Uttarakhand is the first name that comes to mind when you say ‘Valley of Flowers’. But witnessing that form is not easy. One has to walk a long, hilly path to reach there. If you can’t pass that way, you can visit Maharashtra’s ‘Valley of Flowers’. Just 25 km away from Satara town in Satara district, colorful flowers are waiting for you by decorating the branches of Rup. He turns his eyes from the glow of color on the rainy Kaas plateau. Who can?
Over 850 species of flowers bloom on the Kas Plateau. Locals call this place ‘Kas Pathar’. Kas becomes most beautiful in the monsoons. Flowering starts in August. Stays until October. However, the flowering time varies slightly from year to year. Based on that, a tourist entry permit is issued. Usually, tourists can go there by the end of September. This valley becomes most beautiful for 15-20 days in a year. The play of colors across the horizon can be easily seen through the cloud-fog sheet.
When those petals wave collectively on the head, the world seems insignificant to that form. At least 39 species of flowers are found here that cannot be found anywhere else. So this place is of immense importance to botanists. This valley of flowers is just 20 km from Koena Sanctuary. Most of the vast area falls under reserved forest. Flowering is most attractive in late September and October.
How do you book?
Anyone can come to this valley. For this, you have to buy tickets in advance. 3,000 tourists are allowed to visit the Valley of Flowers every day. Advance tickets are to be booked online by visiting Kas Malabhoomi’s website. The ticket price for entry is 150 rupees. It takes 100 rupees for the guide. Kumudini Lake can be visited from Rajmarg by renting a bicycle for Tk 50.
Timing is very important here. Time is given in three parts throughout the day. 7 AM to 11 AM, 11 AM to 3 PM, and 3 PM to 6 PM. 1000 tourists are allowed to enter during the specified time.
How to come?
The distance from Mumbai to the Kaas plateau is roughly 250 km. Stay at Satara if you want to visit the Kas Plateau. From Kolkata, you can go to Mumbai or Pune, and from there, you can go to Satara. There are multiple trains from Pune to Satara.
