Matheran - monsoon day trips to wildflower country

  Matheran, Mahārāshtra, India
Friday, November 13, 2009

For all my wildflower photos from Matheran with proper labels, tags and descriptions, please see
http://www.flickr.com/groups/floraofmatheran/pool/

Matheran is a wildflower lovers paradise.  For anyone in Mumbai wanting a few hours walk through forested trails without travelling too far, it is an easy day trip especially if you take your own vehicle.  If you stay a couple of days, you can explore even more, for there are different species of flora in different areas of Matheran.

We have been 8 times so far in 2009, day trips on 18 July, 8 August, an overnight trip on 29-30 August, another day trip on 6 September , again on 8 October, 17 October [Deepavali], 24 October  and 7 November. 

On all the trips we were well rewarded with sightings of pretty, unusual wild flora not easily seen elsewhere.  This year the monsoons have virtually failed and even though there is always some rain in Matheran due to it peculiar location i.e. a range of mountains just waiting to trap rain clouds coming in from the Arabian sea; the flowering habits of wild flora are not at their usual times. 

Here are some photos from the  grasslands of Mt Barry plateau, Governors Hill or Wireless Hill as it is also known, and the eastern and western trails to Panorama Point.  Some more added from Garbut Point on the 29-30 August trip; and even more from the visit to Mt Barry and Governor's Hill on 6 September when we had to cut the trip short due to torrential, incessant rain.   More from Mt Barry and Governors Hill grasslands and Panorama Point on 8 October, 17th and 24th October. On the last 3 trips, it was dry, the grasses slowly turning from green to gold and eventually they will be a russet red in November before they dry out completely.

Mountain view

  

View of Gadeshwar Lake

Begonia crenata

 

Malaxi rheedi ground orchids

View en route to Matheran

  

View en route to Matheran 1

Eria Reticosa - wild orchid

  

Eria dalzelli orchids 1

Railway trekkers seen from Panorama Point

 

Railway trekkers

Sonerila scapigera - monsoon wildflower

 

Sonerila scapigera again