Matheran, (which literally means a jungle on top) is a hill station in the Raigad district of Maharashtra which was discovered by Hugh Malet in 1850. The British developed Matheran as a popular tourist resort. The Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India has declared Matheran an eco-sensitive region. It is one of the few places in the world where vehicles are not allowed, (except in case of an emergency) which makes the place different from others. Matheran transports you backwards in time over a hundred years when there were no vehicles. The roads are not tarred and are made of red laterite earth.

Because of vehicles being banned in Matheran, the place is quite peaceful despite the thousands of visitors coming to visit throughout the year. And it’s for the same reason that you have to be prepared to walk a lot or ride the horse. Walking in Matheran is an activity that will be richly rewarding, especially for nature lovers, especially so just after the monsoons when wildflowers are in full bloom, with colorful butterflies making it a feast for the eyes. You’ll also see plenty of snakes, Matheran Giant Squirrels and aggressive Matheran Monkeys! Do not encourage the monkeys by feeding them. They could be dangerous.

There are numerous points all over Matheran, many of which provide some fantastic views of the valley below. There are around 38 designated look-out points in Matheran, some of them providing a breath taking view of the sunrise and sun set, including the Panorma Point that provides a 360 degree view of the surrounding area and also the Neral town.

There are numerous forested trails leading to most of the Points. Horse riding is also quite popular way of getting around in Matheran, though rates must be negotiated.You can easily get horses on rent and you can go around with the horse caretaker holding the reins and leading the way.

A must shop in Matheran is the chikki of various flavors like peanut, almond, mixed-dry fruits, etc. which is available in the main market. Do wear a good pair of shoes as Matheran has dusty and stony roads. Also avoid carrying too much baggage with you as you’ll have to carry it yourself though porters are available too.

Best time to visit: All year round but best from October to May

How to reach

By Air:  The nearest airport to Matheran is the Mumbai Airport which is about 100 km away or Pune airport which is about 120 km away.

By Train: A narrow gauge train runs from Matheran to Neral, a town at the foot of the hill. Neral is well connected by rail with cities such as Mumbai and Pune.

By road: 108 km drive from Mumbai via Karjat & Neral