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| Mystic Matheran |
My friend Tommy Singh had arrived at Mumbai from Delhi on the way to
Matheran, a quaint, picturesque and thickly wooded hill station at an elevation of around 800 m (2,625 feet), 90 Kms from Mumbai to meet his daughter Amrita and her American friend Rita who were already there on a vacation. As mystic
Matheran always fascinated me, I readily agreed to accompany.
Next day at 7 in the morning we left for Neral, a small town on suburban railway network by Mumbai-Karjat local from where we were supposed to take a heritage toy train to Matheran.
We arrived at Neral at 8.30 AM and were dejected knowing that the train to Matheran has been cancelled due to rains and had to take a taxi to reach.
The cab climbed quickly (30 minutes) to reach to the checkpoint named as
“Dasturi Naka” beyond which no vehicle was allowed. There were only few options to reach the town- walk, take a horse, or take a hand pulled rickshaw. As we had only backpacks, we decided to walk and rather than taking the road to the town. We picked up rail track, which was a bit sorter route than the winding road.
Matheran was discovered by Hugh Poyntz Malet, the then district collector of Thane district in May 1850. Lord Elphinstone, the then Governor of Bombay laid the foundations of the development as a future hill station. The British developed Matheran as a popular resort to beat the summer heat in the region.
Although, not a typical hill station likes those in north, Matheran has its own charm. If you love the green cover of mountain, the scent of sweet smell of herbs, thickly wooded trails in the forest, trekking, horse riding, crossing valleys and monkeys jumping from one tree to another, then Matheran is once in a lifetime experience.
Tommy Singh was walking behind me on a narrow rail track. The sky was getting overcast with the dark clouds. There was a young couple walking behind us and we could hear their occasional giggle.
“What about stories?” suddenly Tommy Singh asked me
“What stories?” I quizzed
“That it is haunted. There are tales of wronged wives and separated lovers who float along the woody paths”, asked Tommy
“I don’t know for sure. May be a myth, I think”. Then I looked back at him and said smilingly,
“We will walk on those so called forbidden trails and see ourselves”Tommy suddenly fell silent.
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| Couple on foggy Matheran railway track |
There was a thunder and it started drizzling. A fog started creeping in from our right and soon it engulfed us. I looked behind. The couple opened an umbrella and were hugging each other closely.
We passed the railway station and then were on the road to our resort
“The Byke”. The resort was a beautiful heritage building nestled in a thickly forested area.
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| An adventure-Valley Crossing |
The next day I took Tommy Singh to an adventure-Valley Crossing. It was from
Honeymoon point to near Louisa Point. It was basically a U- shaped mountain and you have to go from one side to other side ( approx 900 feet) hanging on rope with 1000 feet valley below(!) It works worth 3 ropes, pulleys and Gravity. So, it’s one way. Coming back is by walking or you can ask your Horseman to come to that point to pick you up. Mind you - It’s definitely not for weak-hearted. However, you get a bird's eye view of the valley and it’s definitely a once in life-time experience.
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| The Verandah in the Forest |
Then we headed on foot to the hotel-
“The Verandah in the Forest” situated somewhere in the forest where the daughter of Tommy Singh was staying. We took a trail from Honeymoon point to Charlotte lake road and strolling in the meandering woods we eventually arrived at the hotel.
From the minute we stepped in, I wondered if such hotels exist. The hotel itself was a treat for the eyes with un-corrupt Victorian charm. Tucked away in the forest, all we could see were the treetops around and hear only the sounds of the forest!
After lunch at the Verandah in the Forest, we debated what to do then. It was late in the afternoon and though the night would soon set in, we decided to take a walk into nearby woods.
A walk along the forest path brought us to a fork in the road. Deciding against going the touristy trail towards the market, we went on to explore the other lonely path.
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| A sinister looking tree trunk |
The settling fog was creating a mysterious aura along the woody path. After stumbling on a log of wood which was below
a sinister looking tree trunk, we discovered a house hidden behind the trees. Had an old dilapidated Victorian style bungalow gate draped in the fog, which was getting thicker by then.
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| A Victorian style bungalow gate |
Curiosity forced us to step onto the front verandah of the house. Strangely enough the house was boarded up and looked abandoned. No one seemed to be around.
Then suddenly clouds rose from the valley below and shrouded them. A crack of thunder and it started pouring suddenly. So heavy was the downpour that we were forced to wait it out on the porch. Then a low whistling sound came. Almost as if the whistler was going to turn the corner and make himself visible. Clearly audible despite the deafening sound of rain bashing on the tin roof.
But no one came. Yet I felt as though we were being watched. When the rain lessened a bit I whispered Tommy Singh to just run and we ran through the forest path, all the while the whistling didn't stop. Only when we had crossed the log of wood, did the sound stop.
What was that? Really someone hiding or some bird? My thinking machine had stopped.
The shadows gradually were lengthening on the trail. We quickened our steps (
why? I don't know. Definitely not because it was getting dark).
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| Sinister looking trail |
Suddenly, we saw it! Some images quickly crossed the path. We quickened our steps and looked at the direction where we believed images disappeared. Nothing. Just an eerie silence
The forested trail suddenly was looking sinister. I paced up my otherwise leisurely walk and didn't notice that Tommy Singh was walking behind me and no more at my side. After a while, I stopped and looked back. Tommy was NOT behind me! Where the hell he is? I thought my mind racing. Then I saw his dark figure running to me and heard shouting my name. He was panting.
"I heard footsteps behind me and when I turned back, I saw someone turned and ran away.," said Tommy, his eyes gleaming even in the dark and popping! I petted him on his shoulder and said,
"So what? He must been scared looking at your huge body in the darkness." Tommy stared at me for a while and replied in a deep tone,
"No Kiran, what I saw...you may not believe...it was a..a.. headless man running away".I shouted back at him,
"Oh, shut up Tommy! Get your f***in eyesight checked up"!The rest of the walk back to the main road and then to our hotel was in silence. Both of us engrossed in our own thoughts.a guy
The following day I came to know about few facts from our hotel manager Mr. Sharma. Matheran hotels do not accommodate singles as per their association rules! Why? This was probably because of series of suicide by young people visiting the town in the past.
The following picture of a paranormal activity was taken by Raahul, Varun & Aniket and when they tried to contact paranormal activities investigators, non replied except one. Perhaps, they had no explanation.Watch
Forgetting about spooky trails and abandoned Victorian bungalows If all you want to do is soak in the scenic beauty of the Western Ghats and laze around, enjoying the idyllic atmosphere, Matheran is the place to be travelling by heritage toy train between October to JuneHow to get there
Mumbai or Pune to Neral by train and then by toy train to Matheran or by bus or taxi to Dasturi Checkpoint and then by horse or hand pulled rickshaw to Matheran
Sources:http://fromatravellersdiary.blogspot.in/2013/03/in-jungles-of-matheran-with-nomophobic.htmlhttp://www.amitkulkarni.info/pics/matheran-trek/