Kaas (Maharashtra) -The Plateau of flowers

genesis · 7th October 2009, 19:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiren

A leisurely breakfast at a Maharashtrian place called Virangula (around 10 mins from Khambatki ghats and highly recommended) for some hardcore thalipeeth, kanda pohe, upma,

Never seen this place Virangula. Is it immediately after Khambatki? Mouth watering stuff. Infact it will be the ideal stop joint on NH4 for Mumbai - Blore guys.

Virangula is not in the immediate clutch of dhabas right after khambatki. It is around 10 mins later. You will see a petrol pump (the only petrol pump) on your left going from Pune to Bangalore. It is adjacent to it.

Food is good. They even have dink laddu

Clean toilets also (biggest criteria for highway stops when the fairer sex is around)

genesis · 7th October 2009, 23:52

The yellow splashes intensified, sometimes interspersed with purple and we we cruised down the road until a throbbing yellow heart beckoned us to stop and we spied some kindred souls welcoming mother nature with open arms

Kaas (Maharashtra) -The Plateau of flowers-img_3057.jpg

Kaas (Maharashtra) -The Plateau of flowers-img_3074.jpg

Kaas (Maharashtra) -The Plateau of flowers-img_3067.jpg

Kaas (Maharashtra) -The Plateau of flowers-img_3086.jpg

Kaas (Maharashtra) -The Plateau of flowers-img_3093.jpg

genesis · 8th October 2009, 08:16

Soon we reached the main 'stretch' of flowers which was blanketed with fog and saw that unfortunately most of them were dying out as it was season end.
There were a few cars with other travelers posing in the fog, their flash bulbs going off along with the flashing hazard lights gave the place a surreal feeling.

Spying a fairly large puddle and rock ridden dirt road branching off to the right (the bikers had told us to watch out for it), we decided to take a chance and that was the start of the unplanned off-roading adventure of the trip...

Chacha takes a walk

Kaas (Maharashtra) -The Plateau of flowers-img_3073.jpg

Branching off to the dirt track

Kaas (Maharashtra) -The Plateau of flowers-img_3100.jpg

Fog Fog everywhere

Kaas (Maharashtra) -The Plateau of flowers-img_3105.jpg

Our own private lake

Kaas (Maharashtra) -The Plateau of flowers-img_3129.jpg

Floaters

Kaas (Maharashtra) -The Plateau of flowers-img_3115.jpg

White flowers

Kaas (Maharashtra) -The Plateau of flowers-img_3111.jpg

View from see level

Kaas (Maharashtra) -The Plateau of flowers-img_3125.jpg

Purple Rain

Kaas (Maharashtra) -The Plateau of flowers-img_3151.jpg

Mesmerized by the beauty around us, I kept taking the innova down the progressively rocky path, sometimes bouncing from rock to rock and soothing the nerves of the passengers with stories of how this was childs play compared to Himachal and Spiti, blissfully ignoring the fact that whatever goes down may have to come up the same slippery slopes...

muralisk · 8th October 2009, 08:43

Wow, this place looks awesome and it is indeed a great visual treat and has great photo shoot opportunities.

PearlJam · 8th October 2009, 09:51

Nice pics! Is accomodation easily available here?

pjay_in · 8th October 2009, 09:58

The place looks so beautiful! A dreamlike setting. Wonderful pics too.

genesis · 8th October 2009, 10:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by ASHISHPALLOD

Aha, the kaas lake, Auli of Maharashtra, valley..err..plateau of flowers.

Had you visited Bamnoli also?

Remember, kaas area is the site for New Mahabaleshwar.

@ASHISHPALLOD: Did not visit Bamnoli, spent most of the time at Kaas with a little adventure...details being narrated...and then went to Thoseghar to see the waterfall.

Apart from Auli of Maharashtra it is also know as the Scotland of Maharashtra. And true enough, there were some areas in the backwoods which reminded me of the hills and peat bogs of Scotland.

genesis · 8th October 2009, 10:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by PearlJam

Nice pics! Is accomodation easily available here?

Satara is a decently big town and not exactly a tourist hotspot.

so hotels should not be a problem

These seem to be the hotels in town as per

Hotels in Satara - VMTravels.com

More than enough choice for a nice stay. Alternatively, Mahabaleshwar is within easy reach if you want to spend a few days there though Satara will probably be cheaper.

frequentflyer · 8th October 2009, 13:23

Wonderful snaps...taken in the correct season. If anybody goes there after 15 Oct, it is unlikely he/she will find similar vegetation!

normally_crazy · 8th October 2009, 13:28

Wow - stunning pictures. Can't believe it's in Maharashtra. Super stuff Genesis. Keep it coming. I am all eyes and ears.

BomBatt · 8th October 2009, 19:19

Mahabaleshwar, Panchgani, Matheran, Amboli, Malshej ghats, Khandala, and now this Kaas ! So many beautiful places...

Inspite of having been in Mumbai for 4 years, did not visit any of these places

Sawyer · 8th October 2009, 19:36

Anyone used the road from Satara to Mahabaleshwar? I am told it is very scenic and may be a good way to get there after a morning at Kaas.

genesis · 9th October 2009, 07:51

The track continued into the mist, alternating between a single track hemmed in by bushes to portions with fairly large waterlogged potholes. We felt eyes watching us from the trees and fields and it was silent except for bird calls and dripping water...

