Matheran in Monsoon

This was my second visit to Matheran Hills.  My first visit to Matheran was in summer last year. But in this monsoon season, I got an opportunity to experience the real beauty of Matheran. 

Situated close to Mumbai, Matheran offers stunning views of the Sahayadri ranges and 38 peaks that offer the best views of the hill station. 

There are multiple ways of getting in. The first option  is to board a toy train from Neral to Matheran. Last time I travelled in toy train. You can also opt for a share-a-cab facility running between Neral and Dasturi point. This time, we took a cab.  And as we went  further uphill most of the way, I craned my neck out of the cab while passing through hairpin curves.  It took only 30 minutes to reach Dasturi point.  Upon reaching we took an entry ticket for Rs. 50/-. Then made our way to entry point of Matheran.   You can also opt for a 30 minute horseback.

There was a light drizzle and we found several old and  abandoned bunglows on the way. And  we were encountered by a group of monkeys on the way.  You will see lots of flowers, reptiles and birds and will make your experience more interesting. Matheran is an ideal place to study bio diversity.  Preserving of nature always plays an important role not only in the life of  people but other species in the nature.

Soon we reached main market.  After tea and snacks, we made our way to various points. Walking to various points through the red soiled path is very rewarding for nature lovers. A two kilometer walk from the main market will take you to Charlotte Lake which supplies drinking water to the residents of Matheran.  The ancient Pisarnath temple is located at one end of the lake and there are also two beautiful picnic spots – Louisa Point and Echo Point.

Charlotte Lake

Those who are interested in adventurous activity can choose valley crossing or just enjoy the view.

Valley crossing over Charlotte Lake

Further up, we halted at echo point. As the name suggests, this point provides echoes to your voice. We quitely sat down at the edge of hill and I found the scene unbelievably beautiful, the stunning view of waterfall  near to us and rolling green hills at a distance.  It was scary to see people taking selfie from the edge of the cliff. Scenes from my last visit flashed through my mind - the same place, our group of 15, had beautiful moments by taking photos.

Depending upon which look out point you are at, you can  see an abundance of mountains.  The beauty gets doubled in monsoon.

The valley comes alive in the monsoon rain. There were lots of people when we reached Lousia point. The area is fenced with iron rail rods. Although it was a slightly cloudy day, I had several “wow” moments. It doesn’t matter how many times I go to Matheren, the views are undeniably stunning.

Situated in the lush green Western Ghats, the elevation of the region is around 80 m above sea level. We could see one tree hill from Lousia point. The highlight of my trip was sitting in a classic rock promontory at Lousia point. A gap allows you through a small path to the top of the rock.  I loved being in that place, breathing in the fresh crisp air and realising just how many mountains I was surrounded by.

Louis Point

Sky high mountains and tranquility will mesmerize you even though it looks scary. To the left side, I could see Echo point at a distance.

I got a beautiful view of Vishalgad and Prabhal forts from Louisa Point.  When you loook down, you can watch the river originating from waterfalls run like a silver line.  Monkeys are seen everywhere.

The beauty of Matheran is that it changes its face every season. During my last visit, when I took the photo of Lion's head, it was coverd by yellow colored grass.

Lion's Head

For few hours we walked around majority of points which includes King George point, Lord point, Malang point, Rambagh point, Alexander point, Echo point, Charlotte lake and Louisa point. We could see peaks in different heights . Overhanging the green meadows and  pinnacles made the whole area beautiful.

As the evening descended upon us, we decided to leave the place. Meanwhile, it started drizzling.

If you are a nature lover, do not miss the opportunity to witness the uniqueness of Matheran especially in monsoon.

My plan and  itinerary :

Reached Neral by local train by 11 am

Shared Taxi from Neral to Matheran Rs.70/
Reached entrance gate of Matheran (Dasturi Naka)  11.30 am
Entry fee to Matheran for Rs.50
Start walking from Dasturi Naka to Main market.
Nature Trail in Matheran about 6 hrs
Return to Dasturi Naka by 5.30 pm
Back to Neral Station by local Transport.