A Nature Escapade to Matheran from Mumbai

Matheran is a beautiful hill station nestled between Mumbai and Pune in the Raigad district of Maharashtra. It is known as the crown of Maharashtra, as it is located on the lush Sahyadri hills at an elevation of 2,600 feet above sea level. The smallest hill station in India, Matheran is adorned with spectacular vistas and has 36 viewpoints offering sweeping views of alluring mountains and hills, leaving you in the lap of nature.

Once you step into this tiny hill station, you will flip to a parallel world with red-soiled roads, lush greenery, and vehicle-free pathways. Tourists, locals and foreigners alike, throng this place all year round, especially during winters, to breath the fresh air. The place is perfect for a short detour, a weekend getaway with friends, picnicking with family, or a solo trip.

 

A Road Trip To Matheran From Mumbai

Matheran is one of the few places in the world that resists automobiles. In the era of accelerating climate change, it is important to save nature from further destruction. Travellers must consider eco-friendly driving practices such as keeping tyres properly inflated, using the recommended grade of motor oil, tuning the vehicle’s engine properly, checking and replacing air filters, and avoiding idling.

Mumbai-Pune Highway:

Your road trip to Matheran will commence on the Mumbai–Pune highway, i. e., via NH4, which goes up to Chowk village. From there, take a turn to Karjat, head to the road that leads to Dasturi Naka, drive through Neral, and enter Matheran. However, you need to park your vehicle at Dasturi Naka, as motor vehicles are prohibited in Matheran. You can hire a hand-pulled rickshaw or take a horse to the hill station.

Trekking Trails

Matheran offers easy and exhilarating trekking trails and attracts trekkers from Mumbai and Pune. The most elating trek is from Neral, where you stop your vehicle and set out on a 3-hour trek and walking trail to Matheran. You will be accompanied by splendid views of farms, landscapes, streams, railway tracks, etc. You can take a short break at the Janampatri railway station. Once you have completed the hike, you can go back to your rooms and from there head to Matheran Bazaar for shopping.

Karnala Bird Sanctuary

Located near the Mumbai–Pune Expressway over an area of 12.11 sq. km, Karnala Bird Sanctuary is home to a rich variety of floral and faunal species. The place is ideal for hikers and bird watchers. The sanctuary is also a shrine to history lovers as it is situated next to the Karnala Fort.

Time Required: 3-4 hours

Timings: 7:00 am – 6:00 pm

Entry Fee: Adults: Rs 35, Children: Rs 50

Karnala Fort

About 10 km from Panvel and 65 km from Mumbai in the Raigad district lies a hill fort called Karnala Fort. It is also known as the Funnel Hill. Located within the Karnala Bird Sanctuary, the hill fort is a sight for sore eyes and thrill-seekers as it offers trekking opportunities. The place offers both easy and difficult trekking experiences. A normal, easy trek to the top of the fort takes 2 hours with gentle slopes. If you are up for a challenge, you can take the route on steep slopes, which will save you half an hour. Evidence of the fort’s dynastic lineage of Mughals, Portuguese, and Maratha rulers is available all over the place. You can find Persian writings and Marathi inscriptions on the gates of the fort, try to decipher them.

Timings: 7:00 am – 6:00 pm

Entry Fee: Adult: Rs 30, Kids: Rs 15

Prabalgad Fort

Prabalgad Fort is cuddled between Matheran and Panvel at a height of 2,300 feet in the Western Ghats and is a must-visit tourist spot. A trek to this fort is not for the faint of heart. The route is steep and the stairs leading to the fort are cut into the rock of the hill, making it a challenging climb. If trekking is not your cup of tea, then visit Ulhas river, Gadhi river and Patalganga river. You will find yourself relishing the beauty of farms and villages in Kalavantin Durg. Pisharnath Temple is another worthwhile place to visit near the fort.

Best Time: October to May is the best time to visit Prabalgad Fort because the roads tend to be dry.

Louisa Point

1.5 km from the marketplace in Matheran lies a unique point that gives two different picturesque views—the mountain kissing the sky and a civilized valley far away and Lake Charlotte, which looks like a diamond from Louisa Point. You can get a clear and intriguing view of Prabalgad Fort and panoramic views of mountains, peaks, lakes and waterfalls around. Watch the sunset from this point, cherish the moments of silence, soak in the beauty of this place, and put your photography skills to use.

Panorama Point

Panorama Point, as the name suggests, offers 360-degree panoramic views of the Western Ghats and verdant valleys flecked with villages. If you are looking for a less-crowded place in Matheran, head to Panorama Point via the Neral–Matheran toy train and trek 2 km to the point. The views of sunset, sunrise, clouds, valleys, plains and peaks make it an ideal place for photography enthusiasts and nature lovers.

Best Time To Visit: Panorama Point comes to life during monsoons as the vegetation is in full bloom around this time.

Note: Wear comfortable clothes, carry your own water bottle, don’t carry too much luggage, keep enough cash, and stay away from monkeys at this place.

Charlotte Lake

Located at a walking distance from the main market area, Charlotte Lake is the most amazing tourist spot in this offbeat hill station, with spellbinding vantage points that offer scenic views of the valley. The lake also serves as a primary source of water for the people of Matheran. The tarn has a magnetic effect on nature lovers through its bountiful greenery and tranquil waters that create a surreal ambience. You can camp at this place, but make sure to follow the guidelines and do not litter the place. Pisharnath Mahadev Mandir, a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, is the native pilgrimage site by the lake.

Things To Do: Bird watching, temple visit, watching the sunset, camping and picnicking.

Best Time To Visit: If you want to camp at this place, you must visit only after the monsoons, i.e., between October and November, because the lake fills up to brim during the rainy season.

Note: The lake is the primary source of drinking water to the local people. Don’t wash your hands or drop anything in the lake.

Monkey Point

Overlooking the mesmerizing views of the Western Ghats, deep gorges, and majestic mountains, Monkey Point is a strange place in Matheran. It is frequently ambushed by a congress of monkeys, hence the name. You can find an abundance of indigenous flora and fauna around, making it possible to learn about Matheran’s weather and biodiversity. At Monkey Point, you can shout out in the direction of the Hart Cliff and listen to the echoes of your voice and have fun with it. Watch the sun go down, monkeys hanging out, plunging valleys, and nature in all its glory.

Echo Point

Echo Point in Matheran is famous for its reverberations and echoes. People shout out their hearts and the names of their loved ones, and the valley replies in a funny and endearing manner. Echo Point is photogenic with its endless blanket of grass. Its nature is a sight to behold. There are several food stalls at this point serving mouth-watering local Maharashtrian delicacies.

 

Where To Eat In Matheran

There is no shortage of food at Matheran. There are good restaurants that serve vegetarian, Jain, Gujarati, Rajasthani and authentic local food. There are also options for non-vegetarians, restaurants serving Indian and intercontinental cuisines. Panorama restaurant, Shabbir’s Biryani house, Kokan Katta, and Ketkar restaurant are some of the restaurants Matheran has to offer.

There are several budget-friendly accommodations in Matheran that will go easy on your pocket. Matheran is an offbeat, teeming, and well-preserved hill station in Maharashtra, and is a perfect place to disconnect with the world and reconcile with nature. A road trip from Mumbai to Matheran is indeed a detox to the mind and the body.

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