Matheran is reached by Neral-Matheran Mountain Railway narrow-gauge toy train from Neral Junction, a journey of approximately two hours through specific Western Ghats forest and laterite hill approach of considerable scenic quality. Neral Junction is reached from Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus by Central Railway local train or express approximately one hour fifteen minutes, making Matheran accessible from Mumbai as same-day or overnight hill station programme without domestic flight requirement. Advance toy train ticket booking through Indian Railways website or IRCTC platform produces confirmed seating on specific departures that peak Mumbai holiday weekend walk-up purchase at Neral station occasionally cannot accommodate due to limited narrow-gauge capacity.
Alternatively Matheran is accessible from Dasturi Naka entry gate by foot approximately two kilometres through forest approach, by horse, or the toy train for guests preferring to walk the forest approach rather than train the full distance. This specific on-foot entry through Western Ghats forest produces specific Matheran arrival experience of considerable atmospheric pleasure that toy train arrival does not replicate with equivalent forest immersion quality. Guests arriving by own vehicle from Mumbai park at Dasturi Naka car park before completing the Matheran entry on foot or horse, and property staff can advise regarding current car park arrangement and current horse operator at gate based on regular guest arrival coordination experience.
From Pune approximately one hundred twenty kilometres east via Expressway and then Khopoli and Neral approach, road connection to Neral requires approximately two to two and half hours making Matheran accessible as Pune weekend hill station programme without Mumbai transit requirement. Guests doing comprehensive Maharashtra hill station circuit incorporating Lonavala and Khandala with Matheran car-free programme find Matheran's specific automobile-free format produces categorically different hill station experience that Western Ghats circuit completion specifically warrants as dedicated programme element rather than brief transit comparison.
Getting around Matheran from Preeti Hotel is entirely on foot for all viewpoint, lake, and bazaar programme within comfortable walking radius, and by horse or hand-pulled rickshaw for guests whose physical programme requires assisted transport for specific trail distances. No motorized transport exists within Matheran whatsoever. Staff can advise regarding currently reliable local horse and rickshaw operator contact and approximate current fare reference enabling confident independent hill station programme management from first arrival day without logistics overhead that arriving without this local operational intelligence occasionally produces.