Alexander Heritage And Rainforest Resort

While not much info about the mansion's history is available, it was built during the Colonial Era, back in 1907. Much like the rest of Matheran, it provided a comfortable retreat for British colonials, particularly those living or working in Bombay, now Mumbai.

Before becoming part of the Alexander Heritage And Rainforest Resort, it was a family home since 1993, though it was already in a state of disrepair. When the new owners decided to restore the mansion, they approached Taral Jadhav, the architect and founder of Do It Up Design. She set about restoring the vintage and historic aspects of the mansion, while also modernizing for safety and comfort. By doing the remodeling in phases, she was able to focus on integrating classical features along with the resort's overall mission of creating a retreat for nature lovers.

Since the manor was built during the early 1900s, it's no surprise that the architectural style follows British Colonial designs while retaining native Indian influences. In its current form, the mansion was able to retain many of its original aspects, such as the window frames, the wooden doors, the verandah, and the front staircase. Architect Taral Jadhav made sure to bring out the property's vintage themes by using period-style fixtures and furnishings like chandeliers, patterned wallpapers, and posh tables and armchairs.

Another notable addition Taral made with her restorations was to give each of the five heritage suites its own identity. The royal suite, for example, takes advantage of its high ceilings and uses chandeliers for lighting. The scarlet chamber, in contrast, uses red and white that pop out with the pale oakwood used for the furnishings.

Alexander Heritage And Rainforest Resort has a notable edge over other establishments in Matheran because of its packages that include four meals per stay. These refer to breakfast, lunch, high tea, and dinner. Meals are served in buffet style, available in continental, vegetarian, and gluten-free cuisine. The resort is particularly well-loved in India's Jain communities due to its pure vegetarian options, which adhere to the Jain lacto-vegetarian diet.

Whether you're a solo traveler or with a group, Alexander Heritage will have plenty of fun prepared for your visit. The resort offers special customized packages and itineraries, which can be matched with your plans and goals while in Matheran.

There are plenty of things to do both during the day and at night. You can try some sports marksmanship with archery or rifle shooting. High teas can be savored amidst the groves of tall trees. For a bit of socializing, you can enjoy an evening of outdoor movie screenings or listening to live music. The resort can also arrange for midnight or sunrise treks to the mountain's many vantage points.

Apart from the resort's offered activities, there are also plenty of interesting things to do in and around Matheran. Matheran's town proper has plenty of local shops where you can shop for souvenirs, and eateries and restaurants serving a variety of cuisines. Aside from hiking your way around the mountain, travelers can also book horse rides as a way of exploring or just getting around. There's also the Matheran Hill Railway, which is one of the "toy train" railway services around the country. Currently, there's a campaign to have it included as part of the Mountain Railways of India UNESCO World Heritage Site.