User talk:Krushnakumardundle

Kas Plateau Satara Satara is located in the Satara District of Maharashtra and is spread over an area of 10,484 square km. The name of this town has been derived from the seven mountains surrounding the place implying sat (seven) and tara (hills).

It is situated 2320 feet above sea level, near the assemblage point of Krishna River and its tributary, Venna. It lies 112 km south of Pune and at the feet of the Sahyadri range of mountains. It is surrounded by Pune District in the north, Solapur district in the east, Sangli district in the south and Ratnagiri in the west.

Karad is the oldest place in Satara, which is evident by old historical inscriptions that belong to 200 B.C. Satara, was also a part of the Mauryan Empire between 451 and 455 A.D. Shivaji, the great Maratha ruler, occupied this region in the year 1663. The district became a part of the Bombay Presidency in the year 1848, and became a district of Maharashtra after India’s independence.

Satara is popular as an untouched tourist destination that experiences mass bloom of rare species of flowers on the Kas Plateau, September onwards, after the monsoon. Laterite plateaus are also found at several places in the Western Ghats that is transformed into carpets of colourful flowers after mid August.

The place is also famous for its two main rivers, namely Koyna and Krishna. Krishna is among the three largest sacred rivers of southern India and starts from the eastern brow of the Mahabaleshwar Plateau. Small feeders of the Krishna River include Kundali, Urmodi, Venna, and Tarali. Koyna is the largest tributary of the Krishna River.

The Ajinkyatara Fort of Satara District is situated at the Ajinkyatara Mountain, which is 3000 feet high and provides a complete view of the whole town. The Fort is a historic site and was used in the ancient times to keep a watch on entire south Maharashtra.

The Fort also comprises ancient temples namely Devi Mangalai, Lord Shankar and Lord Hanuman temple, along with some other forts like Nandgiri and Chandan-Vandan. The Sajjangarh Fort is also a popular religious attraction of Satara, which contains the mausoleum of Samarth Ramdas. The Koteshwar Mandir, also known as the age-old temple, is a famous tourist destination in Satara, constructed during the 16th century. The temple is dedicated to the chief deity Lord Shiva and is a popular pilgrimage destination for worshippers during the festive season of Maha Shivratri. I am sure, you all must have heard about “Valley of flowers” in Himalayas where hundreds of varieties of wild flowers of all colours bloom in August – September every year….where the valley transforms into no less than a “Heaven” ……hundreds of visitors toil several kms to reach this valley and to experience the bliss. However, not many know that a similar (though not majestic as the Himalayan site) place exists in Maharashtra…..its a “Plateau of flowers”….. famously known as “Kaas plateau” situated approx. 25 kms from Satara city. The lateritic plateau of Kass has becomes home to millions of tiny flowers in late monsoons. The whole spectacle is beyond words. More than 300 varieties of wild flowers, herbs, orchids, shrubs, insectivorous plants etc. can be seen here in Aug and Sep (Best time is 15th Aug to 15th Sep)….. This plateau overlooks the lush evergreen forests that serves as a water catchment area of Koyna Dam and which is recently declared as “Sahyadri Tiger reserve” ………. In monsoon the whole area transforms into an unbelievable carpets of flowers like yellow carpets of Smithia and Sonki flowers, Pink carpets of Balsam, Purple carpets of Karvi etc…. It is a dream destination not only for avid botanists but also for those who appreciate nature. These carpets change colours almost every week depending on the dominant flowers during that time. The place is also rich in minerals and you can see the red patches of laterite rocks typically called ‘Sadaa’ in Marathi. Kass plateau and the surrounding area has a very good birdlife with good sightings of Crested Buntings, Malabar Crested Larks, Oriental White-eyes, Bonelli’s Eagle. It is a heaven for Macro photography too.