Best Unmissable Rain-Soaked Adventures Around The Country

If you thought the Indian monsoon is a good time to sit back and enjoy the rains, think again. Here are some unmissable rain-soaked adventures around the country.

- Anurag Mallick and Priya Ganapathy

Forest bioluminescence at Chorla Ghats Goa/Karnataka/Maharashtra

On a dark moonless monsoon night, the tiny moss-like mycena mushrooms on tree barks turn neon green like a scene from the film Avatar, but with a ‘Hilltop’ Anjuna vibe. Of the 27,000 fungi reported in India, 50 are bioluminescent. Located at the tri-junction of Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra, the forests of Chorla Ghats and Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary display this unique natural phenomenon. When the amount of oxygen and moisture in the air is at a certain level—conditions found only in the rainy season—the fungi dispel excess light energy and the forests begin to glow. Go on a night trek in the forest amid the cacophony of Malabar gliding frogs, switch off your torch and witness the enchanted forest come aglow. The surreal experience is at its peak from late August to end September. Stay in a valley view room at Wildernest Nature Resort (wildernest-goa.com), swim in the infinity pool, enjoy sunsets over Chorla Ghats and trek to Chorla and Vazra Sakla Falls.

Getting there Fly to Goa and drive to Chorla Ghats, which is about 55km from Panaji.

Courtship dance of the lesser florican at Sonkhaliya Rajasthan