For anyone living in Mumbai, Matheran is a go-to destination whenever you need some respite from city life. This is one quaint hill station that is flooded with city dwellers every weekend. Whether you are on a planned trip or an impromptu one, you can get the best experience only if you stay in one of the Matheran Resorts.
The best part about this small hill town that makes it so famous is the fact that vehicles are not allowed inside Matheran. Matheran Resorts dot the hill station right from the market area outside the railway station. I have visited Matheran several times to date, and have explored the different types of resorts and hotels there.
Based on my experience I have curated the below list of best Matheran Resorts so that you can enjoy your trip, on a tight budget and yet experience the good hospitality of a resort. I have personally stayed(with friends or family) in each of these resorts, so rest assured, I am recommending based on facts
Note: I am NOT affiliated to any of these resorts or companies, I am recommending them purely based on my experience.
Matheran is situated atop a small hill, and the fastest and easiest way to reach Matheran is via train from CST or Thane to Neral Station. Then you can take a shared taxi or the famous toy train to reach to
Best Matheran Resorts
Gujarat Bhavan
This is one of the best budget Matheran Resorts that exists. I have probably stayed here umpteen times. They offer different types of rooms, both Non AC, AC, and AC Cottage. The entire vicinity is covered with trees and they have sit-outs and games like carrom, Table Tennis, and Chess under this shade.
You can often see monkeys who come down on your door. At night you also get a glimpse of fireflies. There is a swimming pool as well. The food is great, purely vegetarian but the options are several. They primarily serve Gujarati thali for lunch. And have options of Pav Bhaji, Chinese, etc by the poolside for dinner.
Hotel Divadkar
This resort is another one of my favorites among the many Matheran Resorts that are there. This is just bang opposite the railway station. It is not as spacious as the earlier recommendation, but it ticks all the necessary boxes. You have cottage-type rooms, both AC and non-AC are available. Each room has a sit-out area and then you have some swings and places to relax in the shade.
The location ensures you can see scores of tourists riding on horses or walking by. If you want to roam about the market, it is just a stone’s throw away. The food is decent, you can choose to not take the food here and instead eat at a restaurant in the market.
Hotel Royal
My third choice among Matheran Resorts is the Hotel Royal Palace. This is situated on one of the bylanes of Matheran and you will need to walk a bit from the market area. However, this resort is worth it. It is spread out over a large area, and while it doesn’t have the tree shades akin to Gujarat Bhavan you have a lot of sitouts, swings, and places to relax.
There is a swimming pool and a separate restaurant area, and the resort offers different categories of rooms from basic non-AC to premium AC cottages. Food options include buffets and thalis but the variety is not much. You will be better off eating from the restaurants in the market area.
How to Reach Matheran
To reach Matheran, you have several transportation options:
- By Train: The nearest railhead to Matheran is Neral Junction, which is well-connected to Mumbai and Pune. From Neral, you can take the historic Matheran Hill Railway, a narrow-gauge heritage train, to reach Matheran. The toy train journey offers breathtaking views of the surrounding hills and valleys.
- By Road: Matheran is well-connected by road to Mumbai, Pune, and other nearby cities. You can drive up to Dasturi Naka, which is the entry point to Matheran for vehicles. From there, you need to park your vehicle and proceed either on foot, on horseback, or by hiring a hand-pulled rickshaw as vehicles are not allowed inside Matheran due to its eco-sensitive status.
- By Air: The nearest airports to Matheran are Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai and Pune Airport. From the airport, you can hire a taxi or take public transportation to reach Matheran via road or rail.
- Trekking: For adventure enthusiasts, there are trekking routes to Matheran from nearby villages like Chowk or Neral. These trekking routes offer an opportunity to explore the natural beauty of the region on foot.
Once you reach Matheran, you can explore the town’s attractions on foot, on horseback, or by hiring a hand-pulled rickshaw, as vehicles are prohibited inside the town to preserve its eco-sensitive environment.
Here are some interesting facts about Matheran.
If you are looking for options in Kashmir, check out my posts on Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Snowfall in Kashmir, and Best Time to Visit Kashmir. If you are looking for options in Ladakh, check out Ladakh Weather, Nubra Valley, 5 Days Kashmir Itinerary, Best Packing tips for Ladakh & best tourist places in Ladakh.
If you are looking for something in Sikkim, check Tsomgo Lake and Batasia Loop. If you are looking for some jungle safari read, Gir Safari, or Bandipur Safari, feel blessed at Sri Venugopala Swamy Temple in Mysore.
If you are looking for places to visit in the Andaman Islands, please check my post on Radhanagar Beach & Ross Island.
If you are looking for other options, check my posts on Murud Janjira, Kashid, Pirwadi Beach and Kihim Beach in Maharashtra or Malshej Ghat & Mahabaleshwar. Alternatively, if you are interested in some Religious tourism, please check my posts on Golden Temple, Kamakhya, Trimbakeshwar, Somnath Temple and Kashi Vishwanath. If you are looking for North East Adventure tours, check my posts on Shillong, Meghalaya, Dawki, Double Decker Living Root Trek, Assam Tourist Places and 7-Day North East Itinerary.
If you are looking for some spirituality, you can check out Ganga Aarti in Dashashwamedh Ghat or Ghats in Varanasi. Check out my posts from South India Sri Venugopala Swamy Temple, Bandipur Safari, and Mandalpatti Peak.
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