India's Smallest Hill Station - MATHERAN - Maharashtra - Hill Stations near Mumbai

India's Smallest Hill Station - MATHERAN - Maharashtra - Hill Stations near Mumbai - Hill Stations of Maharashtra India

By DNB DNB February 07, 2022

OM SAIRAM

Today I am writing this blog after a long long time.

My today's blog is on India's smallest Hill Station MATHERAN. Such a beautiful and peaceful place and one main reason is NO VEHICLE ALLOWED inside hill station. Strange, Right? but it's true.

1st Question for all while planning any travel, How to reach?

There are many ways to reach Matheran.

1. Self Drive

Self-drive from Mumbai & Navi Mumbai.

Hill station is the nearest hill station from Mumbai. 3 to 3 & half hours driving distance from Proper Mumbai & hardly 2 hours driving distance from Panvel & Navi Mumbai.

Roads are extremely good from Mumbai to Matheran. Perfect for Selfdrive lovers.

Yes, But you can enter with your vehicle in Matheran, But they have one very good facility - Paid Car Park called Dasturi Car Parking. Just park your car at this safe car park under the surveillance of Nagar Palika & Local Police.

Car Parking Charges are 100 rs. / Night.

Dasturi Car Parking area is the entrance of this hills station. If you are self-driving you have to cross the Ghat section to reach here & if you are not comfortable in driving in ghats you can get paid driver only for Ghat crossing both the times at base and upside too. The driver will drive your car in Ghat & will drop you at Dasturi car park & while returning up to the base. Charges are nominal

glimpses of Dasturi car park & Matheran Entry point.

Another way to reach Matheran from Mumbai is By Train.

The closest railhead to Matheran is in Neral (21 kilometers). You can get on the Deccan Express from Mumbai or the Sahyadri Express from Pune to reach Neral station; both ply every day. From Neral you will have to go to Matheran by road, which is a 30-minute journey. Many local trains on the Mumbai-Karjat route also stop at Neral. From Neral you can get a taxi to reach up to Dasturi point.

Another interesting but slow way to reach Matheran is to catch the Toy Train that departs from Neral. The journey takes about 2 hours but the ride is quite beautiful. During monsoons, the frequency of the trains reduces considerably so make sure to book well in advance.

And from Mumbai or any other destination, you can come directly by Taxi to Matheran. And return the same way.

Nowadays Matheran is allowed only for double vaccinated tourists. Kids are allowed & at the entry point, you have to show your double vaccination certificate to the authority.

Mobile network issues are there in Matheran so better download your certificate prior to reaching there or else Free Wi-Fi is available at the entry point they will provide you login details & you can show your certificate to them using their network.

After certificate approval, you can enter inside Matheran hill station entry gate & you have to pay environmental charges for each person. Charges are for adults 50 Rs per person & for kids under 12, 25 rs per kid.

Now you are inside India's smallest & vehicle-free purest hill station Matheran.

Now from the entry point to your hotel reachability points needs to be highlighted as you have no vehicle now.

1. You can walk and reach your hotel - Check the distance from the entry point

2. You can take the toy train from Aman lodge station to Matheran station - After reaching Matheran station you can walk down to your hotel.

3. Hire Horse and reach there. Horse chares are depended on the distance of your hotel from the entry point. Ours was approx 40 mins horse ride distance so they charged us 600 rs / Horse

4. car pullers - Hand Rikshaw - again chares are depended on the distance of your hotel from the entry point. Ours was approx 40 mins horse ride distance so they charged us 700 rs / Rikshaw - Coz it was pulled by 2 people along with you and your luggage.

Enjoyed our journey from Matheran Entry point to our hotel named - WESTEND HOTEL.