Travel Alert: Kaas Plateau Safari Reopens After Six Months

Some of India's most treasured and rare natural heritage is in the form of acres of seasonal wildflowers, some of which bloom only once in a while, and are hidden away in protected areas and national parks. Among them is the Kaas Plateau in Maharashtra, popularly known as "Maharashtra's Valley of Flowers."Kaas Plateau was included in the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 2012. Known as Kaas Pathar in Marathi, its name is derived from the Kaasa tree, botanically known as Elaeocarpus glandulosus (rudraksha family). During August and September, the Kaas Plateau comes to life with numerous seasonal flowers forming a floral carpet across the entire lateritic crust, making it a biodiversity hotspot. Those who look forward to the blooms will be pleased to learn that after being closed for 6 months (since June), Kaas Plateau has brought back the Kaas Darshan day safari.While the Kaas Plateau is a popular tourist destination every year, the purple Karvi flowers, which only bloom once every seven or eight years, are a big draw.About The SafariThe return of the Kaas Darshan safari means tourists can discover once again the unique landscapes in the area, a mix of waterfalls, caverns, and sacred groves. The 50-kilometre day safari explores various attractions such as Kaas Plateau, Sajjangad point, Mandapghal caves, Ghatai Devrai (sacred groves), Kumudini lake, Vajrai waterfall, Vanjulwadi, Andhari Sahyadri Nagar windmills, Venna river, Ekiw falls, and Navra-Navri hill at Attadi village. Most places on the day safari are blocked to guests during the Kaas Flower Festival, which runs from late August until mid-October. A Fragile Biodiverse Area Since the declaration of the Kaas plateau as a UNESCO heritage site, thousands of tourists throng this tourist spot. Naturally, an increase in the number of visitors has put this secluded spot in danger of being polluted. For the same reason, there are a few guards standing around at most entry points while most of the other areas are barricaded.To preserve the biodiversity of the Kaas flower plateau, settlements in the area have formed an executive council that works under the supervision of the Satara Forest Department. Forest authorities have devised control measures to deal with the huge number of people visiting the Kaas Plateau. According to Kaas Plateau officials, around one lakh people attended the flower festival. According to reports, the Satara administration discovered 155 houses that violated construction standards on the Kaas Plateau in May 2023.About Kaas PlateauKaas Plateau is located in the Sahyadri Range, 22 km away from Satara. It abuts the northern part of Koyana Sanctuary, and a major portion of the plateau is reserve forest. After the monsoon, from August to October, the 1,000-hectare region undergoes a fascinating phenomenon and turns into a riot of colour, with wildflowers carpeting the land as far as you can see. More than 850 species of flowering plants are found on the plateau. To protect this fragile ecosystem, it is forbidden to walk amid the flowers. You can walk/hike around the plateau, though, to admire the flowers from different vantage points.The InformationStaysThere are a few homestays in the nearby villages set up by the Joint Forest Management Committee along with MTDC. Or else, stay at Satara, the base town for visiting Kaas. A few small eateries offering Maharashtrian cuisine can be found in Kaas.When To Go After the rains, till October end. Many people visit Kaas during the rains. The plants bloom only in late August to September Getting ThereNearest airport: Pune’s Lohegaon Airport (134 km/ 1.5 hours). Nearest railhead: Satara (25 km/ 40 minutes). You can also drive down the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and NH4 upto Satara.