We at Grassroutes, have been working as a community-based rural tourism enterprise for a decade. Our aim is to make travel sustainable and beneficial for the communities involved in offering their services, as well as the tourists, who are always on the lookout for new, enriching experiences.
I heard about Grassroutes and the Firefly festival through a friend of mine. I called to book as soon as I heard, but unfortunately for me, they were completely sold out for three weekends. Nonetheless, I arranged for my own tent and the Grassroutes folks were kind enough to let us camp there and participate in the activities for a slightly lower charge. I was apprehensive about our tiny tent and location at first, but as soon as we got there, I knew it would be worth it. The campsite is charming and so are the local a guides assigned to each group. The Grassroutes tents are clean and roomy and so are the new washrooms.
Sachin, our guide, met us at a nearby petrol pump and led us to the camp. He was a fount of information about the surrounding areas and the village itself. He volunteered the information without much prompting (in Hindi, though). We were greeted traditionally at the the camp and offered some refreshing kokum sherbet. Yummy!! Post this, we pitched our tent and headed to lunch.
Lunch comprised of a simple, but delicious, organic meal at a village home. Our hosts, Sunita tai and Hari bhau, were very welcoming and friendly. It helps a lot if you speak the local language (marathi). Post the scrumptious meal we walked about the village quite aimlessly. It was serene and idyllic. The weather was perfect as the rains were just approaching. We also got some free raw mangoes plucked straight from the tree - OH-SOOO-GOOD!!
A chat with the guide revealed good information about the work Grassroutes is doing for the village. There are pukka home now, more crops, a reduction in the migration rate. The organisers were also very forthcoming about the work they've done and the obstacles they face occasionally.
In the evening, campers were given the choice of walking to a nearby river or trekking uphill to watch the sunset. Our group chose the trek. A steep-ish trek for novices, but completely worth the effort. Who wouldn't appreciate a crazy breeze and the beautiful sunset and rain clouds? Dinner followed the trek since everyone was starving. Then came the main event, the peak of the trip: the FIREFLIES. I'm at a loss of how to describe the scenario. There were fireflies EVERYWHERE, creating a canopy of light for each path. It was almost like a light show without the sound. Watching the fireflies do their thing is a dazzling and humbling experience. It reminds you how beautiful and miraculous nature is. We watched the fireflies until the rain started to come down, so we retreated to our tents for some well-deserved sleep.
We had to leave early in the morning, so we missed the day time village activities. I'm sure those who stayed on had a unique experience.
Overall, the weekend was a memorable experience. I will definitely go back next year. :D
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Date of stay: June 2013
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Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I came across mention of the firefly festival in a lonely planet magazine :)
I cannot say just how beautiful the area was once dusk settled in ..... we did try our level best but could not capture the fireflies on camera ... we definitely need a tripod for this .... So anyway took videos ... :) They have come out well but do not capture the awesome show ... it is just too too good !!! The entire area is blanketed in these tiny tiny lit insects.
It is all around ... no need to take a walk but if you do - you can see the valley covered with fireflies .. just beautiful !!! When you walk down the road you feel surrounded by tiny Christmas lights. That is the best comparison I can think of ! :)
Apart from this we can do a sunset trek, have umpteen mangoes, check out rural activities of sowing paddy, chopping wood, bathing in a stream, grinding wheat :)
The food is made in the village homes and I found it fresh and good. My child also had it with no problems.
The villagers are very friendly people and very nice. I felt they did a great job in welcoming us, showing us all the activities. In fact they seemed disappointed that I was not ready to dunk myself in the stream ! :) Very courteous. Full marks for their behavior. They also ensured we got solar lamps for the night and when it started raining they came and told us that they were nearby and if water came inside the test to call them. Like I said - very very nice people. No water inside the tent.
Tips :
1. Take a tripod if you want to be able to take snaps ! :) 2. Stay in the main tent area ( 5-6 tents are pitched here ) especially if you are with a child. Make sure you ask about that specifically and cross check once you reach there.
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Date of stay: June 2013
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Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Â Stay in the main tent area ( 5-6 tents are pitched here ) especially if you are with a child....
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We decided to spend the New Year amidst nature and selected Purushwadi as our destination. This picturesque village is an easy getaway from Mumbai. Though it was only an overnight trip it was packed with a lot of activity. Our trip started on a high note. We witnessed a cow fair, on an open ground not too far away from the village. For the first time I saw the motorcycle acrobatic act called “ Maut ka Kua’ which one has only experienced in vintage Bollywood films.
From there on things only got better. Once we reached the village we were assigned to a village family who took care of us. We indulged in long languid walks, dozed off by the riverbank, helped the villagers in their chores and learned a great deal about village life.
The villagers opened their hearts and their homes to us. The food was basic vegetarian meals but delicious and their homes were cozy and comfortable. We brought in the year quietly under a thousand splendid stars around a bonfire
An early morning hike to witness the perfect sunrise was the start to a New Year.
The organizers at Grassroutes are extremely helpful, well aware and conscious of their surroundings. This makes the experience not only more authentic but also genuine.
Would go back in a heartbeat.
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Date of stay: December 2013
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Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I found Grassroutes at the perfect time. I was always looking for uncomplicated experiences where I could interact and get amongst people living in rural India. The people living in Grassroutes villages are cheerful and accommodating. Local guides i.e. the youth of the village told us about the medicinal plants, cooking methods and annual cultural programs in the village. I have visited 3 Grassroutes villages set on a hilltop, dense forest and a culturally rich 'Warli art and culture' village. I believe that the food in Purushwadi is the best vegetarian food in all of India. I like the approach that Grassroutes have. This is truly eco-tourism.
