Matheran, nestled in the Sahyadri Hills at 800 meters just 90 kilometers from Mumbai, holds the unique distinction of being Asia's only automobile-free hill station — a haven of absolute peace where t...
Matheran
Asia's Only Automobile-Free Hill Station
Maharashtra, India
4.4
No Vehicles AllowedToy TrainSunset PointsColonial Charm
hillStation
Duration: 1–2 Days
Budget/day: ₹1,500 – ₹5,000
Best season: Oct – May
Altitude: 803 m
Nearest airport: Mumbai Airport (120 km)
Nearest railway: Neral Railway Station (21 km) + Matheran Mini Train
Best places to visit in Matheran
Things to do in Matheran
- No photoHeritage / LeisureView full guide
2 hours each way
Toy Train Ride (Neral–Matheran Railway)
The Matheran Hill Railway is one of India's most charming mountain railways — a narrow-gauge train that has been chugging up the Sahyadri hill face since 1907 through thick forest, past waterfalls, and around impossible curves for 21 km. The 2-hour journey from Neral Junction to Matheran is not just transport — it's a heritage experience in itself, with the steam-era toy train rattling through tunnels, crossing wooden bridges, and offering heart-stopping valley views that have barely changed in over a century.
- No photoNature / SightseeingView full guide
2 hours (including walk through forest)
Sunset from Panorama Point
Panorama Point — the westernmost tip of the Matheran plateau — offers what is genuinely one of the most spectacular sunset panoramas in the entire Western Ghats. The 270-degree view takes in the Ulhas River valley, the distant Arabian Sea shimmer, the blue-grey Sahyadri ridges, and on clear days, the lights of Mumbai glowing on the horizon. Because Matheran is entirely vehicle-free, the walk to the point through the forest is as peaceful as the view itself.
- No photoLeisure / AdventureView full guide
1–3 hours (depending on route)
Horse Riding through Car-Free Forest Trails
Matheran is the only hill station in Asia with a complete ban on motor vehicles — meaning the only way to get around is on foot, horseback, or hand-pulled rickshaw. This makes horse riding here a genuinely unique experience: cantering through misty, car-free forest paths, through market lanes, and to viewpoints along red laterite tracks with not a single exhaust fume in the air. It's Matheran's defining leisure activity and the perfect pace at which to absorb its old-world colonial charm.
Best Time to Visit and Weather Info
Best time: October to May
Matheran closes to road traffic during monsoon. The mini railway is also suspended in heavy rains.
Winter
Best Time ⭐Oct – Feb
10°C – 25°C
Matheran is a pollution-free, car-free hill station. Cool weather is perfect for walking, horse riding, and viewpoint exploration.
- Matheran is entirely car-free — the only Indian hill station with this distinction
- The UNESCO-shortlisted toy train from Neral to Matheran is a must
Summer
Good 🟡Mar – May
20°C – 35°C
Very popular with Mumbai and Pune weekenders. Cooler than the plains.
- Weekends in April–May are extremely crowded
- Accommodation books out weeks in advance
Monsoon
Closed 🔴Jun – Sep
18°C – 28°C
Matheran closes to all visitors during monsoon. Heavy rainfall and landslides make it inaccessible.
- The hill station effectively shuts down
- Mini train suspended
How to Reach
✈️By Air
Airport: Mumbai International Airport (120 km from Matheran)
Duration: ~3 hrs total
Fly to Mumbai, then take a train from CST to Neral (1.5 hrs), then the mini toy train to Matheran (40 mins–1 hr).
Taxi: Mumbai to Neral by taxi: ₹2,500 – ₹4,000
Airlines: IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet
🚂By Train
Station: Neral Railway Station (21 km) then Matheran Mini Railway
The Neral–Matheran mini toy train is the most iconic way to arrive. From Mumbai CST, take a train to Neral (1.5 hrs) then the mountain mini train.
- Neral–Matheran Toy Train — Neral (1 hr (21 km, mountain rack railway))
- Mumbai CST–Karjat Local — Mumbai CST (~1.5 hrs to Neral)
🚌By Road
Vehicles can reach Dasturi Naka (3 km from Matheran) and no further — then continue by horse, hand-pulled rickshaw, or on foot into the car-free zone.
- Mumbai: 90 km to Dasturi Naka, 2.5 hrs via Khopoli – Neral
- Pune: 120 km, 3 hrs via Khopoli
Local Food
Matheran has limited food options — a handful of hotels and the famous Chikki shops. The car-free environment keeps supply chains simple.
Matheran Chikki
Peanut and jaggery brittle — Matheran has its own version alongside Lonavala's.
Where: Shops throughout the main market bazaar
₹100 – ₹300 per kg
Corn on the Cob (Bhutta)
Roasted corn at the viewpoints — the most popular hill station snack.
Where: Viewpoints and market stalls
₹30 – ₹60
Vada Pav and Misal Pav
Maharashtrian staples available from dhabas near the train station area.
