April, 1916. For the rich and famous that comprise the Bombay Presidency, the destination of choice is Matheran. You either journey on the new great Indian peninsular railway upto Neral, hop on to the unique toy train with its steam locomotive (perhaps, even hire a luxurious 12- seater special rail car with its own-in-built steam engine) or sail across the Thane creek, camp the night at Panvel and trek to Matheran the next morning completing the last leg. As many as 175 bungalows readied a week earlier by a retinue of servants, will see action for a month or so. Some sedate like a morning walk, a picnic in the shade, an afternoon siesta, reading, writing, watching the sunrise & set or an evening tea party. Some more energetic actions - like an exhilarating horse ride, a quaint lawn tennis tournament in the shade, a grand banquet or even a masquerade ball as a guest of the Governor General. At least once for a few days 'The Great White Hunter' guided by local tribesmen set out in pursuit of the elusive leopard, wild boar and spotted deer.

Jan 2003. Matheran is still the favoured holiday destination. From Mumbai you motor down to Dasturi (approx 2 hours). Matheran is still off limits to motor vehicles. Diesel locomotives have replaced the quaint steam engines on the railway (though once in a way, special journeys that revive nostalgia of the olden days is arranged). Holidays that once stretched to a month is now compressed to a few hurried days. Vibrant, raucous and bursting to capacity during season time, Matheran gets quiet and peaceful during low season. Yet, through all this, you could close your eyes and be transported to the 1900s when life was slow moving, quiet and an absolute bliss.

Jan 2030. The State Government in conjunction with the Supreme Court has ensured that Matheran still stays free of vehicular intrusion. Moreover, strict forest laws and zoning restrictions go a long way in maintaining Matheran's delicate ecological balance. At the Lord's Central hotel you still encounter hospitality steeped in a hundred years of tradition. You can still enjoy a lovely morning walk on a deserted forest trail, breathe in great lungful of the only unpolluted air left within a million miles, hear the birds twittering, stare for hours at the clear blue skies and listen to silence. In other words, experience true bliss.