To the mountains...

I recently visited a place called Matheran, a tiny hill station and tourist destination, close and almost equidistant from both Pune and Mumbai. The place keeps pulling me back for the peaceful atmosphere it offers.

Matheran is the tiniest hill station in India, at a height of about 2,625 feet above sea level. The climate is usually pleasant, a welcome break from the scorching heat of Pune. It has a population of about 6000 locals, where almost everyone knows everyone else. The name 'Matheran' means 'Forest on Top', and the name justifies the place. The soil is typically red, and the paths are shaded on both sides by trees, hiding beautiful valleys. Matheran was discovered during the British reign in India, by the then district collector of Thane, Hugh Malet. The British developed Matheran as a popular resort to beat the summer heat in the region. Signs of British architecture are evident from some of the older archaic resorts. The only forms of transport here are horses, hand-pulled rickshaws, or by foot. This ensures two things: one, that the place remains cool and devoid of pollution, and two, that you get ample exercise with all the walking. You will typically see a lot of monkeys here, and you had better take care if you are carrying any food on you!

I have been visiting this place regularly ever since I was a kid. As I said, the place keeps pulling me back. It's a perfect weekend getaway, especially for a person like me who loves the mountains.

There is a train that takes you through the mountaineous ghats up to your destination from Neral, or you could take a cab, which is much faster. As always, the journey is more fun than the destination. On the way I got off wherever my heart felt like, and got some good pictures of the valleys. Feasted on some delicious guavas, cucumbers, and lime juice, to beat the summer heat.

At Matheran I have seen almost all the 'points' already (a point is what they call a place where you can expect a breathtaking view, or simply a term for some location of significance). Yet I saw many new things, the place never stops to surprise me. Took some really good pictures, lost my way on occassions, discovering a whole new way in the process, walked a lot, and treated myself to some local dishes like 'kanda bhaji'. At one instance I saw a huuuge bat, lying dead hanging from two electric wires. It was probably electrocuted the night before. Although dead, its skin was still gleaming. I had never seen a bat so closely before.

This time I visited 'Monkey Point', which was graced by the presence of a singular monkey. It was a pleasant morning, and I stood at the brink of the steep slope that led to a deep valley. The wind was blowing in my face, and I saw a beautiful eagle gliding gracefully high in the sky. I flew with it, albeit without wings.

When it was time to return, I felt bad about getting back to the mundane monotony of daily life, but I was happy that I was returning with pleasant memories.