Winter Holiday Near Mumbai: Matheran

Matheran

Matheran is a Hill Station and a municipal council in the Raigad district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is a hill station in Karjat Tahsil and is also the smallest hill station in India. It is located on the Western Ghats range at an elevation of around 800 m (2,625 feet) above sea level. It is located around 90 km from Mumbai, and 120 km from Pune. Matheran's proximity to many metropolitan cities makes it a popular weekend getaway for urban residents. Matheran, which means "forest on the forehead" (of the mountains) is an eco-sensitive region, declared by the Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India. It is Asia's only automobile-free hill station.

There are around 38 designated look-out points in Matheran, including the Panorama Point that provides a 360 degree view of the surrounding area and also the Neral town. From this point, the view of sunset and sunrise is dramatic. The Louisa Point offers crystal clear view of the Prabal Fort. The other points are the One Tree Hill Point, Heart Point, Monkey Point, Porcupine Point, Rambagh Point, and more. To stay there, there are plenty of hotels.There are a lot of Parsi bungalows. Beautiful old British-style architecture is preserved in Matheran. The roads are not metalled and are made of red laterite earth. There are many "points" (viewpoints) in Matheran which give a panoramic view of the plains below.

There are altogether 28 points, 2 lakes, 2 parks, 4 major worship places and a racecourse to visit inside Matheran. It takes about 2–3 days on your feet for a complete adventure. Important points are Alexander Pt., Rambag Pt, Little Chowk Pt, Big Chowk Pt, One Tree Hill Pt, Belvedere Pt, Olympia Race Course, Lords Pt, Charlotte Lake, Pisharnath Mahadev Mandir, Celia Pt (a water fall mouth), Echo Pt., Porcupine Pt (Sun Set Pt), Panorama Point (Sun Rise Pt), Khandala Pt, Madhavji Garden & Point, Matheran Railway Station, Louisa Point, Mayra Point, Pisarnath Temple, Matheran Shiv Mandir.View points like monkey and echo, steep cliffs, deep ravines; and squirrel & There are many picnic spots.

Hotels

Hotel Gujarat Bhavan

Kumar Plaza

As we know selection of stay place at any picnic spot is a crucial part of picnic. But at the Matheran there few options are available at Matheran. These options are almost in all ranges as per our pocket. You can stay at hotels, MTDC Resort official place of MTDC for stay near to Dasturi Naka, infact it’s only place for stay where one can reach by vehicles. Boarding and Home style Lodges. You can take single bed, double bed or you can take hall for group to halt at few places. Hindu Dharmashala also available at Shiv Mandir.

While choosing the place for stay one has to know whether it’s offered pure Veg. or Non Veg. Foods also. There few hotels/restaurants in Matheran who offered pure Veg. food, jain food, Gujarathi & Rajasthani food.

We will suggest you some budget accommodation at Matheran option are like Hotel Panorama, Hotel janta, Hotel Vanashree, hotel Laxmi, Hotel Prasanna, Nerurkar’s Wood side Hotel. If you are ready to spend then high end places to stay at Matheran are: The Byke, Brightlands Hotels, Rugby Hotel, Hotel Anand Ritz, Kumar Plaza, Hotel Rucha, Hotel Usha Ascot and Richie Rich

What to eat

Jalebi

Misal Pav

Food is delicious!!! As most of the people coming from Pune, Mumbai, Surat and other part of Gujarat are preferred always vegetarian food.  There many hotels in Matheran offered Pure Vegetarian food.

There are mixes of Maharashtrian and Guajarati dishes in the main cost.

For Snacks purpose Mumbai’s grand menu VADA PAV has been dominating the market specialty from many years and other foods like Misal, Usal and Jalebi are also available.

One can also have good quality Non Vegetarian foods in few hotels.

For drinking once can enjoy the Nimbu Pani (Lemon Juice) almost at all point along with walking and Sight seeing. Chocolate fudge is also specialty of Matheran.

What to buy

Famous Chikkis

 LEATHER CHAPPALS

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Matheran has small Market place besides the road. Even the bazaar is just that-a small marketplace, not a commercial shopping complex. Market surrounds shops and stalls that sell the produce of Matheran. You can see workmen hunching over strips of leather, fashioning the Kolhapuri chappal that Matheran is famous for Leather Caps, Leather bags, leather belts, leather shoes the workmanship is exclusive and the prices reasonable.

You can also find the Cane items, glass birds and dried wild flowers for sale that have a pretty appeal. You will defiantly dominated by the one of the market dominated things in Matheran that is chikki of matheran, a confection made of gram flour, jaggery and cashew nut. Peoples buy chikki in kilos to carry home; it is a universally popular sweetmeat.

Winter Holiday Destinations

Munnar, Kerala

Munnar is a town and hill station located in the Idukki district of the southwestern Indian state of Kerala. Munnar is situated at around 1,600 metres (5,200 ft) above sea level,in the Western Ghats range of mountains.

The name Munnar is believed to mean "three rivers",referring to its location at the confluence of the Mudhirapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundaly rivers.Munnar town is situated on the Kannan Devan Hills village in Devikulam taluk and is the largest panchayat in the Idukki district covering an area of nearly 557 square kilometres (215 sq mi).The nearest major railway stations are at Ernakulam and Aluva (approximately 140 kilometres (87 mi) by road). The Nearest Functioning Railway station is at Udumalaipettai according to Google maps The nearest airport is Cochin International Airport, which is 105 kilometres (65 mi) away.

Munnar can be that one serene escape into the natural wonders of God's own country, Kerala, that you might have been looking for, for a long time. Perched at the confluence of three mountain streams--Madhurapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundaly--the charming hill town lies about 130 km east of Kochi and 100 km north of the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Thekkady. Pluck tea leaves while you explore Munnar's dense tea plantations, prance about in gurgling streams while hiking on cloud-covered slopes, or wander through the hill town's zig-zag lanes--Munnar is just perfect for nature lovers.