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Date of stay: December 2012
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Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I read about Grassroutes' Firefly tour in Outlook magazine last year. So when we planned a weekend trip to Nashik from Mumbai, we decided to spend one night at Purushwadi en route. Reservations were easy to make and the instructions to get to Rajur, easy to follow. At Rajur, we were met by our guide and reached Purushwadi in time for lunch. After the traditional welcome we had lunch in a village home. It was simple and delicious! An evening walk to the dam over the Kurkundi river gave us a glimpse into the lives of the villagers. We returned just as it started to pour and we retreated to our tent. Although a bit cramped, it was clean and comfortable. The toilet was one you might find at any star hotel! Luckily, the rain stopped just as it got dark and then the amazing show started. First the occasional twinkle amongst the trees and then gradually the entire campsite was surrounded by countless fairy lights winking away. It was the same everywhere as we walked through the village for our evening meal and back to the campsite. We sat entranced and watched till we couldn't stay awake any longer! The next morning the place was a-twitter with a large number of birds - I'm sure Purushwadi could also double up as a Birdwatchers paradise! Our hosts, who kindly spent the night right next to us in case we needed anything, gave us a hot cup of tea, ideal for the lovely drizzly weather. Very reluctantly we left for Nashik soon after. For a jaded city dweller, this was just the sort of outing to refresh tired minds.
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Date of stay: June 2013
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Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Initially I was just looking for a photography workshop. That's how I came across Girish. Purushwadi with Grassroutes was a fabulous experience. To actually eat in the kitchen of the villagers, Wow! Food can't get fresher than this. The villagers are kind and welcome you with open arms. Photography lessons with Girish was an enlightning experience and sky photography at night was the cream on top. Recommended for anyone who wants to get away from it all.
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Date of stay: February 2013
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Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I was on the Feb 09 - 10 Purushwadi Photography Workshop Tour. It was really a great experience to be in a village environment and an excellent opportunity to capture the essence of Rural India on Camera. Besides it was also a very knowledgeable and helpful session to master the Manual mode of my DSLR camera. I practised taking all the photographs on this trip on Manual mode only and Oh Boy - Thanks to Mr. Girish Menon... I am damn happy with my results. I definitely recommend this Photography Workshop to all beginners - specially youngsters who have just got their hand on a DSLR... I also take this opportunity to wish Grassroutes and its team and also Mr. Girish Menon and his team the very best in everything they do for the betterment of Rural India. I look forward to joining other tours/workshops in the future also and maybe be a part of the team to contribute in whatever little way I can for the betterment of the villages and people of Rural India. Mahesh Woolvara - Mumbai
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Date of stay: February 2013
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Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip:Â This offers you to spend a couple of days experience in a Rural Village environment and also...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Firefly theme in June 2011 was great. Along with Authentic Village Stay, we were able to see a million fireflies in Purushwadi. Got to pluck lots of mangoes (Free :), Swim in Clear River, Milk the Goats, got to sleep in Tent with my Son. Overall a great Rural Tourism offering and value for money.
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Date of stay: June 2011
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Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Â Stay in the Tent..
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We were super excited to visit Purushwadi to witness the fireflies festival through Grassroutes. Grassroutes charge you a minimum of 2200 per person for a one night stay during weekends. We opted for stay in tents at camp area. We were the lucky ones as the washrooms in our facility had water while other washrooms did not. There were only 3 washrooms for approximately 50 to 60 people. If there were more, we were not communicated about them. Day one: Other than fireflies The activities were limited to treks only. The treks were good but they could have organized a camp fire and made us play some kind of group games. Grass routes team should try and convert us all into one big group. That would have been fun. Food is made by villagers and served with love. The villagers always have a smile on their face. We were allotted a village house for 4 travelers. We would have all our meals in these allotted houses. The villagers would cook food for us, and in return would get a paltry sum of remuneration. I believe this is exploitation. Grassroutes should improve / invest in village by providing them with Solar lights, sanitation, rainwater harvesting, education etc. Grassroutes claims to have provided revenues worth 8L in a year to the village. The village had approx. 105 houses and the money grassroutes makes is way too much if one calculates. Day 2: Activities were pretty low scaled. This could be better organized. again they could have group activities and some competition organized in activities like wood cutting, grinding, etc. Such activities could induce fun element. I would say A lot more to be done for villagers and a lot more for us travelers to get our moneys worth. Please go on your own, buy a sleeping bag from shops like decathlon where you would get them from 500 onwards. for sanitation use the natural options : 3 washrooms for over 60 men/women/kids will force you to use these natural options anyways. Fireflies was worth it. Grassroutes was NOT.
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Date of stay: June 2015
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Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Â Take your torches along
No Electricity
No mobile network
Not adequate washroom facilities
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We went for one of the Grassroutes events at their forest village - Dehna. The surrounding hills, nature trails, riverside picnics, the hospitality of the local people and the organization, camps, food - everything was really super. It is a very special experience for us city-folks, and a true dive into the beautiful lives of the rest of India. I hope you will go and experience this. We certainly had a great time. Thank you Grassroutes.
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Date of stay: August 2013
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Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip:Â Go for their new deluxe tents
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Trupti,
Thank you for your query!
Best time would be with the approach of the monsoons, should be towards end May and through first three weeks of June. Factors conducive: a few showers, tree cover and nature and weather patterns. For the budget- please do connect in third-week April. You can also check out our website for the same.
Best!
Team Grassroutes
There are more places to choose from in the Mumbai area.
LOCATION
IndiaMaharashtraMumbai
NUMBER OF ROOMS
40
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect average nightly room rates, including taxes and fees that are fixed, known to our partners, and due at time of booking. Please see our partners for more details.
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