Matheran Hill Railway
A 2-foot narrow-gauge mountain train that began running in 1907. It climbs about 21 km from Neral to the top, and is the symbol of Matheran.
The Matheran Hill Railway was built in 1907 with a track gauge of just 610 mm. It departs from the foot of the mountain at Neral station and climbs about 800 meters, with many sharp curves and steep gradients, to reach Matheran station. The full journey is about 21 km and takes 2–2.5 hours. Along the way you can see the cliffs and forests of the Western Ghats. It is on UNESCO's tentative World Heritage list as part of the 'Mountain Railways of India' extension. A short shuttle runs between Aman Lodge and Matheran, which is handy for getting into town from the parking area. Tickets must be bought in advance at Neral station or through IRCTC, as weekends and holidays sell out quickly. During the monsoon the train often does not run, or only the shuttle section operates, so check the Central Railway notices before you travel.
Opening hours
Several trains daily; check Central Railway timetable
Nearby sights
- Matheran Market (Kapadia Market)
- Honeymoon Point
- Echo Point
- Charlotte Lake
- Alexander Point
- Monkey Point
- Sunset Point (Porcupine Point)
- Louisa Point