Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the company of ornate candelabras, antique teak furniture, Victorian canvases, grandfather
clocks and a rush of other memorabilia. The eponymous verandah is probably the most
beautiful location from where to admire Matheran's woods, and there's a good selection
of food and beverages to keep you company.
Shabbir Bhai
(Merry Rd; mains ?70-100; 10am-10pm)
Known locally as the 'Byrianiwala', this funky joint
has a full North Indian menu, but here it's all about the spicy biryanis: chicken, mutton
and veg. To find it, take the footpath uphill beside the Jama Masjid on MG Rd and follow
your nose.
INDIAN
$
Rasna
(MG Rd; mains ?100-150; 9am-11pm)
This simple and cheerful restaurant opposite Naoroji
Lord Garden serves tasty vegetarian food. Try the popular Punjabi (North Indian) thali.
INDIAN
$
Information
Entry to Matheran costs ?40 (?20 for children), which you pay on arrival at the train sta-
tion or the Dasturi car park.
You can buy an entertaining, if not entirely accurate, guidebook and map (?15) at many
of the shops along MG Rd. The
Union Bank of India
(MG Rd;
10am-2pm Mon-Fri, to noon Sat)
has
an ATM.
Getting There & Away
TAXI
Buses (?25) and share taxis (?70) run from Neral to Matheran's Dasturi car park (30
minutes). You could take the taxi without sharing for ?350. Horses (?300) and hand-pulled
rickshaws (?400) wait here to whisk you (relatively speaking) to Matheran's main bazaar.
You can also walk this stretch in a little under an hour and your luggage can be hauled for
you for ?200.
TRAIN
The toy train (2nd class/1st class ?35/225) chugs between Matheran and Neral Junction
five times daily. The service is suspended during monsoons. From Mumbai, Mumbai
Suburban Rail (Central), on the Mumbai CST-Khopoli line, departs Mumbai CST at
12.19pm to arrive at Neral Junction (2nd class/1st class ?19/155) at 2.03pm.
