The British discovered Matheran and developed it as a famous tourist destination. The history dates back to the British era when Hugh Malet discovered the hill station in the year 1850. It is around 100 kms away from the industrial capital of India, Mumbai. Located at an elevation of about 800m (2,625) above the sea level, the place boasts of its panoramic views and breathtaking charm. Another special thing on Matheran is that it has no tarred roads and the path is made of red laterite earth.
Being one of those few places in the globe where absolutely no vehicles are allowed, it is something very unique about Matheran. The fresh unpolluted air free of smoke and the beautiful surroundings makes it a most visited tourist destination in west India. If you want to sit back and enjoy the mesmerizing charm of nature, then Matheran is the place for you. The Union Environment Ministry has declared the region as an eco sensitive region.
The place can be explored on the horse back or by man-pulled rickshaws. If you are a trekker then there is nothing that can beat the charm of exploring this serene land on foot. One of the interesting facts about Matheran is that it still has preserved the old British style architecture which has now become the heritage buildings. The place is calm and quiet and the climate is pleasant through out the year.
Matheran is famous for its dense forest cover and the local honey gathered from the forest bees. There are number of places of interest that must be visited like the Echo Point, Luisa Point, Porcupine Point and Charlotte Lake. Panorama Point is among the 38 designated points to look out for and the special thing of Matheran Panorama Point is that it gives a 360 degree view of the surroundings.