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In the never-ending human quest for meaning, travel plays a nurturing part in evolving the human mind to its full spectrum. For me, traveling in the vicinity of Mother Nature fills my heart with absolute tranquility that is present nowhere else! My current place of work and residence being Mumbai, Matheran Hill station came as a natural option for a quick weekend getaway due to its proximity to the city. My particular interest was in the train journey from Neral to Matheran in the historic Matheran toy train. Well, the train has been recently opened after being closed for around a year due to technical glitches.
Located around 90 km from Mumbai and 120 km from Pune, Matheran hill station is an ideal location for many. There are around 36 viewpoints to the Sahyadri range rendering mesmerizing views of the Western Ghats.
And, to again quench the thirst to explore, I decided to take the Friday off to get a long weekend to embark on a journey to the Matheran Hill Station! I started to look up all the possible information that I could find about my destination.
Though one of the smallest hill stations in India, Matheran more than makes up for its size with its strategic location with proximity to the Western Ghats. Therefore, to help future travelers, I am documenting my finds and experiences to help you make the most out of your trip to Matheran.
The picturesque hills with lush green vegetation everywhere make this place a must-see for every nature lover out there. Also, the famous Matheran toy train is something that I was eagerly looking forward to.
As of now, three beautiful toy trains are offering limited seats to ply between Matheran and the nearest township, Neral. If you’re visiting Matheran, a journey on the toy train must be topping your must-do list. Also, it is the only toy train to be working in Maharashtra and that further spiked our interest.
It is an excellent experience to embark on this train journey as it has been running for 100 plus years! Here, it offers around 12 trips per day but the morning train is what someone should opt for to get a glimpse of pristine views. You can choose from a first and second class with separate tariffs for adults and children
Like any other top holiday hill destination, Matheran has a lot to offer to its visitors. I was about to take a two to three-day trek to cover all the significant locations. The weekend we picked was perfect to spend quality time across this quaint little place. So, I along with a friend of mine started our journey from Mumbai to Neral.
As no private vehicles are allowed to enter the area due to its eco-sensitive region status declared by the Ministry of Environment of the Government of India, we had to board the MLR or Matheran Light Railways to Neral as it is the closest station to Matheran. Altogether, the journey was exciting and the destination ahead further spiked our collective energy!
On reaching Neral, we stayed the night and waited to board the Matheran Toy Train at 6:40 AM to reach our final location, Matheran Hill Station. The train journey is highly popular among visitors and gives a first-hand glimpse of the majestic hills and the surrounding natural beauty.
Other than the toy train, if you want to choose different modes of transport, there are ample options out there for your choice. You can Walk from Dhindi point near Neral along the railway tracks to reach Matheran in 30 minutes.
We reached Matheran approximately around 9:50 AM and started to go towards our lodge. Due to the impending ban on any form of motorized vehicle inside, the options you’re left with are horse carts, hand-pulled rickshaws and horse rides. We opted for the horse cart and quickly reached our abode for the next few days of our Matheran adventure.
The specialty of Matheran lies in its natural beauty and pristine views. One can get ample views of the surrounding Sahyadri range and the Western ghats from any one of the 36 viewpoints located throughout the place. Trekking or cart transport is the only option as Matheran is the only automobile free hill station in Asia.
Located at an altitude of 800 meters, Matheran is also the smallest hill station in India. The pleasant weather, the alluring forest lands, and a variety of flora make it stand out amongst its contemporaries.
Also, it is an ideal monsoon destination as the rain makes its natural beauty even more breathtaking and enjoyable. The hill station is home to numerous waterfalls making it even more compelling for the visitors.
Lake Charlotte is a must-visit if you’re in Matheran and it supplies drinking water to the entire Matheran town. We opted to trek to the Vikatgad fort on the first day, which proved to be an adventurous experience among lush green trees and nature. It was a perfect amalgam of history and culture and almost acted as a transporter of time in its natural essence.
Another significant attraction of the area is the Shivaji ladder which is excellent in its entire look and feel. You can get a magnificent first-hand view of the ever-encompassing greenery while climbing its majestic steps!
The viewpoints are exceptional providing a 360-degree view of deep valleys nestled along the hills with beautiful waterfalls falling towards its course. Even more, the feel of the region is undoubtedly worth experiencing and we were consistently awed in every step.
King George Point has a fantastic view of waterfalls that shape into the Charlotte Lake. The visitors get a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reach the mouth of the pristine waterfall and get an enjoyable experience. Matheran is brimming with the panoramic viewpoints that offer a view of the rock-strewn landscapes.
Amongst all of these, the Panorama Point is quite popular, mainly for it’s stunning and astonishing 360-degree view of the lush green surroundings. Add to this, tranquil, and a peaceful environment, which further enhances the beauty of the place.
In short – it’s just the perfect place to rekindle romanticism or enjoy quality family time. Peb Fort, Chanderi, Jagged peaks of MHAs – Mal, Navara – Navari can be easily seen from here. In the background, there is also a Prabal fort. Don’t forget to behold the view of the sun playing hide and seek with the mountains.
Note that most travelers prefer to visit this destination during the monsoons as the views are greener and fresher during this time of the year.
There are few hotels and guest houses of varying budgets to suit your needs. Indeed, most of the hotels in Matheran are situated at convenient locations which makes popular tourist spots easily accessible.
The room that we booked was decent for the price and the accessibility was excellent. You can either pre-book your stay online or opt to book in person on reaching Matheran. However, the peak seasons are pretty crowded and you won’t have much luck in physical booking so, online booking is highly recommended during that time.
You can also opt to buy a variety of things like chikkis, leather goods, dried wildflowers, cane items, and honey. The honey is exceptionally tasty and is a must buy if you’re visiting the place. The items are fresh and buying them also helps to stimulate the local economy of the region.
The various attractions in the area are a delight for a weekend traveler and should not be missed if you have some time at hand. With the various viewpoints like Monkey Point, Panorama Point, Louisa Point, etc that are a must-see, to the beautiful temples and Gurudwaras in the region, this place never fails to amaze. Amidst all this, you also cannot miss the lush greenery that it showcases and the various birds and animals inhabiting the region.
Most importantly, you absolutely cannot miss having a ride on the iconic Matheran toy train, if you want to explore the beauty of the mountains in its entirety. It is very interesting to see and feel the ethos of this natural heaven and you will not experience even a glimpse of boredom in the entire journey. They say that you live only once and it will be excellent if you live it true and free. Explore Matheran, it is surely an experience in itself and you should not miss any chance to visit this small heaven of a place.
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April 15, 2024 
