Karjat Fireflies Festival 2024 By Mischief Treks

Welcome to the secluded haven of Karjat, a hidden gem nestled in nature's embrace, where an exclusive fireflies camping experience awaits. Located away from the crowds, Karjat offers a serene and untouched landscape that sets the stage for a truly magical encounter with fireflies. As night descends upon this tranquil destination, the forest comes alive with the twinkling dance of these enchanting creatures, creating a symphony of flickering lights that illuminates the surroundings. Prepare to be captivated by the intimate charm of Karjat as you immerse yourself in the serenity of this noncrowded sanctuary and witness the mesmerizing spectacle of fireflies in their natural habitat.

• Category: Fireflies Camping 
• Duration: Overnight Camping Suitable for people of all age group, No Trek
• Date: 18-May2024, 25-May-2024, 01-Jun-2024, 08-Jun-2024, 15-Jun-2024, and 22-Jun-2024

Travel Options for Karjat Fireflies Festival:

⚠️ The charges mentioned below are "Base Price" for booking at least 20 days in advance. Charges for booking less than 20 days prior to event date will be higher. Kindly click on "Buy Now" button to check the dynamic pricing applicable for a given date.  

1. You can reach the campsite in your own vehicle. We will be sharing GPS locations and directions/instructions on the WhatsApp group. Camping fees with this option will be Rs. 1750 per person
2. Camping & Pickup/Drop from Camping & Pickup/Drop from Neral Railway Station included. Pickup/Drop Time: 6:08 pm Neral. Next day 9:00 am pickup from Campsite. Camping fees with this option will be Rs. 2200 per person
3. Kids Charges: For Kids Camping Charges without pickup are Rs. 750 and with Pickup from Neral are Rs. 1300

⚠️ Booking closes once slots are sold out.

⚠️ Eligibility Condition:

If you wish to apply for being part of our group during Fireflies Festival, you need to "Read" and "Understand" the Details, FAQ's, Inclusions, Important Note, About-us, etc... 

Do not book this event if the details mentioned are not agreeable to you, or if you do not have time to read and be aware of what you are signing up for.

DETAILED ITINERARY - Karjat Camping - Fireflies Festival

Timeline of the event.

Option 1: Those coming by own vehicle need to reach the meeting point Karjat, before 18.10 pm and follow our vehicles till camping location. If you wish to reach the camping location directly you can sync your timing with the group movement occurring at the same time and reach the campsite at 7:30pm

Option 2 : Those who have opted for pick up and drop from Neral Local train station need to board Karjat Local Train local train at these timings from a station nearest to you.

Train For Karjat Fireflies Festival Camping

Catch the Neral Local train from the station nearest to you

Train timings:

• CSMT : 16:30 pm
• Byculla: 16:37 pm
• Dadar: 16:43 pm
• Kurla: 16:50 pm
• Ghatkopar: 16:54 pm
• Mulund: 17:06 pm
• Thane: 17:10 pm
• Dombivali: 17:25 pm
• Kalyan: 17:34 pm
• Neral: 18:08 pm

Once the train reaches the station local jeeps will be waiting outside the station to take you to the campsite.

Schedule for Karjat Fireflies Festival

• The train is expected to reach Neral station at 18:08 hrs. Once the Train reaches the event leader from Mischief Treks will meet you at the station and the group will move out and take the transport vehicle by 18:40 pm.
• The event leader will reach the campsite along with train participants around 07:30 pm. We shall then have a short introduction once everyone has gathered at campsite. Tent allocation will be done after the the introduction session.
• You can freshen up, rest well, in your tents. Dinner will be ready around 08:30 to 08:45 pm. 
• We shall then leave to spot Fireflies, we will be walking through the dense forest region. Generally the spotting can be done with plain walk of 15 min from campsite, but depending on where the fireflies will be at that date and time, we may have to walk for 30 min to spot the fireflies. During this forest walk, we will spend ample time watching fireflies.
• People can opt to stay back at the fireflies spot as long as they want or join us back to campsite for a round of Antakshari and other exciting games.
• We'll have breakfast around 08:00 am. Post breakfast we can head out for Station around 8:30am and get back home
• Coordination: Three hours prior to the event date and time, we will be creating a WhatsApp group for coordination purposes, coordinator contact, etc will be shared in the group. 

INCLUSIONS/EXCLUSIONS

What is included in the tour

• Pickup and drop from Neral station (if Opted for)
• Tent stay at the base.
• Dinner (pure veg)
• Breakfast and Tea
• Govt / Local Body Charges as applicable
• Expertise charges
• Basic First Aid

What is NOT included in the tour

• Mineral water/lime water/ purchased for personal consumption and any kind of personal expenses.
• Any kind of cost which is not mentioned in the cost includes above.
• All expenses incurred due to unforeseen and unavoidable circumstances like roadblocks, bad weather.
• Any medical / Emergency evacuations if required.

Things to Carry

1. Identity proof.
2. Good and reliable trekking shoes and extra pair of floaters.
3. Water (minimum 2 Ltrs) Compulsory.
4. Torch with extra batteries - do not depend on the phone. 
5. Keep your phone fully charged.
6. Mosquito repellent (optional)
7. A bedsheet or Turkish towel to lay down and rest or you may carry a sleeping bag.
8. Some ready-to-eat food like biscuits, plum cake, etc to keep your tummy happy.
9. Medicines (if you need any), Glucon D / Electrol / Enerzyl Powder (We will have a basic first aid kit with us).
10. A haversack to put all your things. Your hands need to be free while trekking.

Points to Note and FAQ's regarding Fireflies Festival Karjat

Following are the frequently asked questions regarding Karjat Fireflies Festival - Camping 

Q: I have booked/paid for the event, is my booking confirmed for Karjat Fireflies Festival? 

Ans. No !, your booking can become invalid if you do not submit the "Most Important Details" required for emergency situations. For any Trek/Adventure event the organizers need to have your details at least 24 hours prior to the event. We do not allow anyone to the campsite until we have complete and authentic details of the person. This info is crucial in case of an emergency and is a mandatory KYC parameter. The link for the "personal details form" will be sent on WhatsApp immediately after you complete the booking instructions mentioned on the website. Submitting incomplete/incorrect/fake details in the form will make your booking invalid and no refund will be provided in such case.

Q. Why is submitting emergency contact details and KYC information mandatory?

Ans. Its a standard protocol and also a guideline by Govt of India. We are accountable for every "Human-Body" present at our campsite or trek is our responsibility and in case of any unfortunate event we will be asked by authorities to provide all relevant information about you. In order to comply with the authorities we have to take authentic information from you. Fake/Incomplete information or non-submission of the details will make your ticket (paid amount) invalid and no refund will be provided in such case. You will not be allowed to participate in the event.      

Q. Does the cancellation policy/rescheduling policy apply to me if I book on event day or last day?

Ans: Yes, the policy is applicable irrespective of the booking date. The cancellation / reschedule policy is applicable to everyone with immediate effect from the date and time of booking. The refunds/rescheduling requests will be processed based on the date and time of cancellation/reschedule request sent to us and the date and time of booking the event are irrelevant. 

Q. What is the basis of cancellation/reschedule policy in case of medical or personal emergency of participant or organizing team?

Ans: The cancellation policy is based on fairness towards the participant and the organizing team. In case of medical/personal emergency, the loss arising out of cancellation/reschedule will be borne by the respective person. i.e. if the organizing team faces an emergency situation and the event gets canceled, the participant will not have to suffer financial loss. Similarly, if the participant faces an emergency situation, the organizing team will not have to suffer financial loss. The cancellation policy is designed with a completely unbiased approach towards the participant and organizing team and is aimed at fairness towards both.

Q. We are coming by our own vehicle for the event, where should we reach for the Karjat fireflies festival?

Ans. You need to reach Karjat Station at the scheduled meeting time, from here you can follow our vehicles. After this point cellphone network coverage is bad and our team wont be contactable. You will be given exact coordinates after you finish booking formalities. 

Q. How do we get in touch after reaching the meeting point for Karjat Fireflies Festival? 

Ans. We will be creating a WhatsApp group for coordination where you will be provided all the necessary information regarding the contact person, exact point to meet, etc..

Q. How many people will share the tent OR can we have a separate tent for ourselves?

Ans. We have tents of 3 different size. 3/4/5 person capacity tents, you can choose from any of these as per the number of persons coming along with you (depending on availability). Tent size is as per standard international norms for tents. The 3 person tent has dimensions of 200 x 200 x 130 cm. The 4 person tent has dimensions 220 x 250 x 150cm. Igatpuri Fireflies is not a luxury camping event. A Basic tent setup will be provided for shelter. 

Q. What is provided in meals at Karjat Fireflies Festival? 

Ans. Meal will consist of veg and nonveg options. rice, chapati, daal, seasonal veg, salad, Chicken curry.

Q. How many people will be at coming for Karjat Fireflies Festival Camping?

Ans. Depends on the number of people booking the event. Generally, the batch size is approximately 25-35 participants. Igatpuri is a Public place and we have no access to data on other organizers' bookings hence we cannot comment on the exact number of people planning to visit this place on a given date. 

Q. Is Karjat Fireflies Festival safe for solo participants? 

Ans. Yes Karjat Fireflies Festival is safe for solo participants, mostly 30% of participants come up solo and blend in. 

Q. Is Karjat Fireflies Festival safe for girls? 

Ans. Yes Karjat Fireflies Festival is safe for girls, Mischief Treks has a track record of making our trekking and camping events extremely safe for girls and boys both. Normally 60 – 75 % of our participants are females.

Q. How should I book the Karjat Fireflies Festival event?

Ans. All you have to do is press the book now button on this page and follow the instructions.

Q. Does the Karjat Campsite have a washroom facility?

Ans. We have washroom available at 3 min walking distance. This is a basic workable washroom in a forest area of the village, it's clean and usable until people reach, beyond that, it purely depends on the participants on how they use it. It won't be like the ones you find in hotels or restaurants. This is a village and the village washroom is in line with the village people. 

Q. Can I bring my Kid along? 

Ans. Age does not matter, Fitness and adaptability is extremely important. Once we had a 4-year-old girl who completed the entire event easily, and sometimes even 22-25 year old people cant complete 10% of the event. It purely depends on how fit the kids are and how they have been raised. One of our 3-year-old nieces can do all the fireflies locations easily, but my 16-year-old cousin can't even dare to think of going to any of the events listed on our website. His parents have raised him in such a way that now he is incapable of being in nature.

Q. Is Parking available at Karjat Fireflies campsite location?

Ans. No, Official parking lot is not available at the Karjat Fireflies camping location. There is a open space where people park their vehicles. You may choose to park your vehicle at the given location at your own risk. Till date we have not encountered any issues related to parking. 

Q. Do fireflies bite? 

Ans. Unlike many other insects, fireflies give off a friendly vibe. They don't bite, they have no pincers, they don't attack, they don't carry disease, they are not poisonous, and they don't even fly very fast.  

Q. Will the Fireflies event be canceled if it rains?

Ans. As you are already aware that June is a rainy-season month and the fireflies events are organized in this month with a clear understanding that it may rain. The Fireflies event will not be canceled. Refer Points to Note section above for further clarification 

Q. What time of year do fireflies appear?   

Ans. In India, Fireflies start appearing during May-end and are visible till June.

Q. Can fireflies hurt me?  

Ans. Fireflies do contain toxins, But they are harmless to humans unless eaten in massive quantities. 

Q. Are fireflies safe?    

Ans. Fireflies can be poisonous. When predators attack, they start “reflex bleeding,” and produce drops of blood filled with nasty chemicals that are poisonous to lizards and birds. They're not great for humans, either, so don't try eating them!       

Q. Why do Fireflies glow?  

Ans. The light that the firefly produces is a chemical reaction caused by an organic compound in their abdomens. The compound is called luciferin. As air rushes into a firefly's abdomen, it reacts with luciferin. It causes a chemical reaction that gives off the firefly its glow. They don't use 'Fair and lovely' or 'Glow and lovely'. 

Q. Where are fireflies found?    

Ans. Fireflies are found in temperate and tropical regions on every continent. They are most commonly seen on summer evenings.    

Q. Are Fireflies decreasing in India?  

Ans.  In India, there are only about 7-8 species of fireflies left; there are more than 2,000 species across the world. So you can say that fireflies are decreasing in India.   

Q. What time do Fireflies come out at night?

Ans. Fireflies are visible all night, they are most numerous between the hours of midnight and 1 a.m. If it is pouring, they will not appear. Even if you don't see fireflies after the sun rises, they're still lurking in the tall grasses.  

Q. Do fireflies make noise?  

Ans. No, the fireflies produce a sound by moving their wings, and the fireflies themselves can't hear this frequency.     

Q. Can fireflies be in rain?

Ans. Yes, Fireflies can be in rain, the air temperature and rainfall play a huge role when they emerge. Since they feed on snails, slugs, and pillbugs, which are brought out by the rain and moist environment, fireflies like the muggy weather.      

Q. Why do fireflies glow at only at night?

Ans. Fireflies mostly only glow at night because that's when the males are trying to get the attention of female fireflies.

Q. Are there fireflies in India?

Ans. There are eight firefly species in India, and they are the most abundant in the humid forests of the Sahyadri area, part of the Western Ghats mountain range. 

Q. When can we see fireflies in India?

Ans. Ideally, the best time to watch these fireflies in India is during the pre-monsoon months of May and June. Particularly during the first two weeks of June because it is the peak mating season for fireflies.

Q. Why are fireflies disappearing in India?

Ans. Habitat loss, light pollution from artificial night lights, and pesticides are considered to be the biggest threats to the firefly population in India and around the world.   

Q. Are fireflies extinct in India?

Ans. In India, there are only about 7-8 species of fireflies left; there are more than 2,000 species across the world. So you can say that fireflies are decreasing in India. They aren't extinct yet but if we don't take care of our environment one day they surely will go extinct.

Q. Where can I see fireflies near Mumbai/Pune/Nashik?

Ans. The fireflies are generally found in Lonavala, Igatpuri, Bhandardara, Prabalmachi, and Purushwadi villages. If you live in or nearby these areas, you can easily watch them. Fireflies festival Maharashtra is a seasonal event.

Q. Which locations are available for booking Fireflies Festival 2024?

Ans. Out of the several locations for fireflies festival we have handpicked few best ones as mentioned below.

Best Fireflies Festival Camping Locations in Maharashtra

• Bhandardara Fireflies Festival
• Igatpuri Fireflies Festival
• Rajmachi Fireflies Festival
• Kothaligad Fireflies Festival
• Secret Location Fireflies Festival
• Karjat Fireflies Festival
• Prabalmachi Fireflies Festival 

Do not book this event without reading and understanding the event details on this page.