Glow in the dark

Forget clubbing. Forget ghosts. The wee hours are now for walking tours, moonlight sails, firefly spotting and after-hours dives. Despite blackouts and phobias, we're stepping out in the dark. Here’s what we do in the shadows

- Rachana Parekh

Once the sun goes down, some of India’s coolest plans come to life. Just last month, while Mumbai’s rains were hanging on like a pesky ex, one group decided that late night was the time to roll.

Around 10pm, college student Vikas Mandal and his buddies from the 14-year-old community, Skateboarding In Mumbai, gathered in South Mumbai and cruised through the city’s iconic old precincts - Flora Fountain, Gateway of India, Asiatic Library and Marine Drive. They chose the perfect hour. The streets were empty, the breeze was finally cool, and it was easier for all of them-some members are as old as 40 to wrangle out free time.

In Hyderabad, programme manager Dipayan Banerjee, 31, has found his own rhythm after sunset. He often hops onto his bicycle for a spin along the 23-kilometre solar-roofed cycling track that runs parallel to the city’s Outer Ring Road. It’s open 24/7 but “I love cycling at night,” he says. “I can go whenever I want, and Hyderabad is warm most of the year, so riding in the cooler hours feels better.”

We thought we were zombies, shuffling along and looking for mental stimulation. Turns out, we're actually vampires, biding our time in the day only to come out at night. So, across India, events companies have quietly been filling up nighttime slots for heritage walks, diving expeditions, stargazing sessions, sailing sessions, hikes, even music concerts. Nights used to be for vegetating in front of the TV and decompressing from life. Now, they're prime-time for a social life. Are introverts and morning people OK with this?