Kaas, India - travel experience, post, guide, blog and photos

India: Maharashtra: Ajanta, Aurangabad, Bhimashankar, Dighi, Diveagar, Ellora, Harihareshwar, Kaas, Karla, Kumbhargaon (Bhigwan), Lavasa, Mulshi, Murud Janjira, Nighoj, Pune, Tadoba, Tungi, Satara, Shivneri, Srivardhan, Thoseghar, Yawat

Kaas & Thoseghar, Satara, India: What’s your colour?
by Prakash Bang, Editor in Chief

If you happen to be in Pune, India, between mid August and early October (if not, come over), I would urge you to take a day off for a colourful trip to Kaas Plateau & Thoseghar - home to a bloom of wild flowers & mighty waterfalls.

Just about 150 kms from Pune, these locations would rank amongst the best day trips that I have had. To enable me to roam freely and shoot pictures without hindrances, I decided to avoid weekends. I set off with my son Anuj at 4 in the morning. Anuj is a good driver and he made sure we were on the Kaas plateau in about 2.5 hours just as the sun was coming up from the majestic mountains.

Satara is indeed a picturesque District in the State of Maharashtra. The town, nestled in a valley, is 120 kms from Pune on the Pune Bangalore national highway number 4. We touched Satara in about 90 minutes and took a right turn from Powai Naka (a roundabout in the heart of Satara City). Just 20 kms away commences the Kaas Plateau and 5 more kms downhill is the serene Kaas Lake.

Flowers & plants in hues of yellow, blue, red, green and white blanket both sides of the road. The riot of colours last for about 2 to 3 kms. I suggest parking your vehicles on the roadside and taking a tour off road - walking in the colourful fields dotted by ponds with smiling water lilies.

Since I am not a poet, I will let the pictures do the talking.

After spending couple of hours on the plateau we turned back. At the outskirts of Satara, we took a right turn and headed for Thoseghar that's about 25 kms from the fork. As we drove towards Thoseghar, we crossed Sajjangadh - a fort which has the Samadhi (the final resting place) of Swami Ramdas - mentor and teacher of Shivaji Maharaj - founder and ruler of the Maratha Empire.

Teachings of Swami Ramdas were in colloquial Marathi whereby even the peasants could understand Swami's thoughts & beliefs. Personally speaking, I firmly believe that Swami Ramdas was a management scholar. His book, Dasbodh (also available in English), is indeed a source of inspiration to modern day managers. His management principles that were taught over 350 years ago still hold good.

Moving ahead, you will see hundreds of wind mills. The region is windy and makes for country's largest wind mill farms. 4 kms from Sajjangadh are the Thoseghar water falls. After parking, you need to climb down about 100 steps to reach the viewing gallery. Once there, you will be mesmerized by waterfalls that come gushing down over 1500 feet. Again, I will let the pictures do the talking.

We were at the falls for about an hour. It was 11 AM. A bite and a cup of piping hot tea gave us the energy to be home for lunch. And, sadly, to work thereafter.

Kaas & Thoseghar, Satara Image Gallery Photo viewer