The classic approach is by the Matheran Hill Railway, a UNESCO-listed narrow-gauge line from Neral. Neral is on the Mumbai–Pune mainline, easily reached from Mumbai CST (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus) in about 1.5 hours by local train. From Neral, the toy train climbs 21 km of tight curves and cliff-edge track to the Matheran station in just over two hours — slow, scenic, and thoroughly enjoyable. Check the current timetable before going as services are limited and the line is occasionally closed for maintenance.
Taxis and shared jeeps run from Neral to the car park at Dasturi, at the edge of the vehicle-free zone. From there it's a 15-minute walk or horse/hand-cart ride to town. The drive takes 20–30 minutes. A private taxi from Neral costs around ₹600–800 (prices change — confirm locally). From Mumbai, some tour operators run minibus day trips that include the train ride.