Matheran A Comforting Haven

The British Raj developed Matheran as a resort to beat the summer heat in the region. Located at an average elevation of 800 metres above sea level, Matheran with its cool and less humid climate, and cloud-enshrouded evergreen trees, makes it a popular all-season tourist haunt. Especially during the monsoon season, you will be mesmerised by its majestic foggy green landscape, gushing waterfalls everywhere-these moody scenes transforms the hill station into an even more atmospheric and surreal setting. Come enjoy and know why this colonial-era hill station was and is a therapeutic attraction to this day and is Asia’s only automobile-free hill station

Louisa Point (Matheran)

Matheran literally translates to “forest on the forehead (of the mountains)” in the local Marathi language. The British Raj developed Matheran as a resort to beat the summer heat in the region.

On the Matheran plateau, there is a spot which still bears the name of Hugh Poyntz Malet, the then district collector of Raigad district, who in the year 1850 while camping in a nearby village, first spotted this elevated plateau as perfect for a hill station. However, it was the then Governor of Bombay, Lord Elphinstone, who got mesmerised by the landscape and chose a beautiful site for his mansion and named it Elphistone Lodge. He then laid the foundations of the development as a future hill station. The British era palatial bungalows, gothic villas, and half-timbered Tudor cottages in Matheran, are still the pride of the town.

Located at an average elevation of 800 metres (2,625 feet) above sea level, Matheran receives heavy rainfall during monsoon, and is covered with dense fog all through the year, which vitalises the growth of evergreen dense forest, with uniquely diverse flora. Called a health sanatorium, the Union Environment Ministry of India has declared the hill station an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ).

Easily accessible from the big cities of Mumbai (100 km) and Pune (120 km), by rail or road, Matheran is one of the smallest hill stations in India, located on the Western Ghats range, in Karjat Tahsil, Raigad district, Maharashtra. For travelling in and around Matheran and to various scenic viewpoints, one can rent a horse ride.

THE TOY TRAIN JOURNEY

A huge attraction and not-to-be-missed experience while travelling to Matheran, is the toy train journey from Neral rail junction (on Mumbai-Pune rail route) to Matheran Bazaar station. The Central Railway’s Matheran Hill Railway, is a narrow-gauge heritage railway, a quaint little train that chugs slowly for 12 miles (20 km), taking you through spectacular grassy hillside landscapes, cliffs, waterfalls and thick forest cover. Built-in 1907 by Sir Adamjee Peerbhoy, the notable features of this rail route includes its horseshoe embankments, the Herbal Hill section, the steep grade of Bhekra Khud, the One-Kiss Tunnel (it is long enough to exchange a kiss with your partner), Mountain Berry featuring two sharp zig-zags, and Panorama Point.

BREATH-TAKING HILLTOP VIEWS

There are around 40 scenic and breath-taking viewpoints in Matheran, which can take around 2-3 days by foot for a complete tour of all the points. Alternatively, if one manages to start early, one can rent a horse and complete all the points in a single day. The Panorama Point has the most mesmerising sunset and sunrise point, giving a 360-degree view of the surrounding Matheran landscape and also the nearby Neraltown. The Louisa Point has a clear view of the Prabal Fort and of picturesque Charlotte Lake looking like a diamond necklace. The Monkey Point has a view of intimidating mountains and deep gorges. The Celia Point is located at a waterfall mouth, active during monsoon season. The One Tree Hill Point is named so because it has just one tree growing on top of the hill and Shivaji’s Ladder Road marks the way downhill from this point. The Echo point besides its alluring view is also famous for its echoes and reverberations. The Honeymoon Point gives a view of layered view of bands of mountain side rocks and looks like a smaller version of the Grand Canyon. The other viewpoints include Heart Point, Porcupine Point, Alexander Point, Little Chowk Point, Belvedere Point, Lord Point, Echo Point, Khandala Point, Myra Point, Rambagh Point, Hart Point, King George Point, Mount Barry, Malang Point and more.

"Matheran is Asia’s only automobile free hill station, so cars are not allowed within Matheran. Called a health sanatorium, the Union Environment Ministry of India has declared the hill station an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ). Matheran is one of the smallest hill stations in India"

The toy train journey

OTHER ATTRACTIONS

Matheran also has a lake, the Charlotte Lake - a perfect spot for the campers and picnickers surrounded by dense forest. The lake is formed when the nearby dam overflows during heavy rains, forming a pristine waterfall flowing into the shimmering Charlotte lake. On one side of the lake is an archaic temple of Lord Shiva-Pisharnath Mahadev Mandir, which has a unique Shiva Linga smeared with vermillion and tilted to one side. A surprising attraction of this little hill station is the Olympia Race Course, which was established in 1892-93 by Sir Dhunjibhoy Bomanji. There are two (a-worth-visit) leisure parks, the Madhavji Garden and Paymaster Park. Give a visit to the Malet Waters Spring, named after the founder of Matheran, Hugh Ponyntz Malet. See the Holy Cross Church, nearby Charlotte Lake, built in the year 1853 by the British Raj Catholic workers. The other Anglican churches here are the St. Paul’s Church and the Roman Catholic Church.

FOR ADVENTURE ENTHUSIAST

For an adventurous experience take a oneday trek to Vikatgad Peb Fort named after the famous Goddess Pebi Devi, to enjoy its green landscape and cascading waterfalls. Standing between Matheran and Panvel, Irshalgad Fort is known as the sister fort to Prabal Fort. If you are an adventure enthusiast and love water activities, then go waterfall rappelling, heading to Dhodani Waterfalls. Apart from rappelling, trekking, and hiking, you can also go rock climbing. There are popular spots like Alexander Point, Louisa Point, Prabal Fort and Shivaji’s Ladder. Matheran is a plateau with a reasonably dense forest cover and is also a perfect place for Sadhana (Meditations), retreats and yogas.

NO VEHICLE ZONE

Matheran is Asia’s only automobile free hill station, so cars are not allowed within Matheran. You can drive up and park your car at Dasturi car point, or take the newly introduced minibus shuttle from Karjat or Neral railway stations up to Dasturi. From Dasturi, you must take a 40 minute horseback or man-pulled rickshaw ride to Matheran along a mud track. Or you can take a half an hour walk from Dasturi along the rail route line, which is shorter and scenic, or take the main road route. Be aware while trekking, that the town and surroundings have a large monkey population, including Bonnet Macaques and Hanuman Langurs.