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MATHERAN- A Biodiverse Hillstation

Matheran literally means “Forest on the Top” (of hill)….. this well-known hillstation of about 7.2 sq kms, not far from Mumbai (90 kms) and Pune (120 kms) is clothed with verdant semi evergreen forest at an altitude of about 800 meters (2,625 feet) above sea level. It comes under the municipal council in Karjat Tahsil in the Raigad district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Matheran is part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and is one of the smallest hill stations in India. It can easily be reached via the closest railway station on central line- Neral. Matheran’s proximity to many metropolitan cities makes it a weekend getaway for urban residents. It 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. Unfortunately there is no ban on plastic, no ban on feeding monkeys and no proper police patrol to maintain the hill station.

Matheran was identified by Hugh Poyntz Malet, the then district collector of Raigad 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 resort to beat the summer heat in the region. The famous Matheran Hill Railway (Toy train) was built in 1907 by Sir Adamjee Peerbhoy and covers a distance of 20 km (12 mi), over large swathes of forest territory. The trees are evergreen & Semi-evergreen, making the plateau forests very dense and even congested in places. The laterite, porous soil along with very heavy rainfall mixed with dense fog for 4-5 months has resulted in unique flora rich in diversity on the plateau.  Matheran was declared an Eco-Sensitive zone (ESZ) by the Union Environment Ministry on 4 February 2003. However, due to uncontrolled tourism, there is an immense pressure on the flora and fauna, yet Matheran is an excellent place for nature enthusiasts, especially for lesser fauna.

Matheran has quite a variety of wild animals including the Malabar Giant Squirell (Shekru) -state animal of Maharashtra, along with Wild Boars, Mongoose, Barking Deers, Jackals, Wild Cat (although all these are rare) and a large nos. of Bonnet Macaques and Black-faced Hanuman Langurs due to the feeding by tourists. There are few records of Leopards too, but they are rarely encountered. The birdlife is also extremely rich but is largely productive during winters. But the highlight for wildlifers and photographers in Matheran is undoubtedly the Reptiles, Amphibians and other lesser fauna that come alive in Monsoons.

Matheran is home to an incredible nos. of the Northern Western Ghats Vein Snake (Ahaetulla borealis) that dominate the reptilian fauna, along with several others that are found in good nos. including Bamboo Pit Viper (Craspedocephalus gramineus), Indian Wolf Snake, Indian Rat Snake, Chekkered Keelback, Bombay Shieldtail (Uropeltis macrolepis), Beaked Wormsnake (Myriopholis macrorhyncha), Common Sand Boa (Eryx conicus), Travancore Wolfsnake (Lycodon travancoricus), Banded Kukri (Oligodon arnensis), Buff-striped Keelback, Cobra, Saw-scaled Viper, Cat Snake, Russell’s Viper, Green Keelback (Rhabdophis plumbicolor)  etc to name some. While in a typical night trail you can come across several species of lizards including the beautiful Deccan Banded Gecko (Geckoella deccanensis),  Spotted Rock Gecko ( Hemidactylus maculatus), Blotched House Gecko (Hemidactylus triedrus), Murray’s House Gecko (Hemidactylus murrayi).

The Ambhibians are also well represented, with the endemic (to north Western Ghats) species of frogs like Ghate’s Bush/Shrub Frog (Raorchestes ghatei), Bombay night frog also called Abdulali’s wrinkled frog or Humayun’s wrinkled frog (Nyctibatrachus humayuni), Matheran Leaping Frog (Indirana leithii)…..and other species including Common Indian Toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus), Indian Bull Frog, Skittering Frog, Cricket Frogs (Minervarya Sps.) Indian Tree Frog (Polypedates maculates), Fungoid Frog (Hydrophylax bahuvistara), Ornamented Pygmy Frog (Microhyla ornata), Indian Dot Frog (Ramanella mormorata), Maskey’s Burrowing Frog (Sphaerotheca maskeyi) etc.

While birding is largely productive in winters, one can easily see a few species in monsoon including the Malabar Whistling Thrush and listen to its lovely whistling song, Orange-headed Ground Thrush, Red-Whiskered and Red-vented Bulbuls and huge nos. of White-rumped Shama…. the calls of Brown-cheeked Fulvetta and Puff-throated Babbler reverberate the entire forest.

One may come across other lesser fauna’s during a monsoon trail including Centipede’s, Scorpions, Crickets, Tarantula’s, Scutigera, Tent & Lynx Spiders, Different types of Mushrooms & Butterflies including the stately Blue Mormon, and Ground orchids including Malaxis, Habenarias and Peristylus etc…..You may also come across Ceropegia’s like Ceropegia media and C.vincifolia……

For a macro photographer and a nature enthusiast, Matheran forest is indeed a treasure trove during monsoon.

