The Byke

A pair of good quality walking shoes

by RakeshKapadnis

In order to see all the scenic points of Matheran, one has to walk almost 20-30 kms. You can make a programe of 2-3 days. The most essential thing in Matheran is good quality shoes. So dont forget to pack them.

matheran-worlds tiniest hill station

by amcrasto

"matheran-worlds tiniest hill station"

worlds tiniest hill station--it is situated approximately a 120 km from mumbai and was built by the british during the colonial rule
you can get there by mini train and road
it has breathtaking steep climb
Matheran is situated on a hilltop at an altitude of 800 m. In shady trees, and unpolluted air the journey to this hilltop could be through an exciting two hour ascent in a toy train, with food and drink vendors and monkeys jumping on and off, or through a tough 11 km. road hike passing from dense forests. Matheran's cliffs with incredibly heights create stunning points.

The main bazaar offers a variety of articles such as cane and leather articles, hats, chappals and the sweet specialty - Chikki ! Vehicles of any kind are not permitted in the town, which makes it a quiet, and peaceful place.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Population : 5,500
Altitude : 800 m
Languages : Marathi, Hindi, English
Best time to visit : April - May
STD Code : 02148

Mr. Hugh Poyntz Malet, the then Collector of Thane, discovered Matheran (meaning "forest on the top") in May 1850. Lord Elphinstone, the then Governor of Mumbai laid foundations of the future development of Matheran as a hill station. This 2-foot narrow gauge hill railway, connecting Neral was opened to traffic in 1907.
This hill railway was built by Sir Adamjee Peerbhoy, who formed a limited company with an authorised capital of ten lakh rupees divided into 2000 shares. The railway is 20 km. (12.6 miles) long

"horse back-getting there information"

GETTING THERE
The nearest airport is Bombay (Mumbai), around 100 km away.
From Mumbai, one can take a local train to Neral, where a tiny toy train waits to take people to Matheran. Mumbai to Neral takes around two hours, while the toy-train journey takes an hour and a half.
Mumbai to Neral is around 90 km, while Neral to Matheran is 21 km.
Getting There

By Air
The nearest airport, Mumbai, 100 km, is well connected with national and international flights. From there, you'll need to switch to train or road.

By Rail
The rail journey to Matheran is half the fun of your trip. Neral, the nearest railhead (21 km), is connected to Mumbai, Pune and other parts of Maharashtra. From here, a special, narrow gauge "toy train" gets you up, puffing and wheezing all the way. Except during the monsoon season (June-September), there are several trains a day on the mountain railway. These take 2 hours to cover the climb to their destination. Stations on the way have names like Water pipe and there is also the famous One Kiss Tunnel. During the monsoon, the service is restricted to one train a day and during heavy rains even this can be cancelled due to landslides.

By Road
State Transport buses regularly ply from Mumbai and Pune. A taxi from Neral to Matheran takes about half hour to reach. Taxis stop about 2.5 km from the centre of the hill station
WHAT TO SEE
There are numerous viewpoints like Chouk, Panorama, Garbut Point, Louisa, Echo, etc., in Matheran.

"mini train"

mini train

Matheran is situated on a hilltop at an altitude of 800 m. In shady trees, and unpolluted air the journey to this hilltop could be through an exciting two hour ascent in a toy train, with food and drink vendors and monkeys jumping on and off, or through a tough 11 km. road hike passing from dense forests. Matheran's cliffs with incredibly heights create stunning points.

The main bazaar offers a variety of articles such as cane and leather articles, hats, chappals and the sweet specialty - Chikki ! Vehicles of any kind are not permitted in the town, which makes it a quiet, and peaceful place.
Best time to visit
October to May. Most hotels close during the monsoons, and the walking trails turn muddy.

What to See
Points

Matheran has many "lookout points" that provide dramatic views of the Western Ghats and lush plains dotted with villages far below. These include Panorama Point (with the most spectacular views, it's a popular place to watch the sun rise), Monkey Point, Porcupine Point (popular for its' sunset view), Louisa Point (on a plateau with views of the ruined forts Prabal and Vishalgarh), Echo Point (which really does have an echo), Rambagh Point (2 kms from Matheran towards Khandala and Karjat), Alexander Point (one km to the north of Matheran), Hart Point, Coronation Point, Chowk Point (at the extreme southern end of Matheran), and the One Tree Hill.

Lake Charlotte
The main source of drinking water for the town, Lake Charlotte sports a dam at one end and temple at the other. A popular picnic spot, it looks splendid in the monsoon, but dries up in the summer. Near the dam is the main Hindu temple, the Pisarnath Mandir.

Mount Barry
One of the highest spots in Matheran, this has splendid views. Governor's Hill, another viewpoint, is between Mount Barry and Panorama Point.
Shopping

Buy chikki (a softer version of peanut brittle), honey, walking-sticks, and custom crafted leather footwear.