Where: Market area dhabas
₹30 – ₹80
Cutting Chai
Strong, sweet, half-glass Mumbai-style tea — essential after the toy train ride.
Where: Tea stalls throughout Matheran
₹10 – ₹20
Hotel Breakfast Thali
Simple Maharashtrian breakfast — poha, upma, or paratha with chai, at the hotels.
Where: Most hotels in Matheran
₹80 – ₹180
Fresh Fruit Plate
Seasonal fruits — papayas, bananas, and mangoes available from market vendors.
Where: Market vendors
₹40 – ₹100
Matheran's car-free, supply-chain-limited environment means food options are basic. Book a hotel with meals included for the most comfortable experience.
FAQs
- Matheran is India's only car-free hill station — a peaceful, eco-sensitive plateau in the Sahyadri hills. Famous for the heritage Neral–Matheran toy train (UNESCO shortlisted), 30+ scenic viewpoints, horse riding, and a completely motor vehicle-free environment.
Best Places Similar
Lonavala
Lonavala, a popular hill station in Maharashtra's Sahyadri range midway between Mumbai and Pune, is famous across Maharashtra for two things above all else: its spectacular monsoon waterfalls and the irresistible sticky chikki candy made from jaggery and nuts that is synonymous with the town. The Bhushi Dam, Kune Falls, and the dramatic Rajmachi Fort trek are the most beloved attractions, while the mysterious Karla and Bhaja rock-cut Buddhist caves dating back to the 2nd century BCE add surprising historical depth to what might otherwise be seen as a weekend getaway destination. Lonavala's proximity to Mumbai and Pune makes it perpetually popular, but its natural beauty rewards every visit.
Mahabaleshwar
Mahabaleshwar, at 1,353 meters in the Sahyadri Hills of Maharashtra, is the state's most popular hill station and the summer capital of the Bombay Presidency during British times, renowned for its spectacular valley viewpoints, lush strawberry farms, and the panoramic Wilson Point from which the sunrise over the Western Ghats is one of Maharashtra's most beautiful sights. The Arthur's Seat viewpoint, known as the Queen of all Points, the sacred Krishnabai Temple at the source of the Krishna River, and the old colonial town of Old Mahabaleshwar with its charming 16th-century stone church add historical depth to the scenic beauty. Fresh strawberries, cream, and the local chikki candy make Mahabaleshwar's food as memorable as its views.
Mumbai
Mumbai, India's Maximum City and financial capital, is a teeming, dynamic metropolis of 20 million people where Bollywood glamour, colonial grandeur, cutting-edge fashion, and ancient fishing villages all collide in an exhilarating urban tapestry unlike anywhere else on earth. The iconic Gateway of India overlooking the Arabian Sea, the UNESCO-listed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus railway station, and the elegant promenade of Marine Drive are symbols of Mumbai's unique civic pride. From the street food heaven of Mohammed Ali Road and Juhu Beach to the art deco architecture of Oval Maidan and the vibrant gallery scene of Colaba, Mumbai is a city that rewards every type of curious traveler.
Nearby destinations
Lonavala
30 km · Lonavala, a popular hill station in Maharashtra's Sahyadri range midway between Mumbai and Pune, is famous across Maharashtra for two things above all else: its spectacular monsoon waterfalls and the irresistible sticky chikki candy made from jaggery and nuts that is synonymous with the town. The Bhushi Dam, Kune Falls, and the dramatic Rajmachi Fort trek are the most beloved attractions, while the mysterious Karla and Bhaja rock-cut Buddhist caves dating back to the 2nd century BCE add surprising historical depth to what might otherwise be seen as a weekend getaway destination. Lonavala's proximity to Mumbai and Pune makes it perpetually popular, but its natural beauty rewards every visit.
Mumbai
42 km · Mumbai, India's Maximum City and financial capital, is a teeming, dynamic metropolis of 20 million people where Bollywood glamour, colonial grandeur, cutting-edge fashion, and ancient fishing villages all collide in an exhilarating urban tapestry unlike anywhere else on earth. The iconic Gateway of India overlooking the Arabian Sea, the UNESCO-listed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus railway station, and the elegant promenade of Marine Drive are symbols of Mumbai's unique civic pride. From the street food heaven of Mohammed Ali Road and Juhu Beach to the art deco architecture of Oval Maidan and the vibrant gallery scene of Colaba, Mumbai is a city that rewards every type of curious traveler.
Alibaug
56 km · Alibaug, a coastal town in Maharashtra's Raigad district just 100 kilometers south of Mumbai and accessible by a scenic ferry ride from the Gateway of India, is the preferred beach escape for Mumbaikars and is increasingly popular for its luxury beach resorts, water sports, and historic Maratha coastal forts. The Kulaba Fort rising dramatically from the sea near Alibaug beach, the beautiful Kashid Beach, and the forested hillsides of the Konkan coastline make Alibaug a scenic destination beyond its role as a city escape. The region's fresh seafood, particularly the Alibag seafood thali, and the lush Konkan landscape in monsoon make Alibaug particularly enchanting from June to September.
