Karjat to Dodhani

The route enters the plateau from the southeast. From Karjat, about 4 km on a contouring unpaved road through Thakurwadi, Asanolwadi and Chinchwadi. At Chinchwadi you are at the base of the east-facing slopes of the Garbett Plateau.

From Chinchwadi a trail climbs to an unnamed saddle on the Garbett Plateau ridgeline — open scrub, almost no trees, grass all around. From the saddle the trail follows the ridgeline to Garbett village: a beautiful 3 km ridgewalk with Matheran off to your left, west. Garbett is about ten houses, only a few occupied — mostly older residents living with their cattle.

From Garbett you drop to the Matheran side by Tokhar Waat. It is not an easy trail.

At the riverbed, cross to the right bank to reach the hamlet of Katwan.

Picture Matheran as one big flat plateau ringed on every side by villages. People from those villages hike up daily for work, mostly in the hotels and hospitality trade. That constant movement keeps the trails well-laid, clean and easy to follow. Most climbs are under 600 m, and most sections are short enough that a litre of water sees you through — refill at the top, refill at the bottom. These are daily working routes.

From Katwan, climb to Madhavji Point and come back down via Alexander Point to Katwan. These are viewpoints on the edge of the plateau, and the routes are named for the points they lead to. The ridgeline takes you straight up to Madhavji Point on a clear trail, into open forest near the top; you contour along the top and come down to Alexander Point.

This segment explores Sondai Fort, south of the Garbett ridgeline. From Katwan, head east along the west-facing slopes of the Garbett ridge — a mostly flat contour through open forest — to Changwadi. From Changwadi, climb back to the same saddle you reached earlier from Chinchwadi. Contour south from the saddle and keep climbing; Sondai Fort comes into view ahead on the western edge of the ridge.

The trail to Sondai is easy overall, with one short rock patch where you sit and descend carefully — basic climbing skills needed. A final contour around the east side joins the main route up from the base village of Sondewadi. One set of iron ladders brings you to the top: a flat summit with a shrine, more watchtower than fort.

Descend the same iron ladder and continue west to Sondewadi on a clear, well-used trail. From Sondewadi, drop back into the riverbed, cross from the left bank to the right, and move towards the west-facing slopes of Matheran.

From the riverbed the trail reaches Burujwadi. From there the climb to Rambagh Point is a ridgeline approach with magnificent views throughout, mostly open scrub.

You will see bundles of cut grass tied and stacked along here. This is why these trails stay so clean: if the grass grew three or four feet high it would swallow the path, so the locals who walk up to Rambagh Point for work every day cut it and carry it back as fodder. These are daily office routes — where a city commute is two hours in a cab, here it is two hours on foot to the workplace.

From Rambagh Point the route circles the southern side of the plateau to One Tree Hill — a 3 km flat walk with only about 80 m of gain. Here you meet Matheran's iconic red soil and its broad walking paths.

No vehicles are allowed on top of Matheran, so expect horses, hand-carts carrying goods, and people on foot. This is one of the prettiest and most beginner-friendly stretches in the region. Stay quiet and you may spot the giant Indian squirrel — Shekru in Marathi — in the quieter forest.

From One Tree Hill a ridgeline route drops to Ambewadi — a gully with rocks and boulders at first, but a clear path, then a forest with a small shrine that makes a useful landmark, then open ridgeline. The large water body to the south is the Morbe Dam reservoir. Refuel and resupply at Ambewadi.

That covered the eastern and southern sides. The next section takes the western face. From Ambewadi, follow a contouring trail that heads north below the west-facing cliffs of Matheran, towards the settlement of Pirkarwadi. Before you reach Pirkarwadi, the trail turns east and climbs back to One Tree Hill — a locals' route, narrower than the others but a beautiful ridgeline, with stones set into the soil for grip. Look back as you climb for excellent views of Irshalgad. It starts open and exposed, then enters open forest, and returns you to the same shrine near the base of One Tree Hill.

After the short re-climb the trail stays on top for about 2 km to Charlotte Lake — a flat red-soil walk, linking one point to the next. At Charlotte Lake there are eateries where you can eat and refill. Nearby is the Pisarnath Temple, which has its own history — this walkthrough stays on the trail.

From Pisarnath, descend by the Pisarnath Ladder Route. It is slightly tricky: a narrow, steep gully to start — careful if the rock is wet — then after 30–40 m of descent, a section fitted with iron ladders (once wooden, now much safer). Beyond the ladders you come onto the nose of the ridge: open scrub and one clear trail down to the small hamlet of Umbarnewadi, another refill point.

From Umbarnewadi the trail contours north and starts climbing again, quickly into open forest. You may see route markings here — markers from the trail-running events held around Matheran. Follow the main trail to Hashachi Patti, about 250 m below the plateau.

Unlike the other foothill villages, Hashachi Patti sits directly below the cliffs, giving the quickest access to the top. The houses are surprisingly large for a village with no road connection — most likely because that quick access made supplies easier over the years. It looks more prosperous than many of the other base villages.

From Hashachi Patti the trail takes a lesser-used line, following a ridgeline at first. From the saddle just before a dead-end cliff, follow the main trail down to Chinchwadi. Rather than the road, a trail through farmlands takes you quickly to Dodhani — accommodation and resupply again.

One last loop explores the southern face. From Dodhani, head south through open scrub into forest, past a small shrine, then up steep sections to the top of Matheran at Sunset Point — a temple, some eateries, wide views. Stay on the crest and continue east along more red-soil trail.

Near Monkey Point, take the trail back down to Dodhani. There is a small spring near Monkey Point to refill. The trail enters a gully, then quickly onto a ridgeline — a beautiful, thin, serpentine line with small shrines along it. There is a little exposure in places, so stay careful; once on the main ridgeline the slope eases into a smooth, effortless descent back to Dodhani, where the stage ends.

The route is built so you can experience the different faces of Matheran while staying in the base villages. You can always stay on top — but for the local culture, village life and hospitality, it is strongly recommended basing yourself below and hiking up.