Showing posts with label Kaas Plateau. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kaas Plateau. Show all posts

September 29, 2016

Places to Visit near Kaas Plateau- Thoseghar falls, Sajjangad fort and more


The flowers on Kaas plateau are such that they would never let you leave. You would never feel satiated even with the numerous species of flowers you see at Kaas Plateau, and the desire to stay back to explore more is always there. Such is the lure of Kaas plateau. However, when you want to move beyond the flowers, there are many attractions around Kaas plateau and Satara.

A short stroll away from the plateau is the beautiful Kaas lake near the car park area. Though a portion of it is visible from the top of the plateau, as you walk down, the mist engulfed lake opens up with green hills in the background. It is quite a serene place in the evening when the crowd dries up and all that you have is nature. There are a couple of tea stalls here to enjoy some hot tea and a quick bite by the lake.

Kaas lake
The road further from the lake goes winding through the hills and takes you to Bamnoli, a small sleepy hamlet amidst the hills by the large Shivsagar lake. The village looks almost abandoned with dilapidated structures, a couple of them water washed due to high tide. The boat club here offers a ride on the expansive Shivsagar lake which is well recommended. Shades of blue and green splash all around as the boat floats away to the tune of the tides.

Shivsagar lake


Thoseghar near Satara is probably the biggest attraction close to Kaas with its magnificent falls. The sprawling green hills and the intimidating windmills en-route Thoseghar falls are a delight to watch. A short walk through a park leads to the vantage point which offers magnificent views of the Thoseghar waterfalls.The horse shoe shaped gorge has multiple falls, both plunge and cascading ones which flow through the valley into oblivion. The plunge falls definitely is the most breathtaking one. Watch closer and you may notice numerous birds flock together near the falls. The gorgeous green background gels well with the gushing white waters to form a beautiful frame. All that you would want to do here is gaze in silence.

En-route Thoseghar

Windmills of Chalkewadi

Thoseghar falls

Cascading falls at Thoseghar
Between Satara and Thoseghar lies Sajjangad fort atop a hill, which is visible from a distance. As you take the steep climb up to the fort, the panoramic vistas of the hills and valleys open up. Built in the 14th century by the Brahmani emperors, the fort changed hands to Adilshah, Mughals and Shivaji over the years. The fort is also where Sant Ramdas was laid to rest. Presently there are numerous shops catering to the needs of the visitors apart from a temple, a pond and a few other structures.

Sajjangad fort seen from a distance

Views as you climb the fort

Steps leading to the top of the fort

Shops selling a plethora of things

The fort as a few large entry gates
Ajinkyatara fort, very near to Satara is another attraction which offers lovely vistas all over. Satara definitely has quite a few interesting places apart from Kaas plateau, and all these can be clubbed together as a two day getaway from Pune/Mumbai.

Location- Satara is 125 Kms from Pune
Satara to Kaas lake- 26 Kms
Satara to Bamnoli- 35 Kms
Satara to Thoseghar falls- 26 Kms
Satara to Sajjangad fort- 16 Kms

Accommodation and Food- There are numerous accommodation options (both budget and mid category) in Satara. There are also accommodation options in Kaas. All the above mentioned places have small eateries nearby, most of which serve the local cuisine. Vada Paav and tea are easily available.

September 14, 2016

Kaas- A Plateau of Flowers!


As much as people await the monsoons after a harsh summer, nature enthusiasts, botanists, and flower lovers eagerly wait for that short window period after the rains to head to Kaas Plateau where a bevy of unique flowers bloom to form a colourful bed. In full bloom it seems like nature has splashed a palette of colours all over the plateau. Amidst the rocky patches and puddles, shades of blue, pink, yellow, white and many more spread out. Though it may sound cliched, it definitely seems like a carpet of flowers in various colours. This UNESCO Natural World Heritage site is a part of the western ghats and is home to numerous endemic and endangered species of flowers and plants making it a rich biodiversity region.

Kaas Plateau is situated in Satara district of Maharashtra and is locally referred to as Kaas Pathar. Though the road from Satara to Kaas cuts through this flowerful stretch, the place has been neatly fenced to avoid trampling by visitors and travellers. Officials have put in their best efforts to make sure the rich biodiversity of the place is well conserved. Vehicles can be parked a kilometer away from Kaas Plateau near Kaas lake. The walk up to the plateau offers nice panoramic views of the lake and hills before the flowers catch your attention.


Impatiens Lawii
Pleocaulus Ritchiei


Cyanotis Tuberosa

Zingiber Neesanum
Impatiens Lawii






Linum Mysurense (yellow flowers)









 
Eriocaulon
Utricularia Purpurascens





View of Kaas Lake from atop the plateau
P.S.- All the above pictures were taken on 6th September 2016.

It is best advised to visit early in the morning (from 7AM onward). There is a restriction on the number of people who can visit per day and not more than 3000 are allowed. Booking your visit can be done at the entry gate or through their website- https://www.kas.ind.in/. There are time slots of 3 hours each which you can choose from. Though it may not be crowded during week days, it is recommended to book in advance if you intend to visit during weekends. The blooming period is usually from mid August until end of September.

Location- 24 Kms from Satara and 125 Kms from Pune. One can also reach Kaas from Mahabaleshwar via Tapola road and Bamnoli.

Attractions near by- Thoseghar falls, Vajrai falls, Sajjangad fort, Ajinkyatara fort, Bamnoli boat club, Kanher dam and vistas of Koyna river.

Food- There are a couple of tea stalls near Kaas lake (near car parking) where you can gobble down maggi and omelette with a hot cup of ginger tea. A few small restaurants are present before the plateau while travelling from Satara.

Accommodation- Kaas Holiday resort and Kaas Village resort (http://kaspatharholiday.com) are the recommended options close to the plateau.
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