Kaas; The Rock Ruled By Tender Flowers
So as Ralph Waldo Emerson says “The Earth laughs in flowers”, a glimpse of Kaas might make you believe it is ROFLing with glee. (For those not familiar with the word, it means- rolling on the floor laughing). It is also known as Kaas Pathar, mainly because it is otherwise barren because of porous laterite rock. But with the arrival of monsoons it gets carpeted with flowers.Kaas is located just 22-25 kilometres away from Satara City in Maharashtra. The Kaas Valley has gained enormous popularity in the last two years and has become Mumbaikars’ favourite getaway during monsoons. Not just Mumbaikars, people from other metro-cities like Delhi and Bangalore too have discovered this treasure.
So like everything good in life, this little wonderland too gets into full-bloom for a limited time- i.e. from August mid-week to the mid week of October (depending how the Rain God showers the blessing). Kaas is not another green valley but more a melange the violets, cyans, turquoises, reds and thousands of colours. There are more than 850 species of plants and flowers that you can find around. This incredible appearance of the valley pleased even the UNESCO officials and that’s when they announced Kaas Plateau as Biodiversity World Heritage Site.
Affluency of flora weaves a safer home for a variety of birds, animals and other creatures. If you are not short on time, make sure you are visiting other attractions around Satara- such as the Thoseghar Waterfall, Sajjangad Fort, Chalkewadi Windmills Farm and Kaas Lake. Also, while you are there, there is no question of missing out its very popular sweet delicacy- Kandi Pedhe.
Chalkewadi Windmills Farm is supposedly among the largest windmill farm in Asia and has about hundreds of windmills installed amidst the lush green valley. Glimmering Thoseghar Waterfall looks pleasing to the eye as it cascades down the cliff. And finally, the stress of a monotonous city-life flushes out and you feel uplifted as you sit beside the Kaas Lake.
There is yet so much Kaas offers, and to grab it all The Wander Girls are leaving for a women-only weekend road-trip to Kaas this October. Want to join in?
(Image Credits:
Image one-Myodysseys
Image two-Eccectrav
Image three- Ferrohadevelopers
Image four- Anita Mokashi
Image five- Glimpse of TWG’s previous Kaas trip
Image six- Glimpse of TWG’s previous Kaas trip)
