Dune Barr House - Verandah in the Forest

This is a historically important location in Matheran.  Ratheesh and his business partner were so welcoming and helpful and the accommodation is so full of character. For a truly “green” and unique stay in a totally unique location, the Verandah in the Forest is absolutely a must. This is undoubtedly the place to stay in Matheran if you can get a room - would suggest booking early so as not to miss the chance to stay here - and is so much more than a hotel. Food was superb and because of the size and layout, never seemed busy. Quiet and relaxing stay.  As there’s no phone signal in Matheran Hill Station I’d suggest contacting Ratheesh before making the ascent to the hill station for location instructions. There is wi-fi at the Verandah in the Forest. 

Dune Barr House is a real gem! Management and staff do their best to let the guest feel like king or queen. All the interior, decoration, etc are exquisite and tasteful. This wonderful place was one of the highlights of my journey through India!

We made a last minute plan to visit Matheran recently. Browsing through various options, Verandah in the forest looked promising. Since options at other places were limited, we decided to enquire and book without doing much research. Booking was done through Dune and was smooth. Immediately afterwards we got a message from Dune with details on reaching Matheran, the property, how to move around in Matheran ***** with a map of the place. This was quite helpful. Few days before our check in we got a call and message from Ratheesh, manager of the property (and one half of R&R). He again explained about the place, property, best time to arrive, what to carry as per weather, etc. Again, very helpful. The property is secluded, bit far from the market but quite close to Charlotte lake. Some of the viewing points like Echo point and Louisia point are relatively closer to this property. We stayed in Kotwal. The room was spacious and clean. The property, which is a colonial bunglow, actually has an old world charm. Given the age of the property, it is very well maintained. Food orders are taken in advance. However, food is tasty. We got a few recommendations and they were well made. Would recommend bhindi fry, veg pizza, pasta and ice cream (made in house). Couple of hours into our check in, we were greeted by Rekha (second half of R&R). Shes full of energy and was a real help in suggesting places to visit. She also gave us insights into the history of the property and shared anecdotes about her experiences in Matheran. All the staff were welcoming and helpful. Would like to thank R&R for making our stay memorable. We would visit again, in a different season. Would highly recommend.