Maharashtra's Matheran Hill Station To Remain Shut For Tourism As Local Protests Escalate — Details Here
Matheran is known for its mild climate and colonial architecture. It attracts many tourists for its popular spots like Panorama Point, which is known for its breathtaking views of the Western Ghats.
Matheran, a popular tourist destination in Mahrashtra's Raigad district, has been shut indefinitely starting Tuesday to curb scams targeting tourists in the area. The aggressive move by the agitated 'Matheran Bachao Sangharsh Samiti' follows reports of increasing tourist fraud, particularly at Dasturi Naka.
According to a report by NDTV Marathi, Dasturi Naka is the point where the entry fee for Matheran is collected. Here, the tourists were reportedly being misled and exploited financially. The move has been supported by the hotel industry as well as the e-rickshaw association. Authorities have scheduled a stakeholder meeting for Wednesday, Times of India reported.
What Caused The Matheran Shutdown?
Locals argued that the increasing fraud incidents have hurt their livelihoods. Various types of scams were being reported in the hill station, including restricting the tourists’ direct access to the main area. They are being misled and forced into using different points instead of a direct entry to the village. The report also highlighted cases where tourists were given false information and subjected to excessive money extortion.
These include false reports regarding the unavailability of mini trains and e-rickshaws being the only mode of transportation available. Subsequently, tourists were forced to use alternative means of transport such as horse rides, which came at exorbitant costs.
In view of the incident, locals are seeking a restriction on the entry of horse riders, porters, room agents, or rickshaw drivers in the internal areas of Dasturi Naka. The committee has also sought the installation of information boards and CCTV cameras to curb fraud incidents. This demand was also raised earlier in February but remained unfulfilled.
Locals also said that if these demands were not met, they would continue with an indefinite shutdown of Matheran. The shutdown call was taken following the unsuccessful resolution of the complaints made to authorities by the locals.
With the ban on tourist entry, the upcoming weekend is expected to remain quiet.
Matheran is known for its mild climate and colonial architecture. It attracts many tourists for its popular spots like Panorama Point, which is known for its breathtaking views of the Western Ghats. The site also offers scenic views of waterfalls and the ancient Prabal Fort.
