Page 478 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

476  SOUTHWESTERN INDIA

8 Matheran
Raigarh district. 118 km (73 miles)
NW of Pune. * 4,400. £ From
Neral Junction, take the toy train
to Matheran (2 hrs). @
n Opp railway station.
The closest hill station to
Mumbai, Matheran (meaning
“Mother Forest” or “Forest on
Top”) lies at a height of 803 m
(2,635 ft) above sea level. This
The Buddhist chaitya griha at Karla Caves, near Lonavla pic turesque town is situated in
the forested Sahyadri Hills. In
7 Lonavla from the 2nd to 1st centuries 1855, Lord Elphinstone, the
BC. The splendid chaitya griha governor of Bombay, visited
Pune district. 62 km (39 miles)
NW of Pune. * 57,700. £ (see p24), the largest and best- Matheran, and the town soon
@ Karla Caves: n Maharashtra preserved of the early Buddhist became fashionable. The stately
Tourism, Karla, (02114) 282 230. caves in the Deccan, is the Elphinstone Lodge that he built
Open daily. & Bhaja Caves: & most significant sight here. It became his weekend retreat. A
has a magnificently sculpted railway line was laid in 1907, and
Situated on the main train line courtyard, a towering 14-m a quaint toy train (see p753) still
from Mumbai to Pune, Lonavla (46-ft) high façade with a winds its way slowly through
was once a sleepy hill station horseshoe shaped window, hills and forests from the junction
famous for its chikki, a type and a large pillared hall with at Neral. All motor vehicles are
of caramelized sweet. It has a monolithic stupa. The 20-odd completely banned within the
now become an extremely Bhaja Caves, located 3 km limits of the town, making it
popular weekend getaway (2 miles) off the Karla uniquely peaceful, despite the
for city-dwellers from road, are the oldest in burgeoning crowds of visitors,
nearby Mumbai. the region, dating particularly on weekends.
Spread around the back to the 2nd Matheran has as many as
bustling main street, century BC. Cave 12, 33 lookout points. Porcupine
lined with souvenir a chaitya griha, still Point, or Sunset Point, a favourite
shops, the town offers contains the remains with sightseers, is known for its
pleasant walks and is of wooden beams on spectacular sunsets. Louisa Point
a convenient base its ceiling. On either has views of the ruined Prabal
for exploring the side of the façade Fort and a mountain trail called
surrounding hills. Statue of a divine are carvings of Shivaji’s Ladder. By far the most
couple, Karla Caves multistoreyed impressive viewpoint is Hart
Environs structures with Point, from where it is possible,
About 8 km (5 miles) northwest windows and balconies. on a clear day, to see as far as
of Lonavla is Khandala, another The Bedse Caves, situated Mumbai. St Paul’s Anglican Church,
pretty town with panoramic 9 km (6 miles) southeast of the pretty Lord’s Mountain and
views of the scenic Western Bhaja, date to the 1st century Valley Resort and the Roman
Ghats. The famous Buddhist AD. The roof of the main Catholic Church are among
rock-cut Karla Caves, 11 km cave bears faint traces the many Raj-era buildings
(7 miles) east of Lonavla, date of paintings. in Matheran.

Splendid views at Porcupine Point, also known as Sunset Point, Matheran
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp700–701 and p715

476-477_EW_India.indd 476 26/04/17 11:47 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
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Date 12th July 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm