Charlotte Lake

Charlotte Lake

The picturesque hill station of Matheran is easily accessible from both Mumbai and Pune and is a popular destination for city dwellers looking for a restful weekend amongst the beauty of Nature. The journey up to the hill resort is in itself a delightful experience. A winding car drive can get you to the summit or you can hike up the 11 km through thick and shady forests or do the distance by horse or hand-pulled rickshaw. Take an enchanting ride on the quaint toy train that starts from Neral and winds through the verdant hillside to get to the summit. Food and drink vendors do brisk business, while monkeys swing on and off the wagons as the scenery unfolds before you. Once you have shopped at the Matheran market and tasted the famous Chikki, take a short walk to the Charlotte Lake, one of the chief attractions of the resort. The beautiful Charlotte Lake is an absolute must see. Feel the crisp cool air teasing your face as you survey the beautiful landscape around you. The hill resort gets its drinking water supply from the lake which is a beauty to behold especially during the monsoon months, with its swirling coffee brown waters. Food stalls serve up local delicacies and the lakefront is ideal for picnicking. The lake is surrounded by a few places of interest such as the Pisarnath Temple, Echo Point, and Louisa Point from which you can catch a sight of the wild and wonderful landscape and the reddish brown Sahyadri ranges.