Matheran is a serene hill station located in the Raigad district of Maharashtra. Perched at a height of 2516 feet above sea level in Maharashtra, Matheran was located by British Officer ‘Hugh Mallet’, who was the collector of Thane.
The hill town is located in close proximity to three prominent cities-Mumbai, Pune and Surat. There are numerous peak points in Matheran such as Panorama Point, Echo Point, Charlotte Lake, Louisa Point and King George Point. The Panther’s Cave and the Paymaster Park are two prime picnic spots to enjoy the treasures of nature. The stunning views of the landscapes from the cliffs of Matheran offer memorable experience.
Located atop of Prabhal Hills in the western part of Matheran, Prabal Fort has an important place in Indian history. The fort was captured by Shivaji Raje Bhosale from Mughals. It is said that the fort possessed price worthy treasures at the time of capture. There are two gateways and eleven towers in this fort, out of which, two gateways were destroyed in 1818 due to uncongenial fights.
Also known as Sharlott Lake, Charlotte Lake is a serene yet scenic spot in Matheran and one of the most prominent sources of drinking water in the Matheran region. There is an ancient temple called Pisarnath Temple which is located at the right of the lake and two beautiful picnic spots-Louisa Point and Echo Point- are located at the left of the lake.
As the name suggests, Shivaji’s Ladder is a series of steps which connects one tree hill point to Matheran Valley. The route is encompassed by lush green forests and balmy winds. The great Maratha Emperor Chhatrapati Shivaji used this way for his pleasure trips and hunting spree in the valley.
A picturesque hill station with a Jambhul tree perched at the crest, One Tree Hill Point is a walk through the road known as Shivaji’s Ladder, while descending from the hill to the plain. It is a good trail for trekkers and the route was discovered by a British Collector named Hugh Poyntz Malet during his visit to Thane.
