Fireflies Festival Prabalmachi 2024

Fireflies Festival Prabalmachi 2024

Charges Prabalmachi Fireflies Festival:

Per Person: INR 1200.00
You can reach the campsite parking in your own vehicle. We will be sharing GPS locations and directions/instructions on the WhatsApp.

Kids Charges: Charges are same for all participants of all age groups.

Explanation of charges:
The above charges are per person charges. If you wish to have twin sharing tents, you can opt for this Add-on immediately after making payment by sharing your booking ID with us on WhatsApp.

⚠️ 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.

The above date and time is for reaching the parking lot at base of Prabalmachi.

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. Some ready-to-eat food like biscuits, plum cake, etc to keep your tummy happy.
8. Medicines (if you need any), Glucon D / Electrol / Enerzyl Powder (We will have a basic first aid kit with us).
9. A haversack to put all your things. Your hands need to be free while trekking. 
10. And most imp thing, carry lot of enthusiasm and team spirit.

PLEASE DO NOT BOOK THIS EVENT WITHOUT READING AND UNDERSTANDING THIS

Ground Operations: This event is different than other fireflies locations, at all other Fireflies Festival locations ground operations are managed by Mischief Treks team. Over here the local villagers conduct the event. Once you reach the base parking lot you will be coordinating with the villagers.Mischief Treks only helps the tribal villagers of Prabalmachi with our online booking platform to get bookings for their fireflies event, organised by them.

Tents Stay: A Styrofoam mat will be provided in the tents to keep you comfortable. Tents will be allocated on 3 sharing basis depending on the tent size available at the time of booking. For Twin sharing additional Rs.500 needs to be paid per couple. In case of rains, an attempt will be made to provide shelter in the forest/mountain region. Tents cannot be pitched in rains or if it's windy or the weather for the night is expected to be bad. 

Washroom: Two basic washrooms are available within a walking distance of 3 min. This is a tribal area (aadvasi area) so the washroom is pretty basic.

Rain & Weather: 

Rains are expected to start from the month of June, during initial days the soil soaks up most of the rain water as it has been try for several months, as days pass by, the rain water starts flowing. If it drizzles during the event it wont matter much, the fabric of tent is water resistant. But in case of extremely heavy rains, or stormy weather, the participants need to take shelter at a nearby shed. This Shed is a village home comprising of a hall and two rooms, this shelter is only for protecting from extreme bad conditions and its not a stay-option. This shelter is at a walking distance of 1 min from the campsite. An additional shelter is available too at a walking distance of 3 min. 

NOTE:
The main focus of this event is watching "Fireflies" and this is not a Camping focused event. Tents/dormitory stay is just a medium to provide shelter for the night. Mischief Treks will help you get the booking done for this location. The event is conducted by local villagers at Prabalmachi. 

If the weather is expected to be bad, accommodation will be provided in a homestay/dormitory/shelter location instead of the tents. Do Not book this event if you are not comfortable with such situations. 

This is the Monsoon season and camping is best suited in winter and summers when it's not too windy or rainy. If the weather goes bad, accommodation will be provided in homestay/ dormitory/temp shelter, etc. instead of tents, or maybe the tents will be set up at a shelter location. Please do NOT book this event if your focus is on luxury/comfort camping only. This is specifically a Fireflies-focused event and due to weather conditions, all other things need to be handled as per the best-suited option basis.
The event schedule, itinerary, group composition, and all operational aspects are subject to change without prior notice. In these uncertain times, we will try to do our best to get things rolling but unavoidable circumstances may impact the operations.

Fireflies Festival is based on natural phenomena, just like rain/clouds, etc... as per the past few years` patterns, the events have been lined up from 21st May to mid of June 2024. During this period on some occasions, we will be able to spot thousands of fireflies, and sometimes we may barely get to see a few. The first and the last batch will have lesser number of fireflies. 

IMPORTANT: Please do not book this event without reading and understanding the details mentioned on this page including inclusions, exclusions, FAQ's, Itinerary, Important note, and cancellation/rescheduling policy.  

