Woodlands Hotel, Matheran
I will not spend too much prose on Matheran - which is the only automobile-free hill station in India. Selecting the right hotel is the key to a good experience. No doubt the stars matter, but the real thrill is in getting a good bargain. Woodlands Hotel is IMHO, one such place. The rooms are spic & span and the bathrooms are clean. The bed sheets could be cleaner though. The hotel is like a sprawling bungalow with a fairly large compound. There is a kids’ area with swings, slides and stuff. This was very important for me, since my 3 year old daughter finds swings more entertaining than Sunset Points! There is a badminton court and a TT table for those who cannot miss their sport for some great scenery!
The Hotel is located about a kilometre from the main station - sufficiently insulated from the buzz & humdrum of the usual curio shops and chappal vendors (Matheran's speciality). Woodlands is conveniently located, and one can even walk to some points. The food is strictly vegetarian (which is an indication of clientele preferences), but it’s well cooked, healthy & will not cause an oil slick if dropped into Charlotte Lake (Matheran's sole water body).
Since Matheran has no vehicles, the only means of transport are horses & hand-pulled single-seater rickshaws (similar to Calcutta). The horses are part of the Matheran experience and a must-do. Quite a few horse-wallahs are stationed outside the hotel during the morning. The rickshaws are murder for your back.
Word from the wise (?): In Matheran, never stay in a Hotel in the Market area or near the station. One can be surprised with the noise levels there, even without cars & buses.
I took a weekend break just after Diwali & found that all hotels in Matheran were touting 'Diwali Packages' which was just another word for inflexible 4D/3N packages at atrocious rates. Woodlands was an exception, which charged a very modest premium as compared to others.
Clean rooms, good food, friendly staff & honest rates were the best highlights. No cribs really - just that the bed sheets really needed a good wash.
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| Destination |
6.00 |
| Location |
6.00 |
| Appearance |
5.00 |
| Mountains |
4.00 |
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| Bookings & Front Office |
6.00 |
| Service |
5.00 |
| Room |
5.00 |
| Food & Drink |
5.00 |
| Activities |
4.00 |
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