If your lungs are gutted with pollution, then Mother Forest is the right antidote for you. Here in Matheran, near Mumbai, wood is never cut for commercial purpose. Only a natural cause such as a landslide or storm can uproot trees.

The journey up the hill is not on a concrete road, but a natural red-mud terrain. Nature is preserved in its original form.

There was something different about the air, and it made me feel lighter. The freshness was distinct, nothing like anything I’d experienced before. My curiosity about the air settled when our cab halted, an entry ticket was cut, and the journey was resumed on foot. Now I knew where the extra oxygen came from. After all, this is the only pedestrian hill-station in Asia.

Huge signboards proclaimed, “No vehicles allowed”. The locals were pitching tourists for different services. For those who couldn’t walk, there were hand-pulled rickshaws and horses. People offered to carry luggage for Rs 25 to Rs 50, depending on size.

A transparent plastic bag was sold as a raincoat. With a hole for the head to pass through, it could withstand light showers. These showers magically release the hidden fragrance of the red mud.

The transition from light showers to heavy rainfall occurred within ten minutes. It felt like walking in the sky with thick, white clouds all around me. Of course, I realised that it was actually fog — thick and opaque.

The monkey population seemingly exceeded humans. They moved in groups and appeared to have a group leader too. Present all over the mountain, they seemed to be fiercely possessive of their environs. At Louisa point, an attractive wild plant caught my attention and I stretched out my hand to feel it. One of the monkeys growled and grunted angrily; it was his territory and he certainly didn’t like it. Other monkeys too jumped out of trees, furious. They were like the guardians of Matheran and their love for mother forest was adorable.

The mountain had more to offer; it had a mini railway station for a mini train that connects Neral station to Matheran. The market area had a few shops selling handmade leather footwear at throwaway prices (Rs 50 to Rs 100); leather belts, too, came at a good bargain for Rs 250.

One of the shops was very old, although it looked new with its contemporary design and trendy interiors. Nariman Chikki Mart was established back in 1949. Its chikki counter was nearly eight to 10 ft long, displaying the range on offer. The wall was adorned with other mouth-watering delights such as fudge, chocolates, honey, fruit juices, squash and much else that can make anyone with a sweet tooth go weak in the knees.

The buzzing marketplace and its noisy customers did not interfere with the silence at Panorama Point, a kilometre away. Also known as sunrise point, the only sound here is that of the breeze. The rustle of trees made it all the more pleasant.

It motivated me to walk around some more and discover the other gems of Matheran.

Coronation point was one such find. It was not on the itinerary of most five-star hotel tours, and that worked in its favour. I experienced blissful solitude during the 4-km walk from the marketplace.

There was no one around, except for the monkeys and me. I was not afraid, feeling some kind of belongingness towards this hill-station.

Matheran made me forget my physical being and delighted my soul. This experience was not like any regular vacation. The narrow, muddy path sans vehicles felt like the path of righteousness, which is never easy yet comforting.

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