Best Photo Spots in Matheran
Matheran is a plateau with cliffs on every side, so its best photos look outwards from the edge. Come for the first and last hours of light, when haze over the plains is soft and the red paths glow.
Entry Free
Charlotte Lake
- Best timeEarly morning, when the water is still and reflects the trees; after the monsoon, from October, when the lake is full and the forest is green.
- ColorsWhiteTealRust
Entry Free
Echo Point
- Best timeMorning, when the ravine is clear and the light is soft; late afternoon for warmer colour on the far ridges.
- ColorsRedWhiteGreen
Medium crowdEntry Train ticket
Matheran Hill Railway
- Best timeMorning, when soft light falls on the carriages and the station is calm; late afternoon for warm colour as the last shuttles come in.
- ColorsRedCreamForest green
Entry Free
One Tree Hill
- Best timeLate afternoon, when side light brings out the tree and the ridges behind it; early morning for cool air and an empty knoll.
- ColorsRustWhiteOlive
Entry Free
Panorama Point
- Best timeEarly morning at sunrise, when light spreads across the Neral plains; soon after, before the haze builds and flattens the view.
- ColorsRustWhiteForest green
Shooting from the edge
Nearly every good frame in Matheran is taken from one of its points, the railed or open viewpoints on the rim of the plateau. The foreground is usually red earth, rock and trees; the background is ridges, ravines and the plains below. Midday light flattens all of it, and dry-season haze builds through the day, so get out early.
Sunrise at the north end
Panorama Point is the one to get up for. It is about 5 km from the station, so leave in the dark with a torch or book a horse the evening before. The view opens on three sides, with the Neral plains to the north-east catching the first light.
Lake and echo
Charlotte Lake is calm and shaded, best when the surface is still in the morning. The old Pisarnath Mahadev temple sits on its bank. Echo Point is a short walk away, a cliff edge over a deep wooded ravine. Both are busy by late morning on weekends.
Quieter ground
One Tree Hill has a single tree on a rocky knoll and far fewer people. It suits a slow late-afternoon visit, when the light comes across the valley.
The train
The toy train is the town's other subject. Photograph it pulling into Matheran station or on the curves near the town, and stay well off the track.
Monsoon and mist
From June to September, cloud can sit on the points all day and a view may appear for a minute and vanish. It suits moody photos of wet paths and forest, not wide views. Keep a cover on your camera and watch your footing near the edges, which have little or no railing in places.
Courtesy
Ask before photographing horse handlers, porters or families. Keep food out of sight at the points, where monkeys are bold. Step aside for horses on narrow paths before you raise the camera.
Questions
Matheran — FAQ
Which Matheran point is best for sunset?
Head to the west-facing points. Porcupine Point, widely known as Sunset Point, and Louisa Point near Charlotte Lake are the usual choices. Start back before dark, because the forest paths have no lights.
Can I photograph Matheran in the monsoon?
Yes, but expect mist rather than views. The forest, wet red paths and full streams look good in the rain. Wide valley shots often disappear for hours at a time.
Is it worth carrying a tripod up to Matheran?
Only if you plan a sunrise shoot. Everything is on foot, so a light travel tripod is enough. At busy points on weekends, set it up away from the railing so people can pass.