Monsoon Magic . Review on Matheran

You have to visit Matheran atleast once to experience the beauty of Monsoon. It is hard to believe that such a peaceful place exists just a few hours from the dust and grime of mumbai.

Its misty, cold and totally romantic at that time of the year. The forests, in which the hill station resides, are lush and the air has that typical monsoony muddy smell if you know what I mean.

Getting there: The best bet is to take a train to Neral (not to be confused with Nerul) which is one station away from Karjat near Mumbai and then take a cab half way up to Matheran. From then on you'll have to go to Matheran by horse back, handcart or walking. I would recommend that you alternate between horse back and handcart cause walking can get very tedious. The mud is slushy and you'll end up falling once too often. Also, if you have an old member with you, it is best recommended that they travel by the hand cart. Horse riding is a no no for them. Also for people with back aches, walking (for small distances) or handcarts are the best bet.

Note: Don't drive to Matheran, especially if you are gonna be there for over 1 day. Vehicles aren't allowed in the town and you have to park it half way up to the place which could be quite risky.

Staying there: We stayed at the Gujrat Bhavan which was very close to the main Mall Road and yet private enough to let you allow privacy and quiet. It's a great place to live in if you are the sort who loves home food and comfort. The thali, of course the Gujarati one, is especially yum, and they have a special menu on Sundays. You can visit the canteen even if you don't stay at Gujrat Bhavan just to taste the thali.

In and around:A trip to Matheran would be incomplete without visiting its famous 'points'. You don't need to visit all the points. Just 1 or 2 would be enough. They all look the same. Of course, unless you are especially adventurous. The best thing to do is go there with a few close friends or your spouse and have a quite conversation...just relax.

Beware:

1. Of the monkeys. Don't mess with them or they'll attack you. Also, these guys are fearless and they come right to you windows into your rooms. So keep those windows and doors firmly locked at ALL times.

   
   




2. Of sitting on horseback after you have eaten...You'll end up throwing up all your food. I had a tough time when I returned home. Allow your stomach to settle down for atleast 2 hrs before you go a-riding. Duration of Stay: I made the mistake of going for a really short trip of 2 days. Not only did I not get to completely enjoy the beauty of that place, but also all that horseback riding and walking all over the place made me violently sick. To add to that, the sudden weather (between mumbai and matheran) played havoc with my body. Nevertheless, i'll remember those two days for a long long time.

   
   

Best Company: Your spouse/ partner/ small members of family (Children best avoided)