Literature and Poetry always had a romantic relationship with flowers because of their Beaty. What if there can be a place which is entirely made up of wild flowers, flowers which emerge in a particular season and then vanish to reemerge only next year. Flowers which grow as wild flowers away from all the human interferences however there is a captivating symmetry in them. One such place is “Kaas Pathar”. The place is so beautiful and unique that it has been declared as a World Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO because of its uniqueness and value to the humanity.
Location of Kaas Plateau
Kaas Plateau is located in Satara district if Maharashtra. The place is located at a distance of around 25 km from Satara district headquarters. It is accessible from big cities like Pune and Mumbai via Satara Mumbai highway. The distance of Kaas plateau from Mumbai is around 275 km whereas from Pune is around 135 km.
Origin of Kaas Plateau
The origin of the the plateau is said to be volcanic. The upper layer of the plateau of made of Basalt. On basalt some amount of soil formation has taken place due to erosion. These conditions make the soil very nutrient rich and an ideal place for the growth of flowering species.
Biodiversity at Kaas Plateau
As per the various researches there are around 850 different species of Flowering plants in Kaas Plateau. At present out of 624 species of Red Data Book, 39 are from Kaas Plateau only. The topography of Kaas Plateau does not support trees. However certain trees are found on the periphery of the plateau.
The Landscape of Kaas Plateau
The landscape of the plateau is extremely beautiful. Following are the few pictures that I clicked during my visit to the plateau.
Entry Tickets
The tickets for visiting the plateau can be purchased online from https://www.kas.ind.in/ . An entry fee of Rs 150 is charged per ticket. However please remember to bring the printed tickets as screenshots are not accepted. The tickets can also be purchased directly at the counter. However don’t forget to bring cash as mobile network is usually not available in the Kaas Plateau area.
Impact of Tourism
As per various reports, large scale tourism is adversely affecting the plateau. There has been a significant degradation in the topography leading to a possible loss of biodiversity.
Joint Forest Management Committee
A joint forest management committee has been formed with the participation of local people to sensitise the local people about the importance of the Kaas Plateau. The aim of the committee is to aid in the conservation efforts of the plateau.
Ideal Time to Visit Kaas Plateau
The ideal time to visit the Kaas Plateau is from first week of September to Mid of October, the flowering season of the wild plants. Preferably one should visit during the last week of September and first week of October for the best views.
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