Matheran, the forest on forehead!

Matheran, the forest on forehead!

(19^th and 20^th February 15)

I wonder why each time I planned a trip to Matheran with my friends didn’t get materialize! Being the nearest hill station (just 90 kms) from Mumbai, we would be like,”Yeh toh paas he hai yaar, next time.” And next time, we had no idea when would it come.  Then in the middle week of February, Angmo, one of my friends from Leh visited Mumbai, and I had to be her guide for Mumbai darshan for five days. After showing her around for two days, I just felt that there’s nothing special left to show her. So I just thought,” Why not Matheran this time?” I asked her, and she just blurted,”Kahin bhi le ja yaar!” Hmm! This is how Matheran happened.

We boarded 8:35 am local to Dadar, from where we had to change train for Neral, from where a mini train goes to Matheran. But when we reached Neral at 11:15 am, the train had already left, and the next train was scheduled at 5:00 pm in the evening. So, we traveled by a shared taxi, which charged Rs. 70 per person.   The drive was all fun, and at some points I felt as if I was travelling back home to Kinnaur; the same winding and curvy roads, leading up and up with beautiful sceneries around. Had it been Monsoon, we would have come across many enchanting and beautiful waterfalls running down the lush green ridges’. But at this time of the year, it was all barren and dry, but was different and beautiful in its own place.

Well, on reaching Matheran, we came to know that no automobiles are allowed once you enter the town. You have three options; either walk or ride a horse or a hand pulled cart. We dropped our bags in our Hotel, got fresh, had lunch in a nearby Restaurant in the Market, and set on our feet to explore the beauty of the town. Wonder what, it is Asia’s only automobile free hill station and smallest hill station of our country. The major attractions of it are  given in the form of points; giving names to them depending upon their locations and specialties’, like; Monkey point, lords point, sunset point,, echo point, honeymoon point, khandala point etc. etc.

Walking, talking, carrying a map and asking to the passersby to re-confirm the track, we started with our points after point’s exploration. I am not going into the details of the points, as it’s going to be quite lengthy, and as I told you the Goddess of laziness is still hanging on my head. So, just putting up the pictures-

 

(After alighting at Dasturi, we boarded mini shuttle train from Aman lodge to Matheran (3 kms)

(The Khandala point, from where you can have a distant view of Khandala & other hills)

(At small beautiful Chorlette Lake, we took out time to rest; no wonder we had been walking through the jungle like hungry wild animals searching for food)

 

(Lord’s point, giving us a beautiful view of cluster of valleys. From here you can see the Prabal fort, but on a misty day like that, we couldn't see the fort clearly. But beauty was sparsely spread all around, filling our tummies with awe)

(Honeymoon point; we took it as a point specifically designed for couples on a honeymoon, but later we came to know that its because of the honey bees, and the name has been given so as to attract the tourists. LOL)

 

(Malang point; we were super excited once we reached Malang point, for its openness and picturesque valley view.)

(Porcupine point/Sunset Pont; Name due to its shape resembling to a bird Porcupine and gives a clear view of sunset. It’s the highlight of our trip. The last point for the day, and we sat there for more than one hour, lost in the beauty of cathedral rocks, nearby mounts and vales and watching sun to go deep down. The Mount seemed really like a huge bird, gulping the little innocent sun down its throat.)

We were so engrossed in the beauty that we didn't realize when it became dark, and only two of us were left there. When we realized it, we quickened our pace and walked briskly. We had no idea whether we were on right track or not, but kept walking, taking an instinctive route at every diversion. There were no landmarks, no arrows and we both felt what if we would get lost in the forest. LOL There was no trace of human, and pin drop silence around with some birds chirping at some interval, made the whole scenario quite dramatic. We took a sigh of relief, when we saw a house with lights on. A maid was sweeping the dust at the corridor; and we asked her if we were on right track for the Market and how far still we had to go? She nodded and said,”20 minutes.  Hmm! We double quickened our pace, as it was the lone house and after that again, there was nothing around, but us.  After 10-15 minutes’ walk I guess, we could see more lights, and met a kid coming back from tuition on the way, confirmed from him the route, and soon we felt we were in safe zone, when from far end we could see the multiple lights of the Market. Then at last we slowed our pace, and loosened our tightened muscles. I guess we would have walked more than 3 kms of jungle walk. We shall never ever forget this one. It really was a ‘WALK TO REMEMBER”. (Sigh)

Day 2:

(Alexander Point; the point for peace lovers. A good view of Rambaug point , Garbut point, Chowk point and a village, so we didn’t have to cover all the points. ;-)

After walking for 3 kms from our Hotel to Dasturi, finally we decided to ride horses to go to Panorama point, which was another 2 kms, to save our time, as we had to be free by Noon to return back to Mumbai, and glad that we took the right decision.) It was the main point I had been eyeing on the Map, located at the northernmost tip of the town. It’s from here that you can have a panoramic view of Western Ghats, Neral town, Bhivpuri etc. It’s the only point, where not even a single vendor for eatables and water is available. So, if you are planning to trek up to this point, please don’t forget to carry enough drinking water with you.

 

(The horse ride to the Panorama point; the Sunrise point)

It has been another A-Awesome trip for me, and I hope Angmo felt the same, though she complained of the muscle pains in her thighs and feet. Lol. She will never forget this, I guarantee and neither shall I. (all Smilesss J J J )