We began our journey by car from Valsad, and it took us about five hours to get to Alibaug, Maharashtra. When we got to Alibaug, we went to the beach there, where the seas were very far away. On one side of the shore, there is the Kolaba Fort, while on the other, there are mountain ranges. Due to the solar eclipse that day, we were able to enjoy a breathtaking sunset at the beach.
Activities near the ocean and the seashore include horseback riding and banana rides. For a while, we watched the sunset while sitting on the shore. We also walked a little distance barefoot on the beach towards the ocean. The fort is situated 1 kilometer inside the Arabian Sea and can be reached easily during low tide but the boat is to be used during high tide. The fort has many ruins and a Ganesh temple in it.
The following morning, we went to the ferry port where boats went from Alibaug's Mandwa to 'Gateway of India', Mumbai. The area is well-developed and includes a lot of ferries, as well as cafés and food shops nearby. The area was filled with vivid colors and was highly picturesque. The ferries can accommodate vehicles as well.
We continued to the Kondana Caves, which were 85 kilometers away from Alibaug. Another waterfall was running from above the caves when we finally arrived at the caves. The cave also included ponds for storing water.
Although the infrastructure of the caves was mostly destroyed, it was still a lovely location where sunlight was filtered by the trees and a small waterfall. I used the clear, cool water that was descending from the waterfall to wash my face. Even after tasting it, I found it to be sweet.
"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
-Ralph Waldo EmersonWe stayed there for a while, and I felt blissful, before returning to the trailhead just before dusk and moving on to our next stop. There are relatively few families that live close to this hill, and there are no restaurants or other amenities nearby. Kondana caverns were 30 miles away from Neral.
We arrived in Neral, spent the night there, and the next morning caught a small gauge train from Neral to Matheran. We had to wait in queue beginning in the early morning hours to get a ticket for the toy train. There is just one daily train trip from Neral Junction to Matheran.
We got on the train, and the ride was lovely. The most captivating scene was when we saw a rainbow over the waterfall. I spent the entire time watching the scenery of the mountains by standing at the train entrance rather than seating. The route was dotted with several hills and tunnels. We were on board for around two hours, and the train used a diesel engine rather than electricity. It emitted the typical old engine smoke at regular intervals and had a very limited number of coaches. The view would have been more amazing if it were monsoon.
Matheran literally means 'Forest on top' is a little hill station with scenic views and mountain ranges. Our first stop after arriving in Matheran was Alexander Point, followed by Echo Point, Madhavji Park, and Lousia Point, where we saw a temple and Charlotte Lake. It was exhausting to climb, so we continued on horseback to Panorama Point. It was a beautiful cloudy day, and the soil was fully red in Matheran. All the horses had thoughtful names such as Fantasy, Crafty, and Robin.
We boarded a public cab from Aman Lodge after returning from Matheran to get to Neral. We stopped in Lonavala on the way back, did some chikki shopping there, and then sang songs as we drove home while engaging in several conversations. It was good to take a break, try new cuisines, travel to unknown roads, and create memories.
Very good.....Beaches and Hills....I enjoyed the Journey through your beautiful article and various quality photographs.....God Bless You !