Ratings
Beautifulity - 4 on 5(wide range of 'points' [see map] but only visible when clear weather)
Conveyniance - 5 on 5
(Neral train stn very close to Matheran - only 2 hours travel time from Dadar)
Budget'wise' 4.5 on 5
(thanks to the closeby train station and one way hike - Rs 111 (36+50+25) *excluding food)
Overall 4.5 on 5
(one of the few places in the world where no vehicles allowed - pristine environment barring the horse poo)
"It was the too much funs - life will never be the same again" Lemdu
"What a day...my ass aches...and for good reason for once" Lameass
How to get there?
Destination Neral (NOT NERUL) on the Central Line - I caught the train from Dadar (platform 1 on central side) and takes 2 hours (Rs36 for a return ticket from Bandra). You need to catch a Karjat [S] train - S as in 'display name on indicator', not 'slow'...in anycase both fast and slow trains stop at Neral (click here for stations on central line). 6am train reached at 8am -
At Neral caught a shared taxi (Rs 50 per head) to Matheran base. The other option is the toytrain which takes you all the way up - but the toytrain doesnt run during the monsoon so no cents detailing
The Cab will take you to the basecamp past which vehicles are not allowed, from there its a 1/2 hour walk to the market (see map - u basically walk along to the train track). If you take the toy train takes you all the way to the market (i.e. the start of the 'ring route' for the points)Map of all the points
You basically follow the track to cover all the points - you can either go clockwise or anticlockwise (no - anticlockwise wont turn back time)Loafing around all the points does'nt take too long (approx 3-4 hours) and there's not too much scope of 'trekking'. This makes it possible, in one day to see all the points and also walk one way up or down from Neral station. Walk down is preffered
*BI (BADidea) - Walking around with a pack of chips/food - I promise...you will be attacked by monkeys, not 'ek bandar clasroom ke andar' types...Im talking hugeass death defiying no shreek fearing super monkeys!
Must Carries
Nothing special really - the usual trek stuff, the recommended spare set of clothes and towel...contents (esp phone/wallet) securely wrapped in a plastic bag irrespective of the waterproofity of the backpack
Masst Buys
dunno - the usual chikki fudge I guess, but for
some reason I prefer Lonavala to shop for the chikky (no babes...not u)
Overnight stay
(I personally dont like overnights as they 1. double or triple the budget, 2. usually involves alkahole - meaning less moving and more laziness.)
But some decently good hotels there - prices at one of them approx -
Rs 2,000 per room (4 seater) during peak*
or rs 300-400 per person (same 4 seater) during off peak
*peak defined as school holidays and any weekend connected to a public holiday
Hike/Walk down (preferred since easier as quicker (2.5 hrs compared to around a 5 hour climb up) and also leaves the option to skip it altogether as its not 'that stunning'...in case for some reason time does not permit)- as mentioned takes 2.5 to 3 hours. Quite scenic and enjoyable. Especially tough on the joints and is not an easy at all, as assumed since downhill.*BI - wearing those synthetic rain shorts without underwear is not advisable no matter how comfortable...the frictional discomfort will rub on only later!
*GI - Dont necessarily ruffle your feathers over the weathers - I was soo sure the central line would be closed considering it poured all the way during my hike down...to my amazement the trains were only a bit late but ran as per schedule travel time, and the heavy rain wasn't evident after Kalyan. And more heavy rains means more waterfalls and more mushy stuffses....i loav mushy stuffsess!
Here are views whilst walking down
Any other gringos with more informs about these place please give the infos for all the publicks to benifatting - also email leaves for inform about next LameassLemdu event (scheduled for 14th or 15th July - either Lonavla or lake place near Igatpuri)
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