We have seen many exciting places in Maharashtra especially in Pune and Mumbai. We have tried to cover each and everything in our previous posts. Continuing with the same, today we will be exploring yet another wonderful addition to our growing list of such places.Matheran, the city of forests. Matheran is a city and a Hill Station municipal council in Raigad district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is a hill station in Karjat Tahsil and is also the smallest hill station in India. It is located at around 90 km from Mumbai, 120 km from Pune. Matheran's proximity to the three Metros makes it a popular weekend getaway for urban residents.
Matheran for those who want to know more, it literally means Jungle on the Top. It is a type of a city of its first kind where vehicle are not allowed. Only in case of some emergency, vehicle are permissible in this zone. The only modes of transport are on Horseback, by man-pulled rickshaw, or on foot. Vehicles being banned in this region leaves this place peaceful and truly a delight for its visitors. Ultimately this place gives you a feeling of being taken 100 years back when there were no vehicles.
There are lots of lookout points that provide spectacular views of the surrounding hills and valleys. Matheran has a reasonably dense forest cover. There are around 38 designated look-out points in Matheran, including the Panorma Point that provides a 360 degree view of the surrounding area and also the Neral town. From this point, the view of sunset and sunrise is breathtaking. The Louisa Point offers crystal clear view of the Prabal Fort. The other points are the One Tree Hill Point, Hart Point, Monkey Point, Porcupine Point, Rambgh Point, and more.
Another feather in the cap - Matheran has been declared an eco-ensitive region by the Union Environment Ministry (GoI). That does give this place a unique identity.
Other Attractions :
Mount Berry: Mount Berry is a popular tourist destination that is located 5+ km from Matheran. It offers a bird’s eye view of Neral. The major attraction is the slow train that chugs up the hill in the midst of pristine natural beauty.
Charlotte Lake: Also called the Sharlott Lake, Charlotte Lake is one of the most picturesque spots in Matheran. On the right side of the lake, there is the ancient Pisarnath Temple. The two picnic spots Louisa point and Echo point are located on the left side of the lake.
King George Point: King George Point is on the major tourist attractions.
Lookout points: There are around 38 different lookout points in Matheran, from where tourists can view the amazing beautiful valley. The spectacular view of the valley remains in the memory of the tourists for a long time.
Valley Crossing: A very great activity like Valley crossing by a rope can be experienced at Honey(Moon) Point. It seems to be risky and dangerous but it is not as we are tightly hold by TWO safety belts and the adventure group conducting this activity does take care of us. You should experience this. Simply awesome!!!
There are altogether 28 points, 2 lakes, 2 parks, 4 major worship places and a racecourse to visit inside Matheran. If you want to see all of them then you may need 2–3 days on your feet. One can move around on foot or horseback, but it is recommended moving on feet to take the best glimpse of nature. If you are on Horse back you may not be able to spend your desired time on the points. All the points’ gives a unique view and you can’t miss them.There are many walking paths for a leisurly walk. Points to see;
* Alexander Pt.
* Rambag Pt
* Little Chowk Pt
* Chowk Pt
* One Tree Hill Pt
* Belvedere Pt
* Olympia Race Course
* Lords Pt
* Charlotte Lake
* Cecil Pt (Actually a water fall mouth)
* Echo Pt.
* Porcupine Pt (Sun Set Pt)
* Panorama Point (Sun Rise Pt)
* Khandala Pt
* Madhavji Garden & Point
* Matheran Railway Station
* Louisa Point
* Mayor Pt
The best time to go to Matheran is probably from September to June as the monsoons get really heavy during the rest of the year. Matheran is a visual beauty post monsoons with lush greenery, waterfalls and the lake full with water (Sitting next to which you can enjoy a vada pav [Indian burger] or sip a glass of fresh sugarcane juice).
From the above you can tell that Matheran is just the perfect place to find peace away from the city where you can relax, enjoy the serene nature all around and switch off from the outside world.
Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matheran
