Rajmachi Fireflies Camping ’19

Fireflies near Mumbai Pune

As we await the upcoming monsoon season first showers, we welcome the season of fireflies. Western Ghats jungles will soon twinkle with a small light, and this period is the mating season for fireflies. Enjoy Firefly camping at Rajmachi Village near Lonavala. Fireflies Camping at night covers the forest with small twinkling lights.

Pre-monsoon during May and June months you can spot thousands of fireflies around Mumbai and Pune. Rajmachi Fort Trek and Camping is the best location in Maharashtra to spot firefly. Spot fireflies after sunset around the Udhewadi village. Fireflies are called Kajawa in Marathi.

Drive towards Lonavala (67km)

My best buddy, Sanjay Malusare and I started our drive from Pune at 7 pm and decided to take old Pune Mumbai highway. Weather was pleasant and traffic was fortunately very fewer. We took a break at 8 pm at Bagecha Restaurant to have quick bites.

Our next stop was Malavli Express way over bridge, I had plan to capture light trails from this bridge and when we reach to the over bridge the situation was different. Both side of the bridge was covered with tall hoardings and there was no space to take pictures.

I took out my Camera and Tripod and started capturing but results were not as expected since we didn’t find the place at center of the road. After few minutes I got an idea to raise my tripod and keep over the hoarding and capture the light trail and finally I got what I expected and this was successful capture and we were on time also.

We started at around 9 pm towards Lonavala ST Stand and reached at 9:50 pm and finally met Sumalya Sarkar (Organiser of this camping) he guided us on the next milestone with some landmarks with GPS locations.

Drive towards Rajmachi Village (7 km)

Roads toward this village was very good and we were really enjoying but suddenly after Della Resorts the road disappear and I was driving at speed 5 kmph, full of stones, pot holes, dark forest around. Fortunately other cars of co-campers was with us and we reached to the final parking.

Our local guide and co-organiser Deepak took us to the camp site. We were walking in pitch dark forest with couple torch lights. Finally I can see tents were already setup this was the moment I said worth coming for this camping.

Night Trek and Firefly Shooting

It was 11 pm and we started night trekking, soon we found couple of trees full of Firefly. It was an amazing moment to see them flashing, they were so synchronized all together this view was spectacular and I can’t hold my camera! I started capturing them and it was full “Paisa Vasool”. We walk around 2 kms in the dark jungle in search of Fireflies.

Camera cant capture the real view of Fireflies flash but you can enjoy the moment keep it like memories.

Morning at 2 am we returned back to Camp site and camp-fire was almost ready, we had nice time with the group sharing experiences and telling stories about last trek and adventures. At 3 am I went to bed.

Wakeup with charming voices of birds and amazing view around my tent. On one side huge tall mountain and on other side deep valley with breathtaking view. I did lots of photography standing over the edge of the valley.

Last thing we did was breakfast with group photos, and a nearby family of TUKARAM prepared Poha served with Hot Tea, this was really nice in taste and a good start for the day. We all disburse to our homes and wish to meet in next such trips.

It took 2 hours (83 kms) to reach home, lately I worked on images and wrote this blog.

Thanks Sumalya Sarkar and Deepak for coordinating this camping and entire trip so well, gave enormous time to us for photography and take extra effort so we can capture the best of the camping. Starting from confirming till reaching to the camp site every thing was very smoothly managed. I wish you all the best for your passion and effort spending to get us such beautiful memories.

Highlights of Fireflies Camping ’19

• Popular trek cocooned in the laps of Sahyadri mountain ranges of western ghats
• Shrivardhan Ballekilla stands tall at the height of 2750 feet overlooking the Borghat Pass
• Watch pre-monsoon clouds formation 
• Excellent location for astrophotography after the new moon
• Camping inside the jungle with campfire
• Gratifying home-cooked local food

Firefly Camping Gallery

#FireFlyPhotography #NightCamping #NightTrek #AbhiPhotography #WhatsAbhiDoing

1. 

   Beautiful screenplay!! YES!! I was with you guys on each turn, tasted the tea, enjoyed VENTA, picking up the cow…

2. 

   Great captures and excellent narration Abhi. I got to know about this place after reading your blog. Good work.

3. 

   Great pics and nice narration

4. 

   Abhi, as usual, you come up with new places and write in such a manner that the reader is taken…

5. 

   Thanks a lot!!! Dear, let’s go next time.