The monsoons have traditionally been a time for Mumbaikars to head to the hills. Dating back to the 19th Century, the towns of Lonavala and Khandala have been escapes for urban residents tired of the dreary days. Yet, in July 2026, Lonavala witnessed over 670 mm of rainfall within the span of 24-hours — its highest density in history.

For Pushan Kripalani, director, Abbey 301, it made the decision to host Conservation/Conversation all the more imminent. “The abbey lives on the hill, which has witnessed its worst rainfall in the last 1000 years. There are global factors, but also local factors [to this],” he shares.