Felt like a tea estate at times

Kaas (Maharashtra) -The Plateau of flowers-img_3226.jpg

Mini swimming pools

Kaas (Maharashtra) -The Plateau of flowers-img_3224.jpg

Waiting

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Watching

Kaas (Maharashtra) -The Plateau of flowers-img_3176.jpg

Faces

Kaas (Maharashtra) -The Plateau of flowers-img_3159.jpg

Donald Duck's brother?

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Splash

Kaas (Maharashtra) -The Plateau of flowers-img_3234.jpg

Drip

Kaas (Maharashtra) -The Plateau of flowers-img_3208.jpg

Can anyone on this forum identify those two birds?

prince_pervez · 9th October 2009, 07:57

B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L! The pictures of the flora are spectacular. The last one up there ^^ is brilliant and should earn its place in @Samurai's rain theme thread.

sudev · 9th October 2009, 08:18

Lovely pictures and amazing place. Would love to go there some time.

7th October 2009, 23:52	#17
genesis BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 773 Thanked: 339 Times	The yellow splashes intensified, sometimes interspersed with purple and we we cruised down the road until a throbbing yellow heart beckoned us to stop and we spied some kindred souls welcoming mother nature with open arms
	() Thanks

8th October 2009, 08:16	#18
genesis BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 773 Thanked: 339 Times	Soon we reached the main 'stretch' of flowers which was blanketed with fog and saw that unfortunately most of them were dying out as it was season end. There were a few cars with other travelers posing in the fog, their flash bulbs going off along with the flashing hazard lights gave the place a surreal feeling. Spying a fairly large puddle and rock ridden dirt road branching off to the right (the bikers had told us to watch out for it), we decided to take a chance and that was the start of the unplanned off-roading adventure of the trip... Chacha takes a walk Branching off to the dirt track Fog Fog everywhere Our own private lake Floaters White flowers View from see level Purple Rain Mesmerized by the beauty around us, I kept taking the innova down the progressively rocky path, sometimes bouncing from rock to rock and soothing the nerves of the passengers with stories of how this was childs play compared to Himachal and Spiti, blissfully ignoring the fact that whatever goes down may have to come up the same slippery slopes...
	(1) Thanks

8th October 2009, 08:43	#19
muralisk BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Hyderabad, Bangalore Posts: 711 Thanked: 13 Times View My Garage	Wow, this place looks awesome and it is indeed a great visual treat and has great photo shoot opportunities.
	() Thanks

8th October 2009, 09:51	#20
PearlJam BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 631 Thanked: 1,660 Times	Nice pics! Is accomodation easily available here?
	() Thanks

8th October 2009, 09:58	#21
pjay_in BHPian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Melbourne Posts: 396 Thanked: 20 Times	The place looks so beautiful! A dreamlike setting. Wonderful pics too.
	() Thanks

8th October 2009, 13:23	#24
frequentflyer BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Pune Posts: 223 Thanked: 34 Times	Wonderful snaps...taken in the correct season. If anybody goes there after 15 Oct, it is unlikely he/she will find similar vegetation!
	() Thanks

8th October 2009, 13:28	#25
normally_crazy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 4,369 Thanked: 528 Times View My Garage	Wow - stunning pictures. Can't believe it's in Maharashtra. Super stuff Genesis. Keep it coming. I am all eyes and ears.
	() Thanks

8th October 2009, 19:19	#26
BomBatt BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 208 Thanked: 35 Times	Mahabaleshwar, Panchgani, Matheran, Amboli, Malshej ghats, Khandala, and now this Kaas ! So many beautiful places... Inspite of having been in Mumbai for 4 years, did not visit any of these places Last edited by BomBatt : 8th October 2009 at 19:20.
	() Thanks

8th October 2009, 19:36	#27
Sawyer Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pune Posts: 2,677 Thanked: 1,786 Times	Anyone used the road from Satara to Mahabaleshwar? I am told it is very scenic and may be a good way to get there after a morning at Kaas.
	() Thanks

9th October 2009, 07:51	#28
genesis BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 773 Thanked: 339 Times	The track continued into the mist, alternating between a single track hemmed in by bushes to portions with fairly large waterlogged potholes. We felt eyes watching us from the trees and fields and it was silent except for bird calls and dripping water... Felt like a tea estate at times Mini swimming pools Waiting Watching Faces Donald Duck's brother? Splash Drip Can anyone on this forum identify those two birds?
	(1) Thanks

9th October 2009, 07:57	#29
prince_pervez Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Redwood shores, CA, USA Posts: 4,210 Thanked: 51 Times View My Garage	B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L! The pictures of the flora are spectacular. The last one up there ^^ is brilliant and should earn its place in @Samurai's rain theme thread.
	() Thanks

9th October 2009, 08:18	#30
sudev Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 3,838 Thanked: 3,179 Times	Lovely pictures and amazing place. Would love to go there some time.
	() Thanks