Rajmachi – Fireflies Tour

Its Pre-Monsoon !! Waiting eagerly for rains to quench your thirst. Why not enjoy the firework of fireflies while waiting. Moon and stars have always been there to follow your path and guide you. Ever seen fireflies do the same. Imagine a dark trail brightened by fireflies flying all around you. Imagine to be in a mysterious forest lighted by fireflies. What are fireflies and why do they ignite? Fireflies are a family of insects which glow in the dark. The phenomenon of glowing is called as bioluminescence which occurs due to a chemical reaction inside their bodies. Fireflies use this luminescence to attract mates or prey. Some interesting facts about fireflies: Certain species of female fireflies pick mates based on specific male flash pattern characteristics. Higher male flash rates and increased flash intensity have been found to be more attractive to females among two different fireflies species. Many fireflies do not illuminate at all. They use pheromones to attract their mates. Using pheromones for sexual signal is an ancestral condition, whereas, using luminous sexual signals are recent phenomenon. Certain species of fireflies deploy both pheromones and luminous component to identify their mates. There are varieties of use of luminescence by fireflies apart from attracting mates. luminescence is also used for attracting prey, making themselves unpalatable to predators, for identifying other members of their species etc. History of Rajmachi fort Nestled in Sahyadri mountains, Rajmachi is a scenic hill station near Lonavala in Maharastra. The history of Rajmachi fort dates to 17th century when it was built by Emperor Shivaji. The two twin fortresses Manaranjan Ballekilla and Shriwardhan Ballekilla are major tourist attractions. These forts played an important role during Anglo-Maratha war. A wide Plateau surrounding the two ballekilla provides a spectacular view to its visitors. During monsoon, Rajmachi is filled with greenery and waterfalls gushing all around with their mystic sound. This beauty coupled with the fireflies at night is something which should be experienced at least once in a lifetime. Major Attractions: Fireflies Kalbhairavnath temple A lake side Shreevardhan fort Home stay, local cuisines