[naren_gs1]

Originally Posted by ASHISHPALLOD

Best person to contact for current position of flower bloom at Kaas is the driver of the bus between Satara and Bamnoli.
Best way to contact that driver is a call to controller at Satara bus stand.

Thanks again AP.
I will try - may be will find the drvier from ST site. BTW, even my trekker friend has not seen the bloom himself - just what he heard, just wanted to check.

Regards

[naren_gs1]

Also, AP, can you pls help planning visits to Tapola/KAS from Mahabaleshwar? I would be driving. May be I can do one of these after checking out from Mahabaleshwar and on the way back to Pune.

Thanks
Regards

[prince_pervez]

Aai ga! No one suggested Lonavala Khandala ? Are these places losing steam ?
I would really avoid Bhandardara due to personal experience. For 4 - Days I would plan for Tarkali beach and stay with the boat houses at MTDC. Beautiful, unspoilt, hardly a soul around, pure fun.

[COUGAR]

@naren_gs1: From Mahableshwar, the road to Tapola starts from around that temple next to the main petrol pump. Its pretty much well marked to Tapola. From here head to Kaas, then Bamnoli and come out on the NH4 at Satara.

[naren_gs1]

Originally Posted by prince_pervez

Aai ga! No one suggested Lonavala Khandala ? Are these places losing steam ?
I would really avoid Bhandardara due to personal experience. For 4 - Days I would plan for Tarkali beach and stay with the boat houses at MTDC. Beautiful, unspoilt, hardly a soul around, pure fun.

Thanks Parvez. I have been to Tarkarli as well. I normally like beaches during winter!

Regards

[naren_gs1]

Originally Posted by COUGAR

@naren_gs1: From Mahableshwar, the road to Tapola starts from around that temple next to the main petrol pump. Its pretty much well marked to Tapola. From here head to Kaas, then Bamnoli and come out on the NH4 at Satara.

Thanks Cougar,
Any idea about distances Tapola-Kas-Satara? I know Tapola is around 30 kms from Mahabaleshwar.

Regards

[naren_gs1]

Originally Posted by COUGAR

@naren_gs1: From Mahableshwar, the road to Tapola starts from around that temple next to the main petrol pump. Its pretty much well marked to Tapola. From here head to Kaas, then Bamnoli and come out on the NH4 at Satara.

I double checked with hotel-staff, guide and a cab wallah in Mahabaleshwar about road to Kaas from Tapola. Nobody was aware about tar road - however everybody mentioned it being a kaccha road. And too risky to take during Monsoon. When I checked with couple of guys in Tapola - they seemed to be very sure about a motorable road to Kass from Tapola (50 kms).

I eventually went from Mahabaleshwar next day. I saw there is a kaccha road from Kass plateau (not from Kaas village) and a local told me it goes to Tapola! I believe it does, however not via Bamnoli.


PS:
1) Roads all around from Pune-Mahabaleshwar-Pratapgad-Tapola-Medha-Satara-Kaas are in good condition.
2) Kass plateau is not at at full bllom yet. There are purple, blue, pink, lighet blue flowers through. But I personally felt Kaas plateau is worth a visit even without flowers (imagine a plateau with deep valleys both sides) (off course must visit during bloom). Locals again told the full bloom might be around 15 th Sept, and I plan to visit again on 18th Sept.

[COUGAR]

@naren_gs1: I did this route back in 2008 and then again in 2009: both times around Nov and can confirm that I had tar roads all the way from Satara to Mahableswhar via kaas, Bamnoli and Tapola.

Road conditions were extremely bad in some sections but it was def tarred.

[naren_gs1]

Originally Posted by COUGAR

@naren_gs1: I did this route back in 2008 and then again in 2009: both times around Nov and can confirm that I had tar roads all the way from Satara to Mahableswhar via kaas, Bamnoli and Tapola.

Road conditions were extremely bad in some sections but it was def tarred.

Thanks COUGAR. Can you pls help with distances and any additional attractions en-route? This would help plan properly next time.

Regards

[MX6]

Thanks for that great update Naren. I'm planning Kaas on 18th too. And there are over 15 members who are planning a Kaas meet on 25th Sept.
With help of AshishPallod, we are monitoring the bloom cycle closely.

[WDM007]

^^^

Hey Hey Hey Hey !

And may I know how this monitoring being done? Through the ST Driver I guess ?

[naren_gs1]

Originally Posted by MX6

Thanks for that great update Naren. I'm planning Kaas on 18th too. And there are over 15 members who are planning a Kaas meet on 25th Sept.
With help of AshishPallod, we are monitoring the bloom cycle closely.

I will post again around 16/17th Sept to align so that we could meet on 18th.

Since many of oue group is already planning a visit - I would suggest to start a seperate thread to track Kaas bloom.

Regards

[WDM007]

Originally Posted by naren_gs1

I will post again around 16/17th Sept to align so that we could meet on 18th.

Since many of oue group is already planning a visit - I would suggest to start a seperate thread to track Kaas bloom.

Regards

There is already one thread going on for KAAS.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/team-b...t-24-25-a.html

[naren_gs1]

Around Pune in Monsoon:
1) I evnetually went to KAAS again on 22nd Sept.
2) I also once went to Lavasa - if you manage to get accomotion in EKANT - this may be one of the best option to spend time around in Pune in monsoon

[ObsessedByFIAT]

Bumping up an old thread!

Hoping to get a few suggestions based on the following points:

1. Group of 5 guys.
2. Planning to travel not more than 250-300 KM from Pune
3. Looking for an overnight stay option
4. NO beaches!!!
5. Should be well connected, as in, must have some amount of night life. (No disco stuff and all, just the ususal small town life stuff)

Planning for the second week of September.

Any suggestions would be highly appreciated!

Cheers!