The forests that glow in the dark are Goa’s best kept secret

As the sun goes down every evening, every metropolitan city and town in India gets lit up by lakhs of artificial lights to banish darkness from their surroundings. Thus, the normal course of life remains undisrupted in an average human being’s life post sundown.
Now, there is an isolated part of India that gets illuminated not by any artificial intervention, but naturally. The Western Ghats of India are blessed with the presence of bio-luminescent fungus called Mycena Genus Fungi (mushrooms) that makes the region glow at night!

So, if you travel 60 km from Panjim in Goa, you will be surprised to enter an amazing luminous world! The fungus renders a cool glow to the forest in the monsoon season spanning the months of June to October.

With their existence restricted to Goa and Maharashtra, the Mycena mushrooms can be found on a rainy day in the forest trails of Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary located in Swapnagandha Valley of Goa. The glowing mushroom puts up its residence on decaying logs, twigs, and stumps.

Fortunately, for those who wish to behold the sight of glowing mushrooms, the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary remains open during the monsoon months. Chorla Ghat, located north-east of Panjim in Goa and 55 km from Belgaum in Karnataka is the address to spot this glowing wonder. In addition, Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary in Goa is also the right place to catch sight of this bioluminescent fungi. Full of lovely waterfall and dense forests, Chorla Ghats makes the beholder marvel at nature’s wizardry.

Another cool place to spot glowing fungus is Ahupe, a village located in the boundaries of Bhimashankar Wildlife Reserve.