Treks around Thane and Mumbai: Garbett Plateau Trek, Neral, Matheran

Garbett Plateau is a vast plateau which is elongated in shape. This plateau is very long and distinct. It can be seen from anywhere from Matheran view points. This plateau has one village amidst the jungles. From this village people come up to Matheran to do business. Garbett has a view point upto which it can be hiked or trekked. From the Garbett view point one can see whole of Garbett plateau till the end.

There are 2 ways to reach the Garbett plateau

1) Either from Matheran (Dasturi Naka) which is a hike walk amidst the jungles. (SHORT WAY) 2.5-3km

2) Trek from Diksal village which is at the base (LONG WAY) 9km

Garbett plateau is known for its green pastures and unique beauty in which it is mostly covered in clouds during monsoon. One side is full of clouds and other side is full clean especially a phenomenon seen during monsoon season.

One can also see many waterfalls, lakes, pastures and dam along the way to Garbett plateau. Garbett plateau overall length is around 2km long and around 50m and its thinnest width. Garbett Plateau elevation is around 550m to 600m above sea level whereas its Garbett viewpoint which is at top is around 730m above sea level.

How to reach Garbett Plateau?

ROUTE 1: HIKE from Dasturi naka in Matheran

There is a route which goes to Garbett Plateau view point from Matheran. There are well marked boards to Garbett point. Usually horses do not go to this point as at places the route is washed and narrow. This is more sort of a hike or walk amidst the jungles. This point is best when walked. Most of the people take this route as it does not involve trekking. It is a straightforward route to the view point and takes less time. It is around 2.5km oneway walk from the Matheran rail tracks to the point.

This walk is the most beautiful in Matheran as it is untouched and the jungles are calm serene with winds blowing by. Mist all over the forest and dense jungles are beautiful here.

The point area above is quite big but since it is occupied and climbed by only trekkers you wont find any refreshment stalls here. This is the beauty of this point. The point offers all 270 view of Garbett Plateau. The point is barricaded like other Matheran points and safety is there.

Garbett Plateau village was once a British village with and the plateau was famous for the quartz crystal which was found abundant and scattered all over the plateau. Now it is a vast grazing pastures for the animals cattles and goats. Another route goes down from the Garbett plateau to a village called Sagachiwadi which is the second base village of Garbett while climbing from Diksal village.

Cattles grazing on Garbett Plateau

Staring at the sea of clouds from Garbett Plateau

Climbing up to the Garbett Point from Garbett Plateau

ROUTE 2: Trek from Diksal Village via Sagachiwadi village and Dhom dam

The full trek from the base Diksal (konkan) till the top is very long and quite an endurance is required.

The total distance of the trek from the base of mountain Diksal is as follows:

1) Diksal village to Garbett Plateau entry - 4.5km

2) Garbett Plateau Entry to Garbett view point - 2km

3) Garbett view point to Matheran tracks - 2.5km

It takes a trek of total 9km right from Diksal village, Neral to Matheran

The route starts from Diksal village. The route shown in above map is the most common one which almost every trekker takes. However there are multiple ways to reach Sagachiwadi as well as there are multiple ways to reach the spur walk from Sagachiwadi as the area is wide open.

The trek route is pretty straightforward. One has to just keep climbing and walking for a total of 9km to reach Matheran tracks or 6.5km till the Garbett view point. It takes quite an endurance and time around 3 to 4 hours casually.

The view from Garbett plateau is excellent and picturesque. Though being close to Matheran Garbett plateau seems out like it is from a different world with utmost peace and tranquil.

Garbett was usually called as Gharbut as its name is local. Gars means quartz in marathi hence this plateau was abundant in Quartz or Gars getting its name as Garbut or later Garbett Plateau. The uniqueness is that there is only one side of the valley densly covered in fog whereas the other side of the valley remains clean most of the time giving it a distinct feature in monsoon.

Garbett village is a group of villages which is away from market and situated on the valley shadow of Garbett hill. The village has rock cuts steps to go down which is mostly weathered out and used by the locals to come up to Matheran to do business. The village is unique as it stands since ancient times.