Kaas is an Unesco heritage situated about 25 kms from Satara town. This place was hardly known to the public and used to be frequented mostly by botanists and naturalists till 4-5 years back. Since then this place has become a hot spot for the public during a specific 3-4 weeks period towards the end of the monsoon when the landscape just bursts out in frustration out of a year of being tied down and treats people to a myriad of flowers with huge variety of colors,putting up a spectacular display. It is Maharashtra's answer to Uttarakhand's valley of flowers with the exception that you dont need to break a sweat to get to Kaas.
Even during the monsoon, Kaas is extremely beautiful with mist kissing your faces through out the day. At Kaas, you are truly in the laps of nature - the air clean, the atmosphere surreal. The place receives copious amounts of rainfall during the monsoons and in the other seasons the plateau is mostly barren.
Its critical that the visit to Kaas is timed properly. This was the 2nd year in planning for me. Ever since I read an article in National Geographic Magazine about Kaas, I had decided that this is one place I should not miss.
Last year we ill planned the trip and the blooming was over by the time we decided to travel. This year, with lot of meticulous planning, visited the place during the 2nd week of September and we were early this time around by 2 weeks atleast. The blooming was just peaking. So much for being a Chartered accountant and Analyst.
Getting to this place is easy as it is with most places these days with google maps being the ultimate solution provider for travellers like me. We reached the place without much fuss and the expanse of the plateau just takes your breath away.
As per the officials there, the plateau becomes home to 370 varieties of flowers and plant species during this 4 week period.
The rules for visiting this place are slightly different these days. There is a website available - www.kas.ind.in where you can register for your visit. During the peak season only 3000 persons are allowed to visit this place during a day. There are 3 hour time slots for each person starting from 7 AM onwards. I doubt if they follow it strictly but 3 hours is a fair enough time to explore unless you are a serious naturalist.
Vehicles can be driven right upto the entry point in the plateau. However there is a big but. The parking is quite some distance away - atleast a km or so. If you have a driver its best. If you are self driving then you can park it at the designated place from where the authorities have transportation arrangement to the plateau entrance.
Its quite well planned and staff are helpful. Just dont try and throw your weight around when they are implementing certain rules. Its for the benefit of the people and the natural beauty of the place. Also the signal at this place is quite weak and you may have a struggle in reaching the driver's cellphone as we found out. In that case, just take the official transport to the parking lot and get in or at the entrance there is a ticketing counter. You can reach there and inform the officials. They will contact the parking lot and ensure the vehicle reaches you.
These places are fantastic to teach your kids the beauty and importance of nature. They are going to the flag bearers for ensuring the beauty of these places are enjoyed responsibly. So do teach them about the same. The biggest worry for Kaas is the crowd. Till a few years back this obscure location was not a tourist spot. It was a naturalists paradise. Today it is one and only time will tell whether it comes out in one shape.
Do visit Kaas atleast once and if possible twice once during the monsoon before the blooms and again during the peak of flowering. It will be an unforgettable experience and will drench you in fond memories.
Other points that may help :
- We travelled from Mumbai. Route was Mumbai - Pune - Satara - Kaas. Distance approx 300 kms.
- Road condition good to excellent. Time taken was about 6 hours depending on the time you start and number of stoppages in between.
- Can be done as a day trip as well especially from Pune. From Mumbai if you are a time bound traveller, you can. Best is to keep it a 2 day trip.
- Place is good to go with family and small kids. Hand hold them at some of the slopes and slippery rocks.
- No shops near to the plateau. So carry water bottles and snacks but please dont litter upon considering the delicate environment.
- Ideal place to halt would be Satara. Quite a lot of options available. We stayed at Radhika Palace. Average place but in the heart of the town. Cost is slightly on the higher side for the facilities offered.
- Other places nearby - Sajjangad fort, Kaas Lake, Thoseghar waterfalls, Chalkewadi wind mills, Bamnoli etc.
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