:: :: :: H O L I D A Y S U N L I M I T E D ::: W E S T I N D I A -- M A T H E R A N -- ::: :: :: :: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


	:: W E S T I N D I A > M A T H E R A N ::

	Brief -
	Amid the green Jambol Forest, Matheran is the most splendid hill-station in the Sahyadris. Its pastoral beauty is especially pristine, thanks to a blanket motor transport ban. A quaint little train chugs slowly for miles, taking you through spectacular grassy hill sides, sheer cliffs, plateau and thick forest cover. The palatial buildings are still the pride of the town, but the breathtaking waterfalls, mist covered valleys, dew dripped greenery and floating clouds here is simply mesmerizing. Dotted with around 33 lookout points, Matheran offers spectacular views of the plains below or across the Western Ghats.

	History -
	Hugh Poyntz Malet, the collector of Thane district, discovered this lovely spot in 1850. Camping around the village Chowk, he came across this mesmerizing place. Matheran grew more accessible and popular under the patronage of Lord Elphinstone, the Governor of Bombay. He visited Matheran in 1855 and chose a plot to construct the Elphinstone Lodge. He introduced roadways and, in 1907, opened a mountain railway for the first time. The Britishers also built two churches here.

	Culture - Climate & Geographical Location -
	The summers are cool and pleasant and the winters are cold. The Sahyadris attract the monsoon clouds and Matheran sees, heavy rainfalls every year. Matheran is situated at 803 meters (2,636 ft) above sea level in the Sahyadri range.

	How to Reach -
	Rail, Road and Air connect Matheran. By Air, the nearest airport is Mumbai, 100kms. By rail, the nearest railhead is Neral and Mumbai to Neral is 90 kms and Pune to Neral is 120 kms. It takes 2 hours to reach Matheran from Neral by Toy train. The Neral-Matheran mountain rail operates throughout the year except monsoons. By road, it is well connected to Mumbai and the route to Matheran via Neral is 108 kms. State Transport buses ply from Mumbai and Pune to Neral. Taxi services are also available.