How to Reach Prabalmachi, Maharashtra

• By Car: Drive along the Mumbai-Pune Expressway (NH-48) towards Panvel. From Panvel, take the Shedung Phata - Thakurwadi Road towards Thakurwadi village. Thakurwadi is the base village for the Prabalmachi trek. The journey by car typically takes around 2 to 3 hours, depending on traffic conditions and starting point within Mumbai. Once you reach Thakurwadi, you'll need to park your car and begin the trek to Prabalmachi, which usually takes around 1.5 to 2 hours.
• By Train: Catch a train from Mumbai to Panvel Railway Station. Trains are available frequently from Mumbai CST, Dadar, or Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT). The journey by train takes approximately 1 to 1.5 hours, depending on the train schedule and starting point within Mumbai. From Panvel Railway Station, hire a local vehicle or take a shared auto-rickshaw to reach Thakurwadi village. Thakurwadi serves as the starting point for the trek to Prabalmachi. The trek from Thakurwadi to Prabalmachi typically takes around 1.5 to 2 hours.
• By Bus: Board a bus from Mumbai to Panvel. Buses ply regularly from Mumbai Central, Dadar, or Borivali to Panvel. The journey by bus typically takes around 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on the traffic and starting point within Mumbai. From Panvel, hire a local vehicle or take a shared auto-rickshaw to reach Thakurwadi village. Thakurwadi is where you'll commence your trek to Prabalmachi. The trek from Thakurwadi to Prabalmachi usually takes around 1.5 to 2 hours.

Reminder Note: Mischief Treks only helps the tribal villagers of Prabalmachi with our online booking platform to get bookings for their fireflies event, organised by them. This specific event will not have any crew members of Mischief Treks. On the other hand locations like Bhandardara, Igatpuri, Karjat, Kothaligad and, Rajmachi are organised and conducted by Mischief Treks Crew.

Q: What are the best dates to attend the Prabalmachi Fireflies Festival in 2024?

A: Prabalmachi Fireflies Festival is scheduled from May 18, 2024, to June 30, 2024. For having the best experience of seeing fireflies you can plan your visit between May 27, 2024, and June 18, 2024. During this period you have best chance to find the highest number of fireflies. As heavy rainfall begins in the third week of June, camping at the Prabalmachi Fireflies Festival becomes tricky and tough.

Q: How to book Prabalmachi Fireflies Festival online?

A. Booking tickets for the Bhandardara Fireflies Festival 2024 needs to be done online through the official website of Mischief Treks on www.mischieftreks.com You need to click on Book Now button on this page and select the preferred date available for booking Bhandardara Fireflies Festival.
Next step is to select number of people you wish to book for, and then enter contact details. After this proceed for making payment. Pay attention to warnings and alerts that get displayed if you have made any mistake while entering details. The total amount comprises of option selected by you along with convenience fee to three percent levied for online processing. Once you have made the payment you will receive a n email containing further information. 
After verifying your payment our team will get in touch with you regarding KYC form which needs to be submitted within 3 hours of receiving the form link. Submitting the KYC form completes the booking process. 

Q: Is the Fireflies Festival suitable for females?

A. Absolutely, We at Mischief Treks believe in equality and adventure for all. Whether you are a female or male, as long as you're physically fit and ready to embrace nature's wonders, you're more than welcome to join our events and have a memorable experience. 

Q: Are Kids allowed to participate in Prabalmachi Fireflies Festival? 

A. Yes Kids are allowed. Age does not matter, It purely depends on how fit the kids are and how they have been raised in terms of adaptability to nature. One of my 3-year-old nieces can do all the Fireflies events at all the locations easily, but on the other hand one of 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. This may sound harsh, but its ground reality.

Q: Is Prabalmachi fireflies festival safe for solo participants?  

A. Yes, mostly 30% of participants come up solo and blend in. Mischief Treks has a reputation of providing a memorable experience for each and every participant.

Q: Is Prabalmachi Fireflies Festival safe for girls?  

A. Mischief Treks has a track record of making our trekking and camping events extremely safe for girls. Normally 60 to 70 percent of our participants are females. 

Q: Are pets allowed in Fireflies Festival?

