People travel in search of adventure, places, culture, religion, cuisine and so much more; and then, you have Purushwadi. A place that attracts those in search of some good, old-world charm, for it has swarms of fireflies coming in. Yes, you read that right; this tiny village in Maharashtra, at a drive of some four hours from Mumbai, is the stuff that all good dreams are made of. So much so that Purushwadi also plays host to a Fireflies Festival every year, right when the monsoons are about to hit India.
If you have a taste for surreal, Purushwadi is an ideal getaway from both Pune and Mumbai. A sliver of a place, it attracts fireflies to its lush green areas; especially before the monsoons when the mating season for the species in on then. The fact makes May-June the best time to visit Purushwadi, especially if the place has seen a light rain shower or two, and if you do not mind getting drenched in sudden bursts of rains. Do remember that a heavier rain burst ends up in killing the species and you might miss on the extravaganza; so yes, go before the actual Maharashtra monsoons hit.
Expect a stunning show, like nothing that you would have ever seen, for there are more than 2000 species of fireflies that put on their mating lights in May-June! Get ready to trot around the village lanes, and see them come alive with warm lights from thousands of fireflies, as the night gets darker.
While there, you can binge on some really delectable Marathi cuisine. And believe us, there is nothing fresher and more delicious than a fresh serving of puran poli, or a plate of piping hot pav-bhaji. Purushwadi has a few camps that are open to tourists, and while the village has no luxury resorts yet, a night or two in one of the camps or homestays will be an experience to remember.
