A blanket of mustard, pink, lavender, and cerulean cloaks the earth as far as the eyes can see at one of the most stunning valleys of Maharashtra. The Kaas Plateau is home to beautiful yet rare and endangered species of flowers. It has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site as the usually barren land blooms a carpet of colourful wildflowers during the late months of monsoon.
What to expect?
With a chunk of endangered flowering species discovered here, Kaas Plateau boasts a whopping 850 species of wildflowers and orchids. Several birds, insects, and amphibians also saturate the beautiful valley. What’s more interesting is that out of the 850 species of flowers found here, 624 are listed in the Red Data Book. Out of which 39 of these species are exclusive to the valley alone! So your visit here not only limits you to witnessing the bursts of primary colours surrounding you, but also to admiring the ecological weight that these species carry.
When is the best time to visit the Kaas Plateau?
With the enigma at its heightened prime for a mere 30-45 days, the best time to visit this valley is between late-August and the beginning weeks of October. You can observe the changing hues of the flower beds then as they burst out in several colours. Their tiny blooms swaying in the wind are enough to enchant onlookers.
How to reach the Kaas Plateau?
🚗By road: It takes nearly a six-hour drive from Mumbai to reach the plateau. Take the Mumbai-Bengaluru Highway (NH4) to Satara and take the exit for Kaas Plateau.
🚆By train: You can take the Koyna Express from the CST station, Mumbai, to Satara Station. From the railway station, you can hire a taxi or auto to the Satara bus station. Here, take the bus going to Bamnoli Village and get off at Kaas Plateau.
If you plan on slipping away for a quick getaway from Mumbai to the pristine hills of Mahabaleshwar, you can visit this enchanting valley only an hour away by road.
You can find more information about visiting the valley itself here. The visitor capacity is capped at 3,000 per day and can be booked for hours: 7 am-11 am, 11 am-3 pm, and 3 pm-6 pm. Tickets cost INR 150, with children below 12 and senior citizens above 65 entering for free.