India, May 28 -- With the monsoon still a few weeks away and Maharashtra sweltering in the pre-rain summer heat, the forests of the Sahyadris are beginning to glow with one of the season's most magical sights. For about three to four weeks every year, from mid-may to mid-June, thousands of fireflies light up the forests of Bhandardara, Rajmachi and other parts of the Western Ghats in synchronised patterns, drawing campers and trekkers into the hills. From the best time to visit to where you can spot them, here's all you need to know about Maharashtra's magical firefly trails.

Fireflies are actually nocturnal beetles that produce light through a natural chemical reaction in their lower abdomen through a phenomenon called bio luminescence....