back from a week-long break - battery recharged

Had an amazing and much-needed week's break.

Went to a tiny hillstation called Matheran in the state of Maharashtra, about 100 kms from Mumbai/Bombay. The USP of Matheran, apart from the red laterite soil that's everywhere (gets on to your shoes and clothes and settles like a haze on your face and body parts) is that no motorised vehicles are allowed, the only transport options being walking, riding horses and using hand-pulled rickshaws (three men to a rick usually). Gorgeously green (and red), with monkeys and exotic birds giving you company, Matheran charms you with its timelessness.

There are loads of tourists on weekends though (mostly from Mumbai, Gujarat and Rajasthan) and the usual lot of backpackers (foreign and Indian) so can get quite noisy, especially in the eveing in the market area.

Rain-starved as I was, my chief intent was to catch some heavy downpour action which usually happens around the time we went there - was disappointed on that front...but the weather's pretty pleasant. On hindsight, good it didnt rain since that would have meant us staying put at the hotel and not catching any of the divine sights at all the Points we visited.

Highly recommend Matheran for a quick getaway from urbania. A sturdy pair of walking shoes (or two) is all that one really needs to get going. And 2-3 days max is all you need to discover this green-red corner. :)