A. We dont mind, but the forest stray dogs cause trouble for all other participants when they sense presence of any outsider animal in their territory. If this happens we will have to ask the pet to be taken away from campsite. Hence we highly recommend not bringing any pets into any forest region including Fireflies Festival. 

Q. Are any discounts or coupon codes available?

A. Mischief Treks is known to be one of the rare few organizers who do not try to manipulate people using marketing tricks like unreasonably increasing charges and then providing offers and discounts to make people feel as if they have got best deal. The concept of Group-discounts end up making  solo participants pay more and hence we do not support it. We at mischief Trek believe in honest and transparent charges for one and all. 

Q: How far do we have to walk from the campsite to see the fireflies?

A. Well, get ready for a short stroll in the enchanting forest. To spot those mesmerizing fireflies, we usually walk for about 5-15 minutes (approximately 20 meters to 400 meters). It's a pleasant walk that leads us to the magical glow.

Q: Do we have to trek uphill to spot the fireflies?

A. Yes you have to trek uphill to reach Prabalmachi, it takes almost 2 hours one way for the trek from parking lot at the base.

Q: How much time will we spend watching the fireflies?

Ans. You can spend as much time as you wish , there are no restrictions on timing,

Q: Can we reach or leave early/late from the campsite?

A. Yes you can provided you have your own wheels, you can reach as per your comfort and leave the campsite whenever you wish. You can skip dinner/stay, and if you are ready to hit the road, you can return to your home or hotel. We don't have any restrictions or obligations when it comes to staying back at the campsite. You can reach and leave as per your choice. The charges for participation will be the same for all participants. Skipping part of event will not qualify for special rates or discounts. 

Q: Is mobile phone network coverage available at the campsite?

A. Well, If you use Jio phone you will have phone network coverage, but if you use Airtel or any other phone you might get intermittent network. The mobile network coverage is pretty patchy. So, be prepared for some digital detox with Mischief Treks and embrace the nature vibes. 

Q: Is there a mobile phone charging available at the campsite?

A. Sorry, but the Fireflies campsite is located in forest region at a remote location and there is no option to charge your mobile phones. Mischief Treks recommends bringing along a portable power bank with you so that you don't run out of phone battery power.

Q: How to reach the Prabalmachi Fireflies Festival location from Mumbai/Pune? 

A. You need to reach parking lot at the scheduled time, from there you have to hike up to Prabalmachi. After this point cellphone network coverage is bad and our team might not be contactable. The GPS location is provided in the WhatsApp group for ease of travel. 

Q: How do we get in touch after reaching the meeting point? 

A. Twelve hours prior to departure from Mumbai, we will be sharing details  on whatsapp. 

Q: How is the stay arrangement at Prabalmachi? 

A.The Stay at Prabalmachi is in tent, these are normal camping tents with no luxury. A Styrofoam mattress will be provided in the tents to keep you comfortable. Tents will be allocated on 3/4/6 sharing basis depending on the tent size available at the time of booking. You can carry anything that you might need for comfort like cushions, extra blanket etc.

Q: How to request for couple tent?

Ans. Once you have completed your booking formalities, you can opt for Add-on option for getting a couple tent allocated by sharing your preference with us on WhatsApp.  Plz note, as explained in important points to note, this is not a camping focused event, and stay arrangements will be as per weather conditions. 

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. Prabalmachi Fireflies is not a luxury camping event. A Basic tent setup will be provided for shelter. For Twin sharing additional Rs.500 needs to be paid per couple

Q: What is provided in meals/food at Prabalmachi Fireflies Festival?  

A. The meal will consist of veg non-veg, and Jain food options. Rice, Chapati, Daal, seasonal veg/Chicken Curry, salad.  For breakfast Poha and tea will be available. This basic home cooked food is prepared by local tribal villagers. Restaurant and Hotel food is not available at Prabalmachi campsite.

Q. Is drinking water provided at the campsite?

Ans. Yes, normal tap water for drinking is provided free of cost to all participants.

