Wild flowers of Kaas

Visit to 'Kaas pathar' was on my to do list since long. But one needs to visit this place only in September to see the bloom.  Got a chance this season and decided to take a roadtrip to Kaas.

It’s a place where every nature lover and a photographer would find solace. Kaas plateau located approximately 25 km from Satara town and 267 km from Mumbai. Every year during the month of September this place blooms with multitude of Jambhali chirayat, Sonakee,Nisurdi ,Kavala etc to name a few.This road trip to the beautiful landscape and also covers the famous Thoseghar waterfall (25 km from Satara) and Chalkewadi windmill farm.

A 6 hr drive from Mumbai took us to Satara, from there proceeded towards Thoseghar and Chalkewadi. The first set of pictures belong to this place.

Express highway @ Foodmall Lonawala

@ Chalkewadi. It has become a major tourist attraction because of the scenic views that it offers. 

A random flower on the roadside

This is a small waterfall on the uphill

My Car parked next to a giant windmill

Crowd taking a look of Thoseghar waterfall. Aviewing gallery has been built for the same.

One has to walk for 15-20 min from the car parking area to reach this place.

Panorama view of Urmodi reservoir on the way to Kaas

Outskirts of Satara moving uphill to Kaas

Now presenting the hall of fame images.

Flower Scape

Flower Scape

Lal Terda scattering all over

Three trails are marked at Kaas for tourists to follow. This image is taken on Trail 1.

Impatiens oppositifolia (Marathi- Lal Terda)

Biological name - 'Cyanotis tuberosa'
(Marathi - Nabhali )

Name - 'Pogostemon deccanensis'( Marathi- Jambhli Manjiri)

Biological name - 'Drosera indica'
(Marathi : Gavati Davbindu)

This is an insectivorous plant.As seen here in the photograph,the tips of the tentacles are formed by sparkling dots of sticky liquid. Those are not dew drops but sticky glue like structure to which once the insect sticks, it can't escape.

A bug resting on leaf of 'Mpatiens Oppositifolia'

A random shrub on the ground


Thorny leaves of impatiens oppositifolia

'Senecio Grahamii'

A butterfly sucking nectar from the flowers of Paracaryopsis Coelestina / Common Hill Borage

 (Marathi : Nisurdi)

Flower name - 'Murdannia lanuginosa' (Marathi- Abolima)

Hitchenia caulina (local name Chavar)

Morning Glory

Zoomed to see the pollen grains

Name - 'Utricularia Purpurascens' (Marathi- Seeteche Asawee)

Name - 'Utricularia Purpurascens'

Biological name - 'Eriocaulon tuberiferum' 
(Marathi : Pangend)
This small ball-shaped, aquatic herb has this 6-7mm diameter ball on top.

Vigna Vexillata or "Elephant's trunk" 
(Marathi : Halunda)

Biological name - 'Strobilathes sessilis'
(Marathi - Topali Karvi)

Biological name - 'Hitchenia Caulina' 
Common name is 'Indian Arrowroot'

'Senecio Grahamii'

A 'Tetli-Satara' local bus service proceeding towards Satara.

Every nature lover must make it a point to visit this place during the bloom season. It also called 'Valley of flowers' of Western India.