Matheran: Inside Asia's Only Car-Free Hill Station

Step off the train at Matheran and the first thing you notice is what's missing.

Less than 100 km from the chaos of Mumbai, Matheran is close enough for a weekend yet feels like a deliberate step backwards in time.

Why Matheran banned the car in the first place

The word Matheran roughly means "forest on the forehead" — a wooded crown sitting on top of a hill.

This is not just a traffic suggestion.