From Wikipedia,
It is best known as a railroad junction, with trains arriving from Mumbai and from Pune, India. to the nearby and very popular hill station of Matheran. A narrow-gauge rail line, 21 km long, ("toy train") runs from Neral to Matheran. Nearest major towns are Badlapur & Karjat
The heavy rains on 26 July 2005 ruined the rail tracks and it had stopped operating,but the train has succ
essfully started operating from 5 March 2007. The other option available to reach Matheran is to take a taxi to a certain point (called dasturi naka) just before Matheran city boundary, beyond which one may proceed only on foot or on horseback. Geography - Neral is located at +19° 1' 38.65", +73° 19' 6.41" . It has an average elevation of 40 metres (131 feet). Demographics - As of 2001 India census, Neral had a population of 14,739. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Neral has an average literacy rate of 70%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 76%, and female literacy is 64%. In Neral, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age. How To Reach Neral -
By Railway -
from Mumabai
Its on Central Railway Mumbai - Pune Railway line. It's the 31st Station station from Mumabi CST and at 84 Km. The Matheran Toy Trains are departed from Neral station. By Roadway -
from Mumbai
Mumbai-sion --> Vashi Bridge(Thane --> Airoli bridge) --> Konkan Bhavan --> kalamboli --> Take Express way --> Exit at shedung/khopoli(within 10 mins) --> Old highway --> Towards khopoli --> about 10 mins(aprox 12 KM) --> Karjat Phata --> Turn left(8 KM to Karjat) --> Left turn(14 KM)to neral --> Enter Neral
from Pune
Pune-Express way --> Take non toll exit (At centre of Ghat) to Khopoli --> Old Highway to Mumbai --> Aprox 15 KM to Karjat Phata/Hal Phata --> Right turn to Karjat(8 KM) --> Turn Left To Neral --> (Apxox 14 KM) --> Enter Neral
