GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

Did you know that fireflies glow in the dark to attract their mate and give out an honest evolutionary symbol that their babies are foul-tasting? Foul-tasting or not, these beetles have been attracting people for a long time.

People look up in fascination when these creatures dance in multitudes, trying to attract a partner from the opposite sex. So, whether you're trying to have a romantic getaway with your partner, trying to have a memorable trip with your family, or need some peace to meditate with nature, going to a place where you can see these stunning creatures at night is just the right vacation for you.

Back in our grandparent's stories, fireflies would be abundantly seen at the onset of every monsoon, busy attracting their mates. But due to the fairly recent change in the global climate, it's very rare to see this sight in cities. Here are 04 top destinations to see these mesmerising creatures.

1. Purushwadi:

Purushwadi is the most famous destination by far. It has been successfully holding a fireflies festival for many years. A tribal village situated about 200 km from Mumbai in the Western Ghats, one gets to experience the quaint village life along with the magic of the homestays and delicious food.
This has been made possible by local NGOs that work in rural tourism. It is a perfect getaway for city dwellers who want to experience peaceful rural life. It is easily accessible from Mumbai, taking about 05 hours by car.

2. Rajmachi:

As we welcome the season's first showers, one of the most exciting things this monsoon is to go on a night trek to Rajmachi fort. The Rajmachi Fort is about a 16 km trek from the Lonavala station, and you can spot fireflies after sunset.
The Shrivardhan and Manaranjan forts offer stunning views of the valley, making it a popular destination among trekkers. The surrounding Sahyadri ranges are perfect for spotting fireflies. Another brilliant spot for experiencing this is around the Udhewadi village.

3. Mulshi Lake:

At a small distance of 50 km from Mumbai, Mulshi is a beautiful village that boasts peace and serenity like nowhere else. Mulshi is a scenic beauty with a plethora of sights, like waterfalls, rugged cliffs, green forests, and meandering hiking paths.
In these emerald green forests is the firefly display around Mulshi lake. Spend overnight at the local homestay, experience the fireflies show, and explore the area at night.

4. Sandhan Valley:

Sandhan Valley is a stunning carved valley with a 200 feet drop in the Western Ghats. Known as the valley of shadows, it consists of a deep narrow, floored ravine between the two high walls of a mountain range.
The commuting route is practically the same as Purushwadi, but from Igatpuri, one must head towards Samrad village. To get a local flavour out of the trip, try to get a villager to accompany you on the trek and make simple arrangements with them for food. For a few years, villagers have been providing travellers with tents to see the fireflies.

This experience is sure to be a rewarding one for enthusiastic travellers. Seeing these bioluminescent creatures in their natural habitat will surely be a treat to the eyes, mind, and soul. These destinations are close to Mumbai and Pune, both bustling and hectic cities. It is best to drive up there or take a local train. The roads often leading to these destinations are narrow and rocky terrains.

If you are considering driving up there, you must look out for the rough patches. Before moving out on a trip, whether long or just a short one, always ensure that you carry all the car's documents. Seat belts must be on, and if driving at night, drive slowly! Also, get the best car insurance before starting a new driving exploration!

Click HERE to know more about car insurance policies in India.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

Have you ever felt bored of your mundane daily routine and wanted a much-needed break? Overlanding helps you get away from all the stress of your work and refresh your mind and body, boosting the state of your mental health. It is a travel experience that focuses on a scenic destination away from the bustling city life. With this, you will get the chance to be closer to nature and give your body the rest it deserves.

Let's understand the tips that will make your overlanding trip memorable.

1. Plan well before you go:
You must decide on an adventurous overlanding route through the pleasant countryside and remote destinations. Do deep research about the destination, consider the weather predictions, and ensure favourable camping conditions. To avoid heavy traffic, accidents, or mishaps, you should know what particular amendments your car requires to suit the terrain.

2. Have basic survival skills:
Despite planning efficiently, mishaps occur, and you need to be prepared for any scenario. You might get minor scars or bruises while on the adventure, so carry a basic first aid kit to ensure you can treat minor wounds to avoid any infection. You might get stranded in an unfamiliar area, so it is always advisable to carry maps of surrounding regions in digital and physical forms. You should be capable of changing a tire in case of a flat tire. Adjust to the different weather conditions as your journey progresses.

3. Budget according to your needs:
Overlanding is a cost-effective travel experience. However, you might need to allocate your daily budget based on your needs. You can take inspiration from travel bloggers/vloggers and use similar tactics, or you can carry more resources to satisfy your needs. You should take into consideration your food, vehicle maintenance, and living expenses such as mobile connectivity. Save more by cooking food yourself and camping instead of staying in overpriced hotel rooms.

4. Comfortable dressing:
Wear clothes that are comfortable to be in for long durations. Pack appropriate attire for your activities and make sure it is compact. You can hand wash your clothes or use laundry rooms on your stops to clean and dry your clothes. It is also advisable to wear a roomy pair of good shoes that grip any terrain.

5. Carry essential equipment:
Carry equipment that protects you from excessive cold, wind, and rain, such as umbrellas, raincoats, jackets, gloves, and earmuffs. Emergency dry, nutritional snacks and bottled water should be a part of your travel inventory. Additional tools such as flashlights, fire extinguishers, and gas always make your trip must also be part of your travel checklist.

6. Take precautionary measures:
Safety is an aspect that you can never compromise with when planning an Overlanding trip, especially if you're travelling solo. During the journey, it's just your car and you who are for each other. So, keep spare wheels that fit your vehicle in case of a flat tyre. As roads are a package of undesired events, it is always advisable to get car insurance so that you return with good memories and no financial worries. Opt for online car insurance if you haven't bought one, hit that road less travelled and enjoy that overlanding adventure of a lifetime!

