Season
The Cloudy Mist
The Red Carpet to A Point!Road To Neral
The Train To Matheran
The Waterfall Seen From King George Pt.
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.
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Dear Rampu
First Thanks to visit my blog and commenting on it.
Sine I dont drive I do not know those gears and U bends.
I had similar experience when I visited Raigadh, there also our vehicle driver had great difficulty in negotiating the hair pin bends.
As for Bhandar Dhara I have visited that beautiful place twice. Once in the month of March year 1981 and again in July 2000. I also had the chance to watch Randhra falls just up stream of Pravra river.
In July that place was fantastic. Pl Post the pics and send me a note.
Regards
Chanchal
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Chanchal,
Great pictures. I visited Materan an year ago (in feb 07). The horse ride up the hill very is a good experience and my kid (2 yrs old then) loved it though my wife felt little uncomfortable sitting on a horse :).
The drive up to the foothill of Matheran is too dangerous with sudden road twists and unexpected U bends and most of the time I was driving on first/second gear. Never seen anything like that before, but It was real fun driving up.
We enjoyed it thoroughly even though everything was dry and very little greenery. Will visit that place again if I am still in Mumbai this rainy season.
Have you been to Bhandardara? So far, this is the best place I've ever visited ... any where in the world. I'll post some of the pics I took there very soon. If you havn't visited it before, then plan the trip this monsson..... and during monsoon only.
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Hello,
Santhemant
Hi I have listed the high end hotels and low ends also.
Hanzer and Madhumalti jut near the station are low end hotels.
They are cheap in july -aug during week days and more on week ends.
The rates are bargainable.
Regards
Chanchal
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That is exactly what I wanted yaar.you have listed what i do not want..i am abudget traveller see my blogs on travel..
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Dear Meerajay
Even, If a single soul get inspired and visit this place in August, I will term my bog is highly successful.
my regards to you as always
Chanchal
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Hello,
The pictures of Matheran are very beautiful indeed. I liked the pic of Matheran on a Rainy day, The Cloudy Mist and the view from King George point. Nature looks at her best ! The information that you have provided is ample. Makes it easy for one to explore there . The train looks exciting too!! I have visited Matheran, but was very very young... This travelogue tempts me to visit it again! Thanks for sharing these lovely pictures!
Cheers and With Regards
Meera
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Dear Santhemant
Since I am economy tourist I opt for low priced Hotels.
Ther are high end hotels as Byke, Usha Ascot to Madumalti and Hanzer(Near Station).
The choice is yours.
You can search net for the names of the hotels, but my suggestion to you stay nearer to he station as all facilities are available there in off season.
My regards
Chanchal
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Dear LSR
My blogs rather travelogues are intended to all those who are bitten by this insect of Tours Or Travel.
I want to share my experiences with them, rather what enchanted me.
Their eyes and preceptins mey differ, but I try to provide them a bechmark.
My regards
Chanchal
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Dear Good Friend Yash,
Other day When I talk to you about this place, you rather asked me to post this blog.
I concede I am not as good player of words like you.
yet I tried my level best keeping your stature in my mind.
If it gave an ounce of joy to you that is my my ounce of success.
With Regards
Chanchal
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Dear Bhavna
Keeping my all respect to your comments, I would like to commit that I did not have my digicam when i visited this unique place.
I feel that is my failure. Yet I hv tried my best to showcase this hill station to it's full glory.
My Best wishes to you as always
Chanchal
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