Kaas Plateau - Surreal

The Prelude to the Ride -

1. Date : 2nd October, a National Holiday - Confirmed
2. Place : Kaas Plateau - Thoseghar Waterfalls - Fixed in the head
3. Participants : Shwetha, Me, Venu and his friend - Confirmed - Well Almost
4. Route Plan : Just hit the road and follow the tar to Satara and then make use of our expertise in Marathi Language to find the way to Kaas - Simple!!

On the eve of 1st October I witnessed one the the biggest downpour of rain in Pune. Zeus, the Greek God of Lightening and Thunder switched off our electricity and ensured that Pune was flooded - atleast ankle deep.

Shwetha who was coming from Bombay was to reach Pune by 9.30 pm but reached at 11. Luckily Aditya (My friend) had his car and we could manage to be dry in picking her and dinner back home.

Venu backed off at the last moment, as the 125 cc Bajaj XCD that he had managed to borrow for the trip was labelled unworthy. How Xcd for a 300 odd km ride? Well Venu thought Kass is near Lonavla and he would manage the ride using the mule called Bajaj XCD (Isn't it a Mule in front of the Bull?)

The Rains didn't stop till 1.30 when we went to sleep. So the plan was left balanced on the mercy of the great Zeus.

Morning 6 am; the alarm does its job.

We are ready by 6.40 am.

I sat on the Bull and thats when Shwetha realized her helmet is in the house. A little delay.

We went to the Petrol Bank (Pun intended) and filled up for the ride. Shwetha now realized that the printout of the online registration for Kaas Plateau entry we had done was left in the house. A little more delay.

By the time we finally started it was 7.20 am from Koregaon Park.

Finally the ride began and the trip took its step to fruition.

Perfect View

The Crux of the Trip -

10 minutes into the ride and we thanked the rain god for the last night. In doing so we made it even with Zeus for all the curses we hurled the day before. The weather was beautiful. We could feel the chill, yet not that much that we would shiver. The sun entered the script late on that day and even when it did the heat coupled with the chill gave the perfect warm embrace one would crave during a bike trip.

We covered some 75 odd kms in pretty good time. We passed through Katraj, Khed, Shivapur, Shirwal and just before the Naka to Wai and Mahabaleshwar we took our first halt for breakfast - Sai executive. A decent place which surprised Shwetha with its keen preference to cleanliness and quality of food. If anything can impress her, it means it really is worth some gold. Masala Dosa and Dahi Misal made its way to our tummy, followed by chai; fuel enough before we set our eyes on the road again.

Fenced Up

From Satara we took the right turn to enter the heart of the city; Because its through the heart that Kaas emerges ;-). We asked for directions and drove straight upto a chowk (a big circle with Shivaji's Statute) from where we took a right and went further some 5 kms's until FINALLY we saw the board saying Kaas Pathar (Kaas Plateau in Marathi) - 30 kms. Until here (130 odd km's) there was no sign to show way to Kaas. Considering it is now a World Heritage site, this was not appreciated.

The ride from here is steep. The roads were decent except 3 patches in between which were strewn with stones. These stretches are the only reason apart from some traffic in the city you will get to complain. Else its a ride to cherish. Though Kaas is some 25 odd km's from here, you start to see different flowers in yellow, purple and white across the slopes along. We couldnt help but stop now and begin the clicks. 

One will get ample places to park and take a nice walk, lie down in the pastures, click some wonderful landscapes or just sit and find yourself immersing into nature.

Kaas Plateau

Kass, since its a World Heritage site now, is fenced up and it limits the freedom of visitors to take their own detour. You have to follow the paths that are constructed by the authorities and they keep a strict vigil. You cant park your vehicles along this 3 kms of road through the plateau. I wasn't expecting this. We just rode slowly past the plateau. There were a lot of people who had come to experience this natures color fest. Its just amazing to see so many wild flowers swaying in the wind, as if calling you to play with them. If you get a chance you need to experience it.

Kaas Visitors

Though you can book the entry ticket to Kaas (10 bucks) online (www.Kas.ind.in), they haven't started the payment gateway yet. So you need to take the tickets at the entrance to the plateau.

We then rode down to the Kaas lake and spent some time there. Kaas lake is serene and very clean. One can take a dip if you want or spend time listening to the magical music of water and the chirping of the birds. On the way back I stopped by the Plateau and asked Shwetha to click some pics. The shoo's of the pandu's was dealt bravely by me acting as if I am about to leave - That nautanki side that we all have hidden within us.

Time was 1.45 pm.

We had to be back in Pune by 5 so that Shwetha can take her bus back.

Thoseghar took a backseat.

In single day bike trips coming back is always the hardest. Your eagerness to see the places is no more alive, your energy is on the decline and your Bum has said 'Buzz of' by then. But as I tell myself 'A journey isn't complete unless you come home with the experience' (Please respect my modesty).

We had our lunch (Veg Maharashtrian thali of Jowar bhakri and pitale bhaji et. al), got wet in rain near Bhuinj, met some camels on the way and completed the ride of 160 kms to reach home by 5.15 pm. It sure was an achievement - 10 hours and 320 km's.

Some of the clicks from the trip are below.

Cheers!

Sun Kissed

Embracing Kaas

Kaas Lake