Garbett Plateau Trek near Matheran

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Garbett Plateau?
It's on the edge of Matheran, above Bhivpuri Road, in the Karjat region of Raigad district, Maharashtra. The trek starts at Bhivpuri Road station and ends at Dasturi Naka in Matheran.

How high is Garbett Plateau?
Garbett Point, the high tip of the plateau, is about 2,200 ft (670 m) above sea level. The plateau itself is a little lower, at roughly 1,600–1,900 ft. The trek ends at Dasturi Naka, at about 2,300 ft (700 m). From the top you get wide views over the Bhivpuri and Karjat valleys.

How difficult is the trek?
It's medium grade. Nothing on it is technical, but it's long: about 10.5 km with roughly 2,300 ft of climbing, and most of it happens in the dark. Some stretches are steep and exposed. You'll need reasonable fitness, good trekking shoes and a torch or headlamp.

How long does the trek take?
About 6 hours of walking, or 8 hours including the sunrise break. We start walking at 1:35 am, reach the plateau around 5:00 am and reach Garbett Point by 7:45 am. We finish at Dasturi Naka around 9:30 am.

How far is Bhivpuri Road from Mumbai and Pune?
It's about 85 km from Mumbai, or about 2 hr 10 min by local train from CSMT. From Pune it's about 110 km, or around 3 hours by road.

How do I get to the start?
Take the CSMT–Khopoli slow local listed in the itinerary. You can board at any station on the route. Get off at Bhivpuri Road, where the trek leader will meet you near the ticket counter. The trek ends at Dasturi Naka, and a shared taxi from there takes you to Neral station for your train home.

Is this a night trek?
Yes. This batch is a night and sunrise trek, and it runs in winter and summer. Clear skies at that time of year give you starry nights and sunrise views from the plateau. In the monsoon (June to September), we run Garbett as a day trek.

When is the best time to do the Garbett trek?
It depends on the season. The trail has almost no tree cover, so it gets hot in the daytime in winter and summer, and we trek it at night instead. In the monsoon, cloud cover and rain keep the trail cool, so it's the ideal time for a day trek. The waterfalls are flowing then, and the plateau turns green and misty.

Is food available on the trek?
No food is available on the trail or the plateau, and the shops near the station are usually closed when we start at 1 am. Bring snacks from home. We stop for tea before the trek and have breakfast at Neral afterwards.

Is Jain food available?
Yes, a Jain breakfast is available. Mention it in the comments when you book.

Will I get drinking water?
On the way up you pass Sagachiwadi village, where you can refill from the village well. There's no water on the plateau, so start with 2 to 3 litres.

Are there toilets?
Yes, at a restaurant near the start, before the trek begins. There are no toilets on the trail or on the plateau.

Is parking available at Bhivpuri?
Yes. You can park near Bhivpuri Road station at your own risk, and locals may charge a small fee. The trek ends at Neral, so you'll need to go back to Bhivpuri for your car. It's one stop away by local train.

Can children join?
Children under 15 can join with a parent. It's a long night climb with some exposed sections, so it suits older children who've trekked before more than young kids.

Is it safe for solo and female trekkers?
Yes. Many solo women trek with us. Each batch has a male-to-female ratio of about 7:3, and we send a female trek leader whenever one is available.

Is there phone signal on the trek?
Signal is patchy on most networks. There's nowhere to charge your phone, so carry a power bank.

Are smoking, alcohol or music allowed?
No. Smoking, alcohol and drugs are strictly banned, and anyone found with them will be asked to leave. You can't play music on earphones or Bluetooth speakers while trekking.

How do I book and pay?
Book online with the "Book Now" button and pay the full amount upfront by UPI, Google Pay, NEFT, IMPS or the payment gateway. We don't accept cash or payment on the day, because group arrangements are made in advance.

Trail Guide

Garbett Plateau is a wide, grassy tableland on the edge of Matheran. At its tip is Garbett Point, near Dasturi Naka. It's a favourite with hikers from Mumbai, Thane and Pune. The trail has almost no tree cover, so the season decides when we trek it. In the monsoon we run it as a day trek, a cool, misty walk through the clouds past waterfalls and streams. In winter and summer the bare plateau gets too hot by day, so we trek it at night and watch the sunrise from the top.

Getting there
Take the train listed in the itinerary and meet the trek leader near the Bhivpuri Road ticket counter at 12:50 am. Before we set off, you can use the toilets at a restaurant near the start. There are none on the trail. Over tea, the trek leader gives a short briefing, leads a warm-up and gets the group to introduce themselves. We start walking at 1:35 am, so keep your torch or headlamp handy from then on.

The climb to the plateau
There are several trails up Garbett, and we take the Diksal Waterfall (Ashane) route. It passes the Bhivpuri Dam lake, which stays on your right. The path then crosses a few streams and runs along farmland to the Diksal Waterfall. After the waterfall it climbs to Sagachiwadi, a small hillside village where you can rest and refill your water.

Above Sagachiwadi the trail gets steep and crosses open grassland, climbing about 800 ft (250 m). This is the hardest part of the trek. Parts of it are exposed, so take it slowly and stay close to the group. Friendly local dogs often come along and seem to know the trail better than anyone. We reach Garbett Plateau around 5:00 am and rest there until sunrise.

Sunrise and Garbett Point
After the sunrise we cross the plateau and make a short climb of about 330 ft (100 m) to Garbett Point, at about 2,200 ft. On a clear morning you can see the Bhivpuri and Karjat valleys on both sides. This is the highlight of the trek, and we spend about half an hour at the top.

On to Matheran
Two routes lead from Garbett Point to Dasturi Naka. The shorter one runs along an exposed ridge with a sharp drop. The longer, safer one goes through a village inside Matheran. Your trek leader will choose the route on the day. In Matheran, watch your bags: the monkeys grab water bottles and anything hanging off a backpack, so pack everything inside.

Getting home
We reach Dasturi Naka around 9:30 am and take a shared taxi to Neral station, about 30 minutes away. After breakfast at Neral, you can catch your train home to Mumbai or Karjat.