Matheran

Overview:

An oasis of serenity and beauty, the vividly picturesque hill station of Matheran is situated on the Western Ghats at an elevation close to 800 meters above sea-level. It belongs to Karjat tahsil and is the smallest hill station by area in India. Matheran is a municipal council in the Raigad district, of the Indian state, of Maharashtra. Matheran’s close proximity to various metropolitan cities, closest being Mumbai, has transformed it, into a haven for the urban residents in search for weekend getaways. ‘Matheran’ literally translates into "forest on the forehead of the mountains”. A Health Sanatorium Matheran was declared as an eco-sensitive region by The Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India. Due to this declaration Matheran is also one of the rare places where; with the sole exception of an ambulance operated by the Municipality, auto-mobiles aren’t allowed. Horses and hand-pulled rickshaws are the only modes of transport. This translates into, the transient visitors being transported back to the idyllic and peaceful times when auto-mobiles did not exist. The dulcet temperature is usually cool with minimal humidity. Matheran also shelters an array of medicinal plants and herbs, a large monkey population including Bonnet Macaques and Hanuman Langurs. Matheran was developed by the British, as a popular summer resort. Located atop the Sahyadri ranges, harboring a reasonably dense forest cover and being located at a high altitude, Matheran tenders a multitude of salient lookout points, which provide conspicuously spectacular and dramatic views of the surrounding hills and valleys. Around thirty eight designated look-out points feature in Matheran; including the Panorama Point which provides a 360 degree view of the surrounding area besides, the Neral town. Sunrises and sunsets viewed from here can be overwhelming. Crystal clear views of the Prabal Fort, is offered at Louisa Point. One Tree Hill Point, Hart Point, Monkey Point, Porcupine Point, Rambagh Point are few of the other prominent points. The trip from Mumbai to Matheran by car takes about 2-3 hours. Most of the tourists prefer to hire a car to Matheran from Mumbai to ensure that their journey is fast and comfortable. Matheran is connected to the town of Neral which lies at its base from where a tar road connects Neral to Dasturi Naka which is nine kilometers from Matheran. Due, to the ban on auto-mobiles in Matheran, vehicles aren’t allowed beyond this point. Neral is located about 100 km from Mumbai & 120 km from Pune.

Places to Visit:

Perched on top of Prabal hill, The Prabal Fort is a touristy site. Initially built by the Mughals and then captured by Chhatrapati Shivaji, The fort is now in ruins.

Alexander Point is a scenic post of Matheran. It offers beautiful views of Palasdari Lake, Garbut Point, Rambaug Point, Chowk Point, Ulhas River, and the village Borgaon. The Charlotte Lake in Matheran is located amidst a lush green landscape. It is the primary source of drinking water in the region. There is also an ancient temple nearby, called the Pisarnath Temple.

Louisa Point, a famous lookout, offers spectacular views of the ruins of Visalgarh and Prabal forts. Located very close to this point, is the famous Lion’s Head rock. The King George Point captures the beauty of the Charlotte Lake as it overflows and forms multiple waterfalls during the monsoons. The Sunset Point or Porcupine Point offers magnificent views of the setting sun, while the Echo Point offers panoramic views of the entire place.

Things To Do:

Organised by, Matheran Municipal Council the mega festival of Matheran Mahotsav, is a five day festival held annually during the month of May. Promotion of the local art and culture is the key objective of this festival. The participating, aspiring artists perform various cultural programmes to showcase their talents.

Many outdoor activities for adventure enthusiasts are available at Matheran. Reaching Matheran in itself is an adventure. One of the easiest and most popular trekking routes to reach Matheran is the Garbert Plateau. Starting from Bhivpuri station, the climb is most wonderful during the rainy season as there are numerous rivulets and streams that one has to cross during the trek. Hiring the services of a local guide and an early start, are advisable.

Mall Road has shops lined on both sides of the road. The local shops offer plethora of options including walking sticks, glass birds, leather items, food items, cane articles, dried wild flowers and souvenirs that are worth buying. The world renowned Kolhapuri footwear are sold here.