Flower power

Representation pic

Every year, in August, September and October, the volcanic Kaas Plateau, located 25 km from Satara, magically transforms into a bed of flowers. From the kandil-shaped ceropegia vincaefolia to the insectivorous drosera indica, over 850 species of flowering plants bloom in the plateau, some endemic to the biodiversity hotspot and to Satara, shares Sachin Rane, founder, Mumbai-based NaturalisT Foundation which is organising a flora walk there. "Every flower has a season; the colour of the plateau keeps changing based on the flowers blooming then," he shares.

The two-day trip will take off from Borivali this weekend, and involve a botanist-guided tour. Rane tells us that the trip is aimed at not just exploring the unique flowering species, but also spreading awareness about Kaas Pathar or Plateau, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. "A lot of the species found here are insectivorous such as drosera indica and utricularia because of the volcanic nature of the plateau. This kind of soil doesn't have too many minerals, which is why the plants have modified themselves," he reveals, adding that one can also look out for species such as aponogeton satarensis, ceropegia jainii and balsam.

On the first day, participants will visit Thoseghar waterfall, which boasts of a variety of orchids, and Chalkewadi windmills, where a lot of flowering species from Kaas can be spotted, Rane informs us. "The next day, we'll leave for the Kaas flora trail, where we spend four-five hours, followed by a trip to Kaas lake, where one can find ceropegia vincaefolia, an endangered species which looks like a kandil. Locals consume the sweet bulbs of the plant, which is why it's endangered." His tip for travellers: wear dull-coloured clothes that are best suited for nature trails, and don't touch any creature or plant without permission.

On: September 25 and 26
Meeting Point: Borivali (SGNP gate)
Call: 8898114024
Cost: Rs 4,500