May 29, 2015 05:27 PM
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We had a short stay at Kumar Plaza, Matheran after booking a room online. They called the room "AC Super Deluxe" - it was a spacious room with a brand new Videocon 3-star split AC fitted. LCD tv, intercom and wi-fi was also available.
The room had a double bed and also had a sofa-cum-bed which allows two more children/adult guests to share the same room if required. But this does not work in customers' favour as they charge per person - since we were a couple with our teenaged son - our charges worked out to 8000/- per room per night - for three adults - inclusive of all meals - breakfast, lunch, tea-time and dinner - a bit pricey for a day - considering the infra quality - just about a two-star hotel.
The food they served was quite good(although a bit oily) and had good variety. Only hygiene was a concern with not-so-clean plates and cutlery.
Just when I was wondering why was the place so well-enclosed with strong metal nets - I spotted a few monkeys slithering down from nearby trees and creating a scene with guests, begging for food - although it was an endearing sight - I know it is not advisable to feed them with our typical fried foods such as chips and papad, etc. which the kids hilariously did. I feel a notice should be put up to educate guests that feeding the monkeys with our junk can make them very sick indeed - and I would definitely hate that to happen to the monkeys.
The location of the hotel is also very good - bang opposite the Matheran Telephone Exchange - 5-min. walkable distance to Matheran Market and the Matheran Railway station. The first day we covered some twelve points/spots on horse-back - my son and I rode - my wife scared of riding opted for a hand-pulled rickshaw.
What will animal lovers have to say about eco-friendly Matheran
Riding a horse was memorable indeed - the horses were so intelligent and well-behaved - although I felt guilty that the poor animals, regardless of how well they are taken care of, are being exploited commercially nonetheless. I reckon one can argue that the business is required to sustain their upkeep(more of their masters') in the micro-economy at Matheran.
I don't know if riding a horse for mere entertainment by tourists is fully legal? If yes, should it be so? Should it not be banned - if PETA had their way - it would be illegal and banned! I would even support such a move. Just like our cows have been protected - horses too are no less noble - and also the monkeys!
The problem with our hotel room was the bathroom - the commode was placed so close to the side of a wall that one cannot sit astride it! The water was continuously running muddy - but then we wondered how come the swimming pool had clear sparkling blue water! If they can treat that then should treat the water supplied to guests in the rooms as well! The ground reality being that there is a great water shortage in Matheran in summer peak - in that case the swimming pool is even more sinful.
The linen - bedsheets and pillow-covers they had put on - was not of a satisfying appearance - we immediately called for a change - they promptly changed it - but it was still not white - to which again they pointed to infrastructure of Matheran with its muddy water - we were not convinced - and I lectured him about using bleach to whiten the sheets when laundering. That got me thinking whether they were avoiding chorine bleach which is not eco-friendly. anyway worth thinking and arguing about - while we have to suffer shabby-looking bedsheets - they smelt freshly washed - but were almost light-brown in color!
I don't know whether it was only our room - everything had a damp feeling - floors, bed, etc. In the evenings they organize a disco session, followed by a magic show(quite entertaining) and finally a game of housie before calling it a day.
Woeful Infrastructure in Matheran(in the name of Eco-friendly)
The walkway in entire Matheran is mostly made up of very fine red mud - each cart or horse passing by causes a storm of red mud. Only main road in the market and railway station had a road with cobbled stones and a mud-track in the middle! At night fortunately some main tracks have street lamps - otherwise I feel the authorities are conveniently hiding behind the eco-friendly tag instead of improving the infrastructure. Electricity is errant - as it goes off frequently after sun-down, there is a water shortage, rail connectivity is woefully inadequate - the mini-trains frequency is not at all adequate in catering to the demand. I don't know - how can any authority take pride in pure lack of infrastructure by labelling it as eco-friendly?!
We have no transportation(eco-friendly) we have not artificial treatment of muddy water(eco-friendly) we have no asphalted roads(eco-friendly) get the drift? That is the problem with the place and the authorities who oversee this otherwise attractive tourist destination with great potential - somewhere some group of people seem to have drawn a line - beyond which we cannot even think of progress.
