Matheran is a hill station located in the state of Maharashtra. It is an offbeat hill station in India that many people might not know. Usually, when you think of Matheran, Matterhorn comes to mind, which is a peak in the Alps known for being a challenging peak to climb. But, this hill station in Maharashtra is no less. Even though it’s not difficult to climb, motor vehicles are forbidden in this district. So, you will have to trek your way through all parts of your trip to Matheran.
Let’s discuss the travel plan on how you can get to Matheran before you learn more about the incredible sights you will get to witness at this quaint hill station.
By Air: Matheran, as you could have guessed, doesn’t have an airport. The closest airport to Matheran is 100 km away in Mumbai. The Mumbai International airport receives flights from most parts of the world, so you can easily get there from any country. Once you reach Mumbai, you can get buses or taxis to reach Matheran. However, as mentioned earlier, Matheran is a vehicle-free zone. So, the regular petrol/diesel vehicles will drop you 2.5 km away from the hill station. The remaining journey needs to be completed on foot, or you can avail yourself of horseback rides or rickshaw rides.
By Train: Getting to Matheran by train is one of the best ways to get to this hill station. This is because Matheran has a toy train system, which allows you to enjoy a scenic trip to and from Matheran. To avail of the toy train to Matheran, you would have to reach Mumbai first. Once in Mumbai, you need to get trains for the Mumbai-Karjat route and get down at Neral. From Neral, you can get on the toy train, which would take you to Matheran.
By Road: You can easily get to Matheran using public transport available in Maharashtra. From any major city in Maharashtra, you will find state and private buses that will take you to Matheran. You will also find private cabs as well. However, you should know that buses and cabs will drop you off, 2.5 km away from the city, which you might need to cover on foot.
Great, now that you know the way to get to Matheran, let’s explore all the fantastic places you can see in Matheran.
10 amazing Matheran places to visit
Charlotte Lake
Source: Pinterest
Located less than 1 km away from the city centre, Charlotte lake is one of the premier tourist spots at Matheran. This lake is a popular picnic spot for tourists. You can enjoy quiet moments with your friends and family at the lake and get to take in the natural beauty of this unique hill station. You can try birdwatching at the lake if you want to engage in an activity while spending your time there. The best thing would be to spend your day roaming the various spots of Matheran and spending your quiet evening by the lake watching the sunset.
See also: 14 best tourist places to visit in Lonavala and things to do
Louisa Point
Source: Pinterest
When you are visiting hill stations, viewpoints are some of the most popular places for you to visit. Louisa Point is the most popular viewpoint of Matheran. This viewpoint is situated just 2 km from the city centre, making it easily accessible. From Louisa Point, you can see an incredible view of the valley below. On a clear day, you can easily see the remnants of two forts that were built close to Matheran. Even on a cloudy day, you can witness the breathtaking vistas clearly, while standing amidst clouds.
Monkey Point
Source: Wikipedia
Monkey Point is one of the most interesting points you can visit at Matheran. This viewpoint is known for being one of the best locations to experience wildlife in Matheran. Monkeys of various species can be found here hence the name. Species like langur and monkeys are the most common ones you can notice here.
Another interesting feature of monkey point is that you can experience the natural phenomenon of echoing here. If you face the Hart Cliff and yell, you will hear echoing. And given that this point is located just 2 km from the city centre of Matheran, you can easily navigate to and from the monkey point.
Panorama Point
Source: Pinterest
Located less than a kilometre away from Monkey Point and a total of 3 km from the city centre, panorama point is one of the premier locations to visit at Matheran. You can experience the best views of Matheran from this point. Atop a peak, you will be able to see a complete 360o view of Matheran from the panorama point.
The trek up to this point is quite an adventure. Once you reach the top, you can organise a small picnic to celebrate your journey. Also, if you are a sucker for good pictures, this is the best place to click and get clicked in Matheran.
Neral Matheran Toy Train
Source: Pinterest
As discussed before, toy trains are a great way for you to reach Matheran. However, if you don’t want that, you can also go on a joyride on these trains to and from Matheran to Neral. The route is 21 km long, and you can see scenic views all along the way. Plus, riding on toy trains is an experience that is quite rare in Western India, so you ought not to miss it. The Matheran toy train station is located just outside the town at a distance of 2 km from the city centre.
Porcupine Point
Source: Pinterest
Monkey Point of Matheran is named after the variety of monkeys you can spot there. The same is not applied to Porcupine Point, though. But, don’t be sad; even if you can’t find any actual porcupines here, you will be able to get a killer view, to say the least.
Porcupine point is known for its spectacular view of the sunset. With the sun setting on the horizon, you will be able to see an incredible view of the Prabalgad fort, which is also situated nearby. The Porcupine point of Matheran is located just 2 km from the city centre.
Prabal Fort
Source: Pinterest
The Prabal fort is one of the most popular trekking destinations you can go to from Matheran. Located just 5 km from the city centre. This trek takes around 3 hours to complete in its entirety. If you are wondering, yes, Prabalgadh fort is Prabal fort, which was mentioned previously. The fort is located between Matheran and Panvel, and an excellent place for you to enjoy some activity and adventure at Matheran.
Vikatgad Peb Fort
Source: Pinterest
The Peb trail trek is one of the most popular, challenging, and rewarding treks you can take part in Matheran. Trekking this trail requires you to have some prior experience with basic rock climbing and other essential trekking skills. When you reach the viewpoint at the fort, you will be greeted by a grand view of the western ghats. This trek also takes around 3 hours to reach the top, where you can organise picnics if you want. The Peb trail is located 5 km away from the city centre of Matheran.
Irshalgad Fort
Source: Pinterest
If you want to take your trekking one step further into mountaineering, then you must embark on the experience of a lifetime trekking at the Irshalgad fort. The Irshalgad fort is known as the sister fort of Prabal fort. Located just around 7 km from the city centre, there are several trekking routes you can take to reach this fort. The area is covered in thick forests and is located at a height of around 3,500 feet above sea level.
Dhodani Falls
Source: Pinterest
To top off all the trekking and adventures you can experience, the final location on the list is the Dhodani falls, located just 3 km from the city centre of Matheran. These waterfalls are really very beautiful, and you can visit them up close. You can also enjoy adventure sports like waterfall rappelling at these falls. When you are done taking a nice refreshing bath and enjoying your adventures, you can sit down for a nice picnic before you head home.
FAQs
What is the ideal trip length for a Matheran trip?
This varies depending on your itinerary and your interests. If you are visiting Matheran for a retreat with not much interest in going for long treks or tours, a weekend trip of two days will suffice. However, if you want to go for the various incredible treks available in and around Matheran, you would need a longer trip of around four days.
Are there no public transports in Matheran?
Yes and no. This is because Matheran doesn’t allow any petrol/diesel automobile to enter the town. So, if you are lucky, you can find electric rickshaws, or if you are travelling in an electric car yourself, you can probably get around town in it.
What’s the best time to visit Matheran?
To enjoy the pleasant climate and incredible viewpoints of Matheran, it is best you visit in the months of autumn through spring. So, any time you visit during the months of October to May would be ideal for experiencing the best of Matheran.
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