Overlanding journeys expose you to pure and unaltered experiences and introduce you to life in a way you might not have thought of. These trips also boost your self-growth as you learn to make arrangements to sustain yourself in any situation.

Click HERE to know more details about car insurance before you set on a trip.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

Clear vision is critical for safe driving because it accounts for over 90% of our driving reaction time. Unfortunately, our eyesight changes dramatically at night, and we lose a significant amount of depth perception, colour vision, and peripheral vision. After dusk, the glare of oncoming traffic obstructs our eyesight even more.

As a result of this momentary blindness, accidents are bound to occur. Here, we bring some handy tips to reduce high beam glare problems while driving at night. However, remember that investing in a motor insurance policy is of utmost importance for all vehicle owners as it provides total protection against physical damage or loss due to natural or artificial disasters. Therefore, before stepping out, check your online motor insurance renewal and keep your documents in order.

Now, check these helpful tips to reduce high beam glare problems while driving at night.

1. Anti-glare glasses:
Examine your vision regularly. Ask your optician about no-glare corrective lenses if you wear prescription glasses. Check your glasses for scratches, which can exacerbate glare. Also, exposure to glare while day driving can hamper your vision at night. Wear polarised sunglasses throughout the day to protect your eyes and lower the possibilities of vision impairment while driving at night.

2. Spotless windshields and other glass surfaces:
During the day, a dirty windshield may not be apparent, but it might produce glare at night. Refraction of light and distorted vision on the road can occur due to the glass's streaks. Clean the inside of the windshield, as plastic compounds can accumulate on the glass over time. Remove the filth and oxidised rubber from the edge of the wiper blades with a paper towel and windshield washer fluid to help keep streaks at bay.

3. Position the car mirrors:
The placement of a car's mirrors can help control the intense glare and avoid blind spots to get an accurate judgement of vehicles approaching from both sides. Change the "night" setting on your rearview mirror with the lever on the mirror. Cars' lights will still be visible behind you, but they will be much dimmer.

4. Don't look straight, look right:
Avoid being blinded by high beams that hit you square in the face by looking down the right side of the road. Concentrate on the lane's edge or the painted edge line until the automobile passes. At hilltops, at curves, and crossroads, be mindful of oncoming vehicles' unexpected bursts of light.

5. Take a break:
If you're driving at night for an extended amount of time, take frequent stops. Taking a break relieves fatigue and allows your eyes to recover.

6. Be conscious:
Take basic precautions to avoid blinding other motorists. To begin, make careful use of your high beams. Use your low headlights most of the time and high beams only when essential. Slow down and make sure you have control of your vehicle if another driver uses high beams and fails to dim the lights as you approach.

These tips can assist in driving in the dark without being blinded by other vehicles' headlights. Shield your car with online motor insurance renewal against any such automobile accidents.

Click HERE to do your online motor insurance renewal in easy steps.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

Transportation is one of the essential parts of our day-to-day lives. Whether it is for commercial purposes or personal use, vehicles have turned out like our favourite support. Legally, the law doesn't allow the use of personal vehicles for commercial purposes. However, a recent announcement shows that private car owners can use their vehicles for commercial transport and work purposes under some provisions.

The use of the private vehicle as commercial makes the transport 30% cheaper. You must be wondering whether to use the personal vehicle for commercial use or not? And if yes, then how?

As you read this blog, you will find the best tips to use your vehicle for commercial purposes.

1. Know everything about licensing: Before the government imposed rules on vehicles, there were only two categories of license: transport and non-transport. However, the same license is now allowed to drive two or more different vehicles, considered only if both are LVMs (light motor vehicles). So, before assigning your personal vehicle for work purposes, it is crucial to understand the licensing method.

2. Type of your commercial usage: You may introduce your private vehicle to commercial use in several ways. Converting it into a taxi is the most common method. Apart from taxis, convertible trucks / tempos, school buses, minivans for goods transportation are quite popular. In the case of two-wheelers, the same license is allowed, with the permission / allowance to operate as public transport. You can also use it for exporting or importing goods.

3. Know about taxation/laws: According to the motor vehicle act, vehicles should be given rights and respective licenses according to their class and not the type of vehicle. This rule made it convenient for private vehicles to be used for commercial purposes. As of now, there are no separate endorsement/taxes charged on it.
Initially, you need to follow the conversion process to convert the vehicle into a commercial one. Do it with the valid registration number and by filling a form named "Conversion of Vehicle". You can find all the details about the same on the RTO website. Do some research at your end, or you may even ask expert personnel to make the entire process smooth.

4. Be thorough with the insurance policy: When you run a private vehicle as a commercial, the insurance policy may differ. For example, the usual car insurance may not remain the same when you use your car as a taxi or for other business purposes. You can confirm the details and changes in the car insurance policy from your insurance company.
Also, don't forget to use the appropriate number plate after the conversion of the vehicle.

Just like private vehicles benefit from insurance and other rights, commercial policies also provide the same vigilant coverage. Enforcement of legalities by the authorities has become easy now. Dissolved licensing and flexible transportation rules are encouraging steps for the people who want to convert their vehicles for commercial purposes.

So, if you wish to expand your business or provide your vehicle as a transportation fleet to other companies, these tips can help you understand it better. Remember, holding good car insurance and the appropriate license is the key to driving vehicles' safety and successful conversion.

Click HERE to get the best deals on car insurance.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.