Garbett plateau, Matheran
Location: Matheran
Base village: Diksal
Altitude: 2600 ft
How to reach: From Mumbai CST train station take a train to Bhivpuri. After getting down at Bhivpuri ask locals for directions towards the base village and start the climb.
Trekking time: 3-4 hour climb.
Grade: Easy
Trip report:
After exploring different hills of Matheran region we decided to go to Garbett plateau in the same region. We took the 6.24 am local from Dadar station for Bhivpuri. Do not expect the train to be empty thinking its too early. There are so many trekking groups going to Bhivpuri on weekends in monsoon that the trains are packed! We reached Bhivpuri at 8.00 am. On alighting down at Bhivpuri station, we met our trek leader from Mumbai rangers and other fellow trekkers.We crossed the train track but this time going under the train. LOL
Kids crossing tracks
After a poha breakfast opposite in a small reaturant opposite to the station, we started walking. The first leg of the trek starts with a gentle walk along the Bhivpuri lake.
The views in Monsoon are magical. The fluroscent greens and sound of water have a very calm effect on the senses. We crossed many small calm streams and at one point we were faced with a fast raging small stream which was crossed by making human chain.
After crossing this stream it starts ascending slowly up and voila you are in the clouds !!! The trek has many beautiful waterfalls and there is one vantage point which would make you feel as if you are on set of avatar movie.
There goes the stream down below…
Greeted by mountain goats
We reached the plateau after about 3 hours climb. The plateau is completely exposed and there were heavy gusty winds. Suddenly it started pouring. The combination of raindrops with ferocoius winds made my lil one uneasy. My younger one couldnt take the beating by the rain and started shivering! We hastilty retreated down to tree line. This portion of the trek is a mix of gentle ascend and descend until you reach the tracks of matheran. You keep walking along the tracks until you reach Dasturi naka. We took the taxi down to Neral station for train back to Mumbai.