Q. Is alcohol allowed during Fireflies Festival camping?

Ans. Although alcohol is allowed during all camping events, but as Fireflies Festival gets conducted in most unfavorable conditions and is a Family and Kids oriented event, we would recommend avoiding alcohol. If any participant objects to drinking of a said participant, we would have to ask you to refrain. 

Q. Does the Prabalmachi campsite have a washroom facility?

Ans. We have washroom available at 3 min walking distance. This is a basic washroom in a 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. 

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

Ans. Depends on the number of people booking/cancelling the event. Generally, the batch size is approximately 60-80 participants for Fireflies Festival, and 30-40 people during normal camping. This campsite is not a open ground where multiple people setup tents next to each other.

Q: What is meaning of word Camping?

Ans. According to wikipedia and general understanding, Camping is not limited to staying in a tent. It can actually mean temporarily staying anywhere outdoors or in nature. It's all about immersing yourself in the great outdoors and enjoying the experience. So, whether you're sleeping in a tent, a camper van, a village home, a hammock, or even under the stars under open sky, it's all part of the camping adventure. It's about embracing nature and creating lasting memories wherever you choose to set up camp. 

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: Which locations are available for booking Fireflies Festival 2024?

A. 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 
• Sandhan Valley Fireflies Festival
• Ghatghar Fireflies Festival

Q: What are the major problems faced by organizers during Fireflies Festival? 

A. The Fireflies festival happens during end of may till mid June, and this is the worst time to go for overnight stay at such locations, But as the fireflies are visible only in this season the only thing we can rely upon is having shelter at village homes or tents. Tents are completely unreliable in this region due to heavy wind possibilities. Hence if the participants haven't read and understood the event details mentioned on this page, they might end up having unrealistic expectations from the organizers or they may expect this to be like the regular camping events. For example, at fireflies events food will be pretty basic, stay arrangement will be very basic, bonfire cant be done as smoke harms fireflies. Hence during enquiry phase we insist and almost force people to read-and-understand all aspects of Fireflies events Before-Booking. Yet, some people just scroll through and ignore the Important Points, Terms, FAQ section and About-Us section. We cant guess what you already know and what you don't. So, we insist that you need to at least once reading event details to avoid any omissions. Even after all the efforts to educate the participants, some of them still choose to be not aware of the facts and their unrealistic expectation causes lot of pain to the organizers. 

Q. Can someone call me and read out the details on this page?

A. We at Mischief Treks have a strict condition, each participant who wishes to join our group needs to be aware of all the aspects of the event. Hence we have mentioned the details with utmost clarity and transparency on this page. We will not make phone calls to read out information that is readily available this page. We strongly urge you to refer to the provided resources before requesting redundant assistance. We do not verbally provide details on phone as it usually creates a lot of Misunderstanding and Miscommunication. If something mentioned on this page is confusing, you can get clarity on chat by clicking on WhatsApp icon on your screen, we shall revert with written clarification to all the queries. To discuss things that are Not mentioned on this page we can arrange a callback from one of our Trek Leaders.

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

A. No !, your booking can become invalid if you do not submit the Most Important Details required for emergency situations. This form needs to be submitted within 3 hours of making the payment. 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 after you complete the booking instructions mentioned on the website. Submitting incomplete/incorrect/fake details in the form or not submitting 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?

A. 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. Each person 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: Since when is cancellation policy applicable?

A. The policy is applicable for your booking immediately after you make the payment, irrespective of the date and time when you booked. The refunds/rescheduling requests will be processed based on the refund slabs mentioned in cancellation policy. The date and time of booking the event are irrelevant for calculating applicable slabs for refunds.

Q: Which is the Official website for online booking Prabalmachi Fireflies Festival 2024?

A. The official website for Online-Booking of Fireflies Festival 2024 at Bhandardara, Karjat, Rajmachi, Igatpuri, Kothaligad, Secret Location and Prabamachi is https://www.mischieftreks.com Online registration is available for Groups, couples, Family and kids. These campsites are couple friendly and kids friendly too.

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Prabalmachi Fireflies Festival - Update 

The best time to watch fireflies in Maharashtra, India is during pre-monsoon phase i.e. Starting from third week of the month of May to third week of June. 

