Flowers, flowers and more flowers - Kaas Plateau

Even the name Kaas comes from a tree, so it is not surprising that the area is famed for its flora. The Kaas Plateau also known as Kaas Pathar, spread over 1,000 hectares, is situated in the Sahyadri hills near Satara city in Maharashtra. Kaas gets its name from the Kaasa tree (Elaeocarpus glandulosus), whose leaves turn from green to red as it matures and bears white flowers for just 15 days in March.

In the monsoon, especially in August, the Kaas Plateau is carpeted by various flowers that spread as far as the eye can see. The Forest Department has impressive figures: there are more than 150 types of flowers, shrubs and grasses found in this unique biosphere with high hill plateaus and grasslands. This is hemmed in by the beautiful Kaas Lake.

To the left of the lake lies Sajjangad fort and to the right is the Kanher Dam. It is a famous picnic spot with the locals. The picturesque location has more than 850 different species of flowers and plants, including orchids, karvy and carnivorous plants such as Drosera Indica. The area comes under the Sahyadri Sub Cluster of Western Ghats, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

To visit Kaas plateau, register on the website www.kas.ind.in
Getting there:
Nearest Railway station: Satara, about 30 km via Kaas Road
Nearest Airport: Pune, about 145 km