Thousands of fireflies twinkling among the trees like a sky full of stars. It seemed almost unreal, for it was a dream come true, a moment I will cherish forever. Now coming to the main experience of watching the fireflies. Once dinner is over, at around 9:30-10pm, the fireflies guided tour begins.

1. Fireflies mantled Nights and Misty Mornings – A Different Coorg
This world is full of wonders, the kind of wonder that takes your breath away and makes you
feel humbled. And we were lucky to have one such magical experience on our last trip to
Coorg. Standing under a lush canopy on a faint moonlit night, I felt goosebumps rise all over my
body, looking at the extraordinary scene unravel in front of us. Thousands of fireflies twinkling
among the trees like a sky full of stars. It seemed almost unreal, for it was a dream come true, a
moment I will cherish forever.
Where and When can you experience this
This firefly gathering is a very unique phenomenon and can only be witnessed at specific places
in India (mainly the Western Ghats). And this happens during a certain period of time. Coorg in
Karnataka is one of those places. In order to experience this, plan your visit during March last
week – April 3rd week. The best period is Mid April.

2. We stayed at Rainforest Retreat, Madikeri to witness this. This is the only accommodation in
Coorg which offers this experience as per our knowledge.
What to expect from the Accommodation
The accommodation at Rainforest Retreat is pretty basic though comfortable. The whole place
is set up inside a plantation under a thick canopy of trees. So expect being greeted by colourful
Butterflies, spotting different kinds of birds and even some crawlies going about their lives
leisurely.
The Fireflies Experience
Now coming to the main experience of watching the fireflies. Once dinner is over, at around
9:30-10pm, the fireflies guided tour begins. The caretakers at the accommodation take the
guests into the plantation area where the fireflies gather in large numbers. Once we entered

3. the plantation, we could see the twinkling lights everywhere. But there are certain areas where
the fireflies gather in more numbers and the guides help you into those areas.
It feels surreal when the torch lights are turned off and all you can see are are the tiny lights of
the fireflies flickering amidst the trees. Since we were there mid of April which is the peak
season, we could see thousands of fireflies. We just found a spot to set our tripod and camera
and took a few pictures. But standing there and watching those fireflies for hours was an
experience I cannot express in words. It is something to be seen with your naked eyes to be
believed.
Additional Places to Visit in Coorg
If this is your first visit to Coorg, then add a day or two more to this trip and you can also cover
the other attractions.
Namdroling Monastery or Golden Temple: You can visit this on your way back since it actually
comes under Mysore district. The monastery is very beautiful and is one of its kind in South
India.

4. Dubare Elephant Camp: If you want to see the elephants and even get involved in feeding or
bathing them. [I don’t encourage the rides though.] This is a good place if you are traveling with
kids.
Chiklihole Reservoir: More of an offbeat destination in Coorg. But has a very lush surrounding
and offers gorgeous sunset views.
Mandalpatti View Point: Good for a sunset visit. Take a jeep ride to the top to enjoy panoramic
views of the surrounding.
Abbi/Abbey Falls: The most popular falls in Coorg. Looks gorgeous during monsoons or just
after.
Tala Cauvery / Tala Kaveri: This is considered the source of river Cauvery. And is considered a
sacred place with a small temple present there. Since the place is on a hill top, it provides great
views of the surrounding, especially early mornings feel enchanting surrounded by fog.
So go ahead and plan your trip to Coorg this Fireflies season. Read the full post here.