matheran

1. MATHERAN MATHERAN z

2. Introduction z Matheran, Maharashtra’s popular weekend getaway, lies on the western ghats at a height of 800m from sea level. Located at a distance of 90km from Mumbai and 120km from Pune, this little quaint town offers a breath of fresh air, clear blue sky, and lush green vegetation. ▪

3. History of Matheran z Matheran means “forest of the forehead”. The earliest mention of this town was in the 15thcentury CE. The Prabalgad Fort, previously known as Muranjan fort, was built by the Bahamani Sultanate to keep an eye on the North Konkan provinces. ▪ When the Sultanate collapsed, the fort went into the hands of the Mughals. In 1657, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj conquered this fort and the surrounding area. ▪ At that time, the hill station was inhabited by the Dhangar tribe. ▪ Later in 1850, it was rediscovered by Hugh Malet, the district collector of Raigad. Lord Elphinstone laid its new foundation. In 1907, Sir Adamjee Peerboy developed the meter-gauge railway line, connecting Matheran to Neral. ▪ ▪

4. Best time to visit Matheran z The best time to visit Matheran is from November to May. During the monsoon, it becomes very difficult to move around due to the presence of leeches. ▪ If you are visiting during these months, wear fully covered clothes. ▪ Most people like to visit the hill station during the weekends. ▪ Although in my opinion, weekdays are better to explore the town. ▪ Due to the heavy tourist influx, the town becomes crowded and you would not be able to see the hill station for its tranquillity. ▪ Moreover, the hustle and bustle of the cars lead to a lot of traffic at Dasturi Naka (the parking area) and the Ghats. Sometimes the traffic in the ghats is so bad that it takes hours just to climb it. ▪

5. z Thank You