About the trek
If you've always wanted to visit the Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand, but never had the time, then Kaas Plateau trek, the Valley of Flowers of Maharashtra, is just right for you. Situated high in the Sahyadris, about 22 km from the city of Satara, the beautiful plateau is a pristine paradise for botanists, researchers, naturalists and photographers. Find out more about the natural wonders of the Sahyadris in our article, Fascinating Factoids about the Western Ghats.
The plateau is named after the Kaasa tree that grows here. While it is pretty all year round, it turns into a magical natural wonder just after the monsoon. Over 150 species of wildflowers carpet the land, and almost 40 of these species are so rare that they are only found here. Thanks to the abundant rainfall and flowers, you'll also spot tiny birds and beautiful iridescent insects in the foliage. For all these reasons, the plateau has been declared a World Natural Heritage Site.
Kaas Plateau difficulty level
The Kaas Plateau trek is not hard and is a great option for first-timers and families with children. It does not require too much trekking, but you can explore the plateau and enjoy the views. You can also choose to climb to Thoseghar Waterfalls to add a bit of fun.
Depart from Mumbai
Kaas Plateau is about 280 km from Mumbai city. The drive to Satara takes 6-7 hours and Kaas Plateau is just 20 km away from here. Many itineraries include a stay at Satara for a night so that you can visit Kaas Plateau at different times of the day.
Depart from Pune
It is much easier to get to Kaas Plateau from Pune as it is only a distance of 125 km. The drive takes less than 3 hours, making it a good option for a day trip.
Itinerary
When you arrive at Kaas Plateau, you’ll be given a briefing and then it’s time to set off to explore. There are some gorgeous viewpoints to see, and many great photography spots. You’ll take a break for lunch, and after that, you can hike down to the nearby Bamnoli Lake or trek up to Thoseghar waterfall. By around 15:00 hrs, it’s time to depart and head homewards.
Best time to visit Kaas Plateau:
The best time to visit Kaas Plateau is during the monsoons and the blooming season is from mid-August until early October. During this time, the Kaas plateau comes to life, and all the dormant flowers burst into radiant life. Don’t forget to bring your camera along for the prettiest pictures of a gorgeous plateau filled with flowers, mist, and tinkling streams.
The colour palette of the landscape changes every 15 to 20 days with the blooming cycles of the different flowers with dramatic views of the colourful landscape as far as the eyes can see.
If you are a trekking lover, there are many trekking options near Mumbai and Pune that you might want to explore.
Kaas Plateau Trek summary
- State: Maharashtra
- Nearest city: Pune
- Total days: 2 days
- Grade: Easy
- Max altitude:3937 ft
- Total distance:8 km
- Season: Monsoon
- Avg temperature: 20-25 degrees Celsius
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