Located in the North, A trip to the famous Valley of Flowers burns a hole in your pocket and the daily planner. If it's a dramatic floral view you desire, head to the Kaas Plateau near Satara instead
Located in the North, A trip to the famous Valley of Flowers burns a hole in your pocket and the daily planner. If it's a dramatic floral view you desire, head to the Kaas Plateau near Satara instead
The Valley of Flowers in Uttaranchal in Northern India has often been described as heaven on earth.
Located at an altitude of 3,600 metres above sea level, in the Himalayas, The Valley of Flowers lies frozen for most part of the year and then suddenly bursts into a vibrant blanket of colour in the summer months.
For travellers and nature lovers who have always dreamed about visiting this place but haven't really ended up planning the trip, there is an easier option and that too right in our backyard at the Kaas Plateau at Satara.
During the months of August, September and October, the plateau is splashed with various hues as hundreds of flowers carpet the area. 
It is said that more than 300 different kinds of flowers, herbs, and shrubs bloom during the monsoon months and change the landscape making it a veritable treasure trove for any naturalist.
There is even a delightful little book on the wild flowers of Kaas, titled Flora of Kaas Plateau of Satara District by PB Chavan, VP Khandekar and SH Mahamul, 1973, which provides information on the various types of flora that grow here.
The lateritic Kaas plateau, rich in minerals, is located around 25 kms from Satara and close to the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve.
Some of the flowers that can be spotted here are the exquisite Smithia and Sonki, Pink carpets of Balsam, Purple carpets of Karvi among others.
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The most exciting bit about the place is that the colour of the plateau keeps changing every week depending on the dominant flower blooming.
So while it maybe a bright yellow in week one, it could change to a hot pink in the second week, and then a sultry purple in the third.
Flowers and plants apart, this place also spoils ornithologists for choice. Here one can hope to spot
a varied species of birds such as Crested Buntings, Malabar Crested Larks, Oriental White-eyes and Bonelli's Eagle.u00a0
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For those bitten by the wanderlust bug and inspired by a love for nature, Countryside Adventure Holidays is organising a trek from September 3 for two nights and three days. Shoot them a line at countrysideindia.com or call 24441513 / 24442944
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