October-February for major festivals like Tapti Mahotsav and Kalidas Festival, though monsoon (July-Sept) reveals lush landscapes and unique tribal celebrations.

Seek Warli art scrolls made with rice paste on tamarind bark paper, available only at the Wednesday Tribal Haat near Chirodi Nala.

Stick to busy stalls with high turnover; the <i>tarri-poha</i> at Shriram Bhandar (established 1962) is legendary for both taste and hygiene.

Try the <i>tempo-tanga</i> – a hybrid between autorickshaw and horse carriage, operating on heritage routes near Gandhi Bagh.

Attend the Gondi <i>relo</i> song sessions every full moon at Semadoh Lake, 45km from the city center.

The 1928 Italianate rainwater harvesting system under Raj Kamal Chowk – a marvel of colonial engineering still functional today.

Korku tribe members lead 'Jungle Pantry' walks in Melghat, teaching edible plants and traditional trapping methods (no animals harmed).

At Ambadevi Temple, women tie black threads around the banyan tree – bring your own or purchase unbleached cotton ones from vendors outside.

The Cotton Exchange Museum displays 19th-century grading tools and has a working 1932 ticker tape machine that prints daily commodity prices.

Always ask – many tribal communities believe cameras capture <i>swacha</i> (soul essence); offer to email copies as digital reciprocity.