.JPG)
Not too far away from where i live in Pune, is a marvel of nature that was brought to light only recently to us Puneites. A plateau of laterite rock, 40sqkm in expanse, that bursts into wild flowers each year from August to Sepetember! Such is the spectacle that the place now earns the richly deserving name tag of " Plateau of Flowers" after its famed cousin, Valley of Flowers in northern India.
A 2hr road journey towards the south of Pune (125kms), is the modest town of Satara, once the hotbed of mountain warfare during the rule of Maharaj Shivaji. It has remained a political bastion since but little benefit has been brought to its residents. The district headