The Geminids are considered to be one of the most spectacular meteor showers of the year. The individual meteors are bright, and they come fast and furious. It runs from December 4 to 17. The best night for the watching is the one between the 13th and 14th of December.

2020 is a great year for the Geminids viewing. The Moon will be new around this time so it will be possible to spend the entire night watching the Geminids without any interference from our nearest celestial neighbour. The entire night camping in a regenerated forest watching the best meteor shower of this year.

Active: December 4 – 17

Maximum: Post sunset on Dec 13th and Pre sunrise Dec 14th

How to See the Geminids

You don't need any special equipment or a lot of skills to view a meteor shower. Even though all you really need is a clear sky, lots of patience.

• After arrival followed by hike to Sunset Point at Vanvadi Forest. Its a high point secluded from the city lights, with clear view of the sky.
• Dress for the weather, and make sure you are comfortable, carry extra blankets and warm clothes.
• Once you have found your viewing spot, lie down on the ground and look up in the direction of the radiant.
• The Geminids, as their name implies, appear to emanate from the bright constellation Gemini (the twins). In the Southern Hemisphere, Gemini appears to the lower right of Orion.

Vanvadi Forest Camping:

"From harvesting rain and reviving wells to showcasing the tribal ‘flavours of the forest’, Vanvadi Forest is far more than a digital detox destination." - ANGARIKA GOGOI, TheBetterIndia.com

Camp in the regenerated Vanvadi forest nestled in the foothills of the Sahyadris - Western Ghats. A biodiversity hotspot that is home to over 120+ traditionally useful plant species (including 54 forest food species) and a host of birds, reptiles, amphibians, arachnids, and crabs. 64 acres of gently undulating land with brimming water bodies and seasonal streams flowing during monsoon. Take a forest food walk with Adivasi forest protectors and then watch the sunset over a forest while swimming in an 18 feet deep Rockpool. Spend the night camping in a moonlit forest under the stars. Explore the forest at night or go birdwatching at dawn. Find and eat forest foods. Explore the Vanvadi Natural Farm and Kitchen Garden located within the forest.

Itinerary 

Day 1 -

2 pm to 4 pm - Arrival: Arrive at the Vanvadi Community House and relax. Explore the forest, take a forest food walk (requires prior notice and subject to availability of Adivasi guides), swim in the Rock Pool, have some snacks and sip on Vanvadi Chai. While campers are welcome to come in early on the first day, they need to be present at the Community House by 4pm 

4 pm - 6 pm - Hike to Campsite: 20-25 minute hike through the forest to Sunset Point Campsite. Watch the sunset over Matheran Range.

Set up camp, tents, and bonfire. 

7 pm - 8 pm - Campsite: Enjoy dinner and campsite company by the bonfire. Campsite social interaction session. Camp story exchange after dinner. If you play any musical instrument bring it along.

All Night Long: View the Geminids Meteor shower streaking through the night sky from the campsite.

Day 2 -

6 am to 7:30 am - Early morning activities at Campsite: Meditation, Bird watching (Guide availability is subject to prior intimation), Explore the forest.

7:30 am to 8:30 am - Breakfast at Campsite

8:30 am to 9 am - Dismantle Campsite and head to Vanvadi Community house 

9 am to 11 am - Departure

For more information and registration details whatsapp: 08452855203

Stay

Vanvadi Forest is not a typical commercial campsite. We believe in the principles of self-reliance and sustainable living. Campers usually help carry the tents, supplies etc from the Vanvadi Community House to the campsite. Campers are also expected to help with setting up the camp and bonfire. We also expect all campers to leave no waste behind anywhere, except organic/ wet waste. 

• Camping tents are on a double sharing basis.
• Campers can choose to sleep in sleeping bags under the stars at the campsite
• If you play a musical instrument you are welcome to carry and play it 
• We have no grid electricity and depend on a small solar panel. 
• Cellular network is highly unreliable in the forest. We have particular network zones where Vi network and Jio function fairly well 
• Your safety is our concern, but the responsibility of looking after yourself is yours 
• Only the use of eco-friendly products is allowed. Chemical-based soaps, toothpaste, etc are to be strictly avoided
• Plastic waste is strictly prohibited, please carry all dry waste back to the city with you. 
• The Community House has two Indian style and two western-style toilets and one bathroom. The Campsite itself has no built toilets. 
• Smoking is to be avoided in all Forest Zones, as there is high risk of forest fires post monsoon to summer end

Meal

• Vegetarian food (Campers are welcome to carry their own non-vegetarian food to camp. Campers are also welcome to carry their own food and request a food cost rebate on the camping trip as well. Just do inform well in advance for this)
• Snacks and Tea at Community House
• Forest Foods (Subject to availability)
• Dinner first day  
• Breakfast second day 

Activities

• Swim in 18 feet rock pool (Before mid-December 2020) 
• Forest Walks 
• Forest Night camping in tents
• Sleep under the stars
• Forest Food Walk (Subject to prior notice and availability of Adivasi guides) 
• Camp Social Sessions 
• Morning meditation (Subject to interest) 
• Explore the forest at Night 
• Visit Natural Farm in the forest (Subject to interest) 
• Explore and learn about the Rainwater harvesting system (Subject to prior notice and availability of guides) 
• Exploring indigenous wildlife and species of the forest 
• Board games

Other Inclusions

• Filtered water from Vanvadi well 
• Camping tent equipment
• Sleeping bags 
• Camping equipment

Things to carry

• Change of dry clothes and towel
• ID Proof Compulsory
• Natural/ organic mosquito repellent
• Please carry a bedsheet, towel for yourself 
• Dry Food (snacks)
• Torch/ Candles 
• Personal First Aid Kit
• Extra Clothes and Winter Wear if required
• Camera
• Water Bottle
• Rucksack

Advisory and Terms and Conditions

• Campers are expected to sign a declaration stating:
• 1) In recognition of the inherent risks of the camp in which I will engage, I confirm that I am physically and mentally capable of participating in the activity. My participation is voluntary and I will assume financial and ethical responsibility for personal injury, accidents, illness, and damage to or loss of personal property as the result of any incident or accident that may occur.
• 2) I confirm that: (i) I have not had fever and cough/cold or any breathing problem in the past one month; nor have I been in contact/proximity for the past month with anyone who has tested positive for Covid. (ii) I undertake full responsibility for my/our health and safety at Vanvadi. (iii) I shall respect the place and the people; and shall carry back any plastics/city litter. 

Getting to Vanvadi Forest

Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/96HpCq3HPF3kbowh6

By Car:

From Karjat, we recommend that you cross the bridge over Ulhas river and take the Karjat- Murbad Road.

At Kashele, turn left towards village Vare/Ware. After driving 7-8 km, you will pass a multi-colored temple on your right.

Then just before Vare village, you will see a hand-pump on your left, and a kutcha road just beside it. There is a little sign indicating where you need to get off the main highway. It reads Vanvadi Forest with an arrow. Turn left here, and drive about 1.5 km till you see a small sign that says

(in Hindi) ‘Vruksha Mandir, Vanvadi’.

Drive a little beyond till you cross a culvert, immediately after passing the ‘Whispering Woods’ clearance with a few houses.

Here, on your right, you would see our Vanvadi sign painted on a large, wheel-shaped rock embedded in the ground; also another smaller sign.

Enter and drive a few hundred meters down this earthen track till you see a small gate and spot

our stream-side community house across the large rock pool.

(If you like breakfast and/or clean toilet break on your journey, you could try out ‘Shri Baba Dairy & Saatvik Restaurant’, about 4-5 kms after turning left at Chowk, and 3 kms before reaching Karjat.)

By Train:

The nearest railway station is Neral (of Matheran fame) on the Central Railway, and all the

Karjat bound local trains from Mumbai stop here. At Neral station, exit from the extreme rear end of the platform (closer to Mumbai), and walk 5 minutes towards the Neral bus stand. Just before the bus stand, you will find the parking lot for the auto-drivers from Devpada village, who all know Vanvadi well, and would charge Rs 250 to bring you (maximum 4 people) right into our Vanvadi forest, close to our community house.

About Vanvadi Forest Eco-versity Association (VanFEVA)

Vanvadi is a non-profit forest collective near Neral in Maharashtra, located almost 2.5 hours away from Mumbai. The collective comprises people across different professions, Adivasis from Chinchwadi, and volunteers who have over the last 26 years revived a 65-acre piece of land into a beautiful forest called Vanvadi forest. Today the forest has over 1 lakh trees and 90% tree cover. 

The numerous ecological services rendered by Vanvadi over the years have significantly benefited surrounding villages, villagers and the local eco-system, particularly enhancing the groundwater regime and water security of the surrounding down-stream area; and also as a low-cost model of ecological forest and biodiversity regeneration.

Over the years, Vanvadi has conducted and hosted a number of events, activities, workshops and gatherings, particularly of an ecological and educational nature, earning considerable appreciative recognition and encouraging media coverage.

We envision an organically evolving eco-versity and community, where people can collaboratively learn while supporting and helping each other in symbiotic harmony like the forest around us. Vanvadi is an ideal place to interact with the natural elements – earth, water, air, sun, sky.