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Nature India tours has meticulously organized a Herpetofauna trip to this bio-diversity rich hillstation from 30^th Jul to 31^st Jul’22 (travel days excluded) with eminent experts in the field.

TRAVEL & STAY ITINERARY. (Ex.Matheran Hotel Springwoods)

Though the Camp will be focused on Herpetofauna and to learn more about them, we will also try to look for and learn about everything that we come across including Wildflowers, Birds, Mammals ….

Date: 30th Jul 2022, morning 11.30 am to 31st Jul 2022 @ 2:00 pm (Saturday & Sunday)

Resource person: Saunak Pal (A herpetofauna expert)

Assistant resource persons: Mr. Adesh Shivkar

Mr.Saunak Pal, our expert, is a well-known young herpetologist, who has studied Western Ghats herpetofauna in CES (Center for Ecological Science). He has described new to science several species of Gecko’s and Lizards, including few Genus. He now works with Bnhs as Herpatofauna research assistant.

Travel options to reach Matheran: Participants are requested to reach Matheran (and the hotel) on their own.

Kindly note that there are 2 travel options available (given below) to reach Hotel Springwoods Resort, Matheran
1) Mumbai to Neral by local train. Take a shared Vehicle (Eco vehicle available for Rs.100 per seat just outside Neral station West) and get down at Dasturi naka……from there either walk down for 1.5 km to the hotel or hire a horse or take the toy train (operates every 1 hr for Rs.40 each) from Aman Lodge station to matheran station (35 mins travel), from where our hotel is just 5 mins walking distance.

2) Travel uptill Dasturi naka with your own car and park it near Dasturi Naka (but too crowded on weekends), then follow the same options as given above.

TRIP ITINERARY (Participants have to reach hotel on their own) 

Day 1: Saturday 30th July, 2022

Reach Hotel Springwoods after 11:30 am, but before 1 pm…..Lunch – Rest for a couple of hours ….. tea and snacks ….. 1st trail in evening uptill dinner time …… return…… Dinner…… 2nd trail (Night) for a couple of hours …… Overnight stay in Hotel Springwoods Resort
(We recommend wearing protective footwear (Gumboot or similar) and carry fully charged torches or head lamps and also protective rain wears )

Day 2: Sunday, 31st July, 2022

Late bedtime tea @ 8 am ….. Breakfast ….. move out for our 3rd trail……. Return by 11:00 am…… Rest….. Lunch ……. Check-out by 1:30 pm…… Conclusion of the trip….. participants go to their respective boarding places

More details on the Itinerary will be given to those who register…..

Please note: This is primarily a herpetofauna watching trip. We do not have any provision for sight-seeing in our trips.

Trip Charges: Ex.Matheran Hotel

6,500/- 

(This includes stay in Hotel Springwoods Resort on twin sharing basis, Veg / non-veg food (2 lunch, 1 Dinner, 1 high tea and 1 breakfast), guide charges, Articles on the places to be visited & on board snacks)

This does not include travel charges from Mumbai to Matheran and Back or Matheran entry fees or any charges other than the above.

Stay Arrangement:

In Springwoods Resort, Matheran on twin sharing basis in non AC rooms. The Hotel campus is nice and the rooms are spacious with clean bathrooms…..

Registration: You can register by sending a confirmatory mail to natureindiatours@gmail.com and by paying a non refundable advance of Rs. 4000/- after our registration conformation by email…..the remaining amount will be collected on the day of travel.

Mode of Payment: You can either…

1) Transfer the advance money directly to HDFC A/c : (Shall be provided in the registration mail) …. please mention your name, date and other details….

2) Courier a cheque of Rs.4000/- to the following address

Name: Shall be provided in the registration mail

Address: Shall be provided in the registration mail

Please Note:

1) Once registered, the advance amount of Rs.4000/- is strictly non-refundable

2) Alcohol & Smoking is strictly prohibited on Nature India Tours

3) We expect heavy rain throughout, hence will need to brave the rains during the trails…..please bring all the rain wears

4) There might be leeches on the trail….. suggestions shall be provided regarding this.

5) Kindly register on this trip only if you agree with  Nature India‘s rules and policies and Covid related guidelines

http://natureindiapolicies.blogspot.in/2012/08/nature-india-policies.html

http://natureindiapolicies.blogspot.com/2020/11/covid-related-precautionsrules-during_16.html

For any other queries, please contact:-

Adesh Shivkar – 9820455713 /  8779599356

Mandar Khadilkar – 9930318665 / 8369427283

Or Email: natureindiatours@gmail.com

Hope to see you for this wonderful trip !!

Thanks for your patience.

Warm Regards,

Adesh Shivkar & Mandar Khadilkar