I am sure this is one place that so many of us have not been or heard of. Come with me to Maharashtra’s very own ‘valley of flowers’ popularly known as the Kaas Pathar or the Kas Plateau.
Landscape view of the Kas Pathar. Photo courtesy: kas.ind.in
Kaas Pathar is a plateau at a distance of about 25 km from Satara city the place is not just any plateau or flat land as you may think. This one is blessed with a beautiful bed of flowers that makes this place one of the hidden gems of Maharashtra and a famous tourist attraction for the people who know about it.
Why should you visit?
You may think, what is so great about this place? The Kas Plateau was made from volcanic rocks in the Satara district. It is one of the major biodiversity sites that come under the purview of the Forest Conservation Reserve. It is located on a hill-lock at an altitude of more than 1000 meters, and it offers beautiful weather and soothing relief to sore eyes.
Full bloom at Kaas Pathar – photo was taken by Tanmay Haldar – Wikimedia
Kaas Pathar got its name from a 100-year-old lake called the Kaas Lake that is located somewhere at the end of the plateau. What makes it more unique is you get to see more than 800 species of wild, colorful flowers in full bloom during the season. Because of its beauty, and importance from a Biodiversity angle, it has earned a tag of Natural World Heritage site from UNESCO from 2012.
How to reach Kaas?
You can reach Kaas Pathar by rail and roadways. The nearest railway station is Satara which is around 80 km from the location, however the best mode to reach there is by road, not only it is more convenient, but it offers a beautiful scenic driving experience. The Kas Plateau is roughly 125 km from the metro city of Pune which is about 2.5 hours drive and 6-7 hours drive from Mumbai. You can hire a cab from your location, or just drive down. There a few state transport buses available from Pune and Satara city as well if you wish to take public transport however, you have to figure the timings, as the frequency is less.
Which season to visit?
The major reason this location has not gained that much popularity is that the tourists have less knowledge on when to visit Kaas Pathar, and most of the time it leads to disappointment.Kas Plateau is one unique tourist spot that is purely seasonal. You cannot go anytime; the best time to visit is from August during the monsoon to early October, this is the only season where you see the valley in full bloom and you can enjoy your visit. As they say, you learn from your mistake, first time I too visited off-season unaware of the correct timing and I was quite disappointed to see almost barren land but then talking to the locals and others who had visited the site earlier told me about the best time to visit.
So when I made my second visit to the plateau it more than covered for my disappointment of earlier visit. However, there are certain points you need to consider before visiting other than the season. To preserve the biodiversity and sanctity of the place, there are specific timelines in the day to visit. Tourists are allowed only between 8 am to 6 pm and every day only 3000 visitors are allowed. You have to book online to get a pass to go the plateau so my advice would be to plan your timing and book in advance to avoid inconvenience. Entry is for an adult is Rs. 50 on weekdays while kids below 5 years are free.
The bedsheet of yellow flowers – Photo is taken from kas.ind.in
What should you carry?
Now, this is important, since the best time is during the monsoon and end of monsoon season, you need to carry an umbrella or a foldable raincoat or all-season windcheaters to protect you from rains and chilly weather that can dip around 100 or less. I would suggest https://amzn.to/3554GQp
Also carry a couple of water bottles with you and some snacks, as there are no shops near the plateau. Since you have to explore the place on your foot it is also advisable to wear comfortable shoes so it is easy on your feet. You can check options on: https://amzn.to/34MzVjz
If you are coming from far off destination one important thing to consider is there are not many accommodations nearby though you would get hotels in Satara. It is better to plan a day trip which is more than enough. And my personal suggestion in case you are into biodiversity and nature, to understand it better take a naturalist or an expert in the field with you who can throw more light on the variety of flower species.
As you may have thought, if you go at the right time the place is Instagram picture perfect and you can take loads of photos. It is not every other place you get a chance to see a diverse and rare species of flowers and biodiversity but as a responsible tourists, we should also play our part in keeping the place neat but not littering.
