If you have ever been to Matheran, you would know that the lush hill station situated in the Raigad district of Maharashtra, is one of the best places to visit in the summer and takes you away from your everyday city life—literally.
You may plan a road-trip to Matheran, but you cannot take your car all the way up to the hills as vehicles are banned there. Instead, a quaint toy-train will take you all the way up.
This hill station, discovered in 1850 is accessible only through the Matheran Light Railway, which is operational since 1907! You can read more about this Railway and more such fascinating train journeys in India here.
And now, the Central Railways (CR) is getting ahead of the game and plans to open a revolving restaurant in Matheran!
According to Daily News and Analysis (DNA), the CR is looking forward to improving the number of tourists on the 21-km-long Neral-Matheran stretch taken by the toy train. They are also roping in the IRCTC in a bid to attract more people to the serene hill station.
Matheran may also reintroduce the heritage steam engine to take you back in time. Along with Matheran, steam engines are also set to make their comeback in other hill station routes such as Darjeeling- Siliguri, Kalka- Shimla and Kangra Valley.
SK Jain, the Divisional Railway Manager (Mumbai), Central Railways told DNA,
“We are looking at opening a revolving restaurant at Matheran. We want to attract as many tourists as possible.
We shall be running a ceremonial run of the steam engine with two coaches attached to it on April 14 between Aman Lodge and Matheran.”
This unique restaurant will be built right next to the spot where the toy train terminates in Matheran. A railway line loops around the bulb-shaped plot and will be the perfect place to have a nice quiet meal as soon as you reach the hill station.
You may also like: With New Crash Barriers, the Iconic 110-Year-Old Matheran Toy Train Resumes Service
The Central Railways is also planning to restore old structures in Matheran as heritage sites for tourists. One of their plans is to refurbish bungalows which were used as restrooms during the British era as heritage galleries.
Although the structures are currently in a dilapidated condition, the CR is planning on redeveloping them, so they attract tourists who can enjoy a wholesome vacation at Matheran.
Featured image source: Facebook.
(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)
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