Matheran is a hill station in Maharashtra, discovered and developed by British as a resort place to beat summer. Situated at Western Ghat at an elevation of 800 m (2, 625 Ft.). Matheran is about 90 km from Mumbai and 120 km from Pune.
The best part about Matheran is that it’s vehicle free and it’s associated pollution free as last vehicle entry point is Dasturi. No vehicle is allowed beyond that.
We left our vehicle at Dasturi. One need to pay entry ticket for getting inside Matheran. To reach Matheran from Dasturi, there are 4 options –
to take Toy Train from Aman Lodge to Matheran,
taking ride of Hand Pull Rickshaw
Horse ride or
by walk.
Image: Mode of travel
We took the 9:55 am Toy Train ride. Per person 4 tickets are being given. The Toy train journey was very enjoyable. It takes almost 18 minutes to reach Matheran from Aman Lodge by Toy train.
Image: Toy Train - Ply between Aman Lodge to Matheran
Earlier Toy train used to ply between Narel to Matheran but due to operation issues, the Toy train now operates between Aman Lodge to Matheran.
We stayed at Lord’s Hotel, 10 mins walking distance from Rly station. The hotel is quite old and has antique feeling all around. We got our rooms where from one can see the Garbut point view – a lovely serene view from the veranda of room.
Image: Lords Hotel and Garbut Point View
Matheran is mainly famous for 38 designated viewpoints. Few of them are –
1. Panorama Point (Sun rise Point)
2. Porcupine Point (Sun set Point)
3. Alexander Point
4. Lord’s Point
5. Louisa Point
6. Khandala Point
7. Garbut Point
One of the serene calm places is Charlotte Lake surrounded by beautiful calm and serene greenery. The calmness of the place easily touches one’s heart.
Image: Charlotte Lake View
There is a Shiva temple nearly Charlotte lake named as Pisarnath Shiva temple – known as Gram Devata (Village God) of Matheran. It is also known as Swayambhu Shiva as the Lingaa appeared at the place of worship by itself.
Though unplanned, I entered the temple and offered my prayer to Lord Shiva. The spirituality inside the temple easily touches the heart, one can feel blessings of Lord Shiva in the temple.
Image: Pisarnath Temple and road that follows
One can check out Lord’s Point nearby which gives nice view of surrounding hills at distance and the abyss. We realize suddenly how infinite and huge the universal existence is and how miniscule we are.
Morning time can be utilized for visiting few selected viewpoints and evening time, one can spend roaming around the small market of Matheran. What catches one’s eye is the number of shoe shops – huge number of shoe shops to choose from.
Image: Market of Matheran
While in Matheran, one needs to be very careful about Monkeys. From Aman Lodge itself, one suddenly feels surrounded by another species i.e., monkeys. These monkeys are very mischievous and demanding and sometime don’t hesitate to attack to get what they need. This time while waiting for train to arrive at Aman Lodge, suddenly one monkey came down and tried to snatch food item from the hand of a lady who was also waiting for the train. The monkey failed in it’s attempts to snatch food packet and then it started snatching the dupatta of the lady. A tug of war with dupatta started on the platform. People around saved the lady.
Compared to these monkeys, langurs are peaceful, one can see these langurs jumping around tall tree branches.
In Matheran, for moving around and even going to far distance view point, available vehicles are hand pull rickshaw or horses. If one is adventurous, riding horse is the best option.
There are couple of good hotels available at Matheran.
Find the link below –
Matheran is a beautiful hilly place to be away from the hustle of city life and spend few days of peace and serenity amidst nature, hills, monkey, horse, red soil, chirping of birds.
Find yourself!!
PS: Once you are back home, you have spent time was and clean your red shoe whatever color it was before going to Matheran.
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