Personal experience: 

According to the Trek-Leader Kuldip Rathore, last week of the month of May 2024 and the first two weeks of the month of June 2024 are going to be the best time for sighting maximum number of fireflies. He also suggests that this year maximum number of fireflies will be witnessed at Bhandardara Fireflies Festival, Karjat Fireflies Festival, Rajmachi Fireflies festival, AquaNest Igatpuri Fireflies Festival, and Kothaligad Fireflies Festival. Amongst these locations AquaNest and Bhandardara campsites of Mischief Treks will have maximum number of fireflies.

The Glowing Mystery: Did you think why do these creatures illuminate the night? Well, It's all about romance and warning. Fireflies use their radiant glow to attract potential mates while simultaneously sending a message to predators who often are afraid of fire and illuminating objects. 

The Threat of Decline: Loss of Habitat, increasing light pollution, and use of pesticides by humans pose significant threats to the firefly population in India. With only a handful of species remaining, the need for conservation efforts has become a matter of urgency. These fireflies are safe for humans and they do not bite. If you are concerned about rain and its impact on fireflies check the Facts vs Myth. 

Weather Conditions

Its too early to predict weather for May-June 2024. We will share updates once we have reliable information.

Myths and Facts about Fireflies and Rain correlation

Since 2021, we observed that lot of people are believing lot of Copy-Paste based websites spreading incorrect information about the correlation between rains and Fireflies, hence we would like to take this opportunity to express our experience and things we practically learn in past 12 years. Rain can have both positive and negative effects on fireflies in India. For details click here - > Myths and Facts about Fireflies and Rain correlation

Commitment towards Fireflies and our Pledge: The Fireflies are very sensitive to changes in their environment, and smoke can be particularly harmful to them. We do not indulge or support unnecessary activities that cause smoke, eg. Campfire, Bonfire, Barbeque (BBQ) and any other activity related to smoke. By being responsible and respectful, we can help protect these amazing insects and ensure that they continue to thrive for generations to come. We pledge to continue protecting the interests of fireflies.

Appeal to Public:  Please take a step forward and spread the awareness about being responsible and help eradicate activities related to pollutants like Fire, Smoke, and Lights causing harm to Fireflies.  

• 90% will be refunded if canceled 16 to 30 days (720+ hrs) in advance.
• 75% will be refunded if canceled 11 to 15 days (360+ hrs) in advance.
• 50% will be refunded if canceled 06 to 10 days (240+ hrs) in advance.
• 0% refund if canceled in less than 05 days (120 hours) of the event date and time.
• 0% refund if the participant drops out, misses bus pickup, or does not reach the meeting point on the scheduled date and time. 

Rescheduling 

• Rescheduling can be done free of cost if the rescheduling request is sent to us 120 hours prior to event date and time.
• If the request is sent in less than 120hrs, 50 percent of event charges need to be paid for cancelling the current booking, and then rescheduling it to a batch available on future date.

Refunds

• Refunds will be calculated and processed on basis of the slabs mentioned above. 
• Refund amount will be transferred 24 hours after event date and time. 
• Refund Credit will be received at your end depending on your mode of payment. Credit card refunds take 5-15 days to reflect on your statement. UPI refunds are generally credited to your account within 2-3 hours by your bank. 

If the event itself gets canceled, you will be given the option to switch to any other event or any other date, Or you can opt for a 100% refund. If you need to reschedule your booking to any other available date, it can be done free of cost if the rescheduling request is sent 120 hours prior to the trek. From 0hrs - 120 hours prior to the trek date and time free rescheduling is not permitted. It will be counted as cancellation done in less than 120hours of the event date and time. It's a humble request, please do not give medical reasons, crib, argue or try to blackmail us if you drop out or cancel/reschedule the trek in the last 5 days.
Logic and Reason: The basis of the cancelation policy is to protect the participant and the organizers from undue financial losses arising out of unforeseen situations. If the event gets canceled due to the medical/personal emergency of the organising team member, the participants will not have to suffer financial loss. Similarly, if there is a medical/personal emergency at the participant's end, the organizing team will not have to suffer financial loss.