Matheran

Matheran is an automobile-free hill station and a municipal council in the Karjat taluka of the Raigad district located in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Matheran is part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, and one of the smallest hill stations in India. It is located in the Western Ghats, at an elevation of around 800 m (2,625 feet) above sea level. It is about 90 km from Mumbai, and 120 km from Pune. This proximity to these urban areas makes it a weekend getaway for many. Matheran, which means "forest on the forehead" (of the mountains) in Marathi, is an eco-sensitive region, declared by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India. It is Asia's only automobile-free hill station.

Matheran
Picture of Matheran hidden in clouds, from the tracks of the Matheran Toy Train
Matheran
Location in Maharashtra, India
Coordinates: 18.9866°N 73.2679°E / 18.9866; 73.2679
CountryIndia
StateMaharashtra
DistrictRaigad
Government
  TypeMunicipal Council
  BodyMatheran Hill Station Municipal Council
Area
  Total7 km2 (3 sq mi)
Elevation
800 m (2,600 ft)
Population
 (2001)
  Total5,139
  Density730/km2 (1,900/sq mi)
Languages
  OfficialMarathi
  SpokenMarathi
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
410102
Telephone code02148
Vehicle registrationMH-46
Nearest cityKarjat
Websitehttp://www.matheran.net.in/en/

There are many hotels and Parsi bungalows in the area. Old British colonial architecture is preserved in Matheran. The roads are made of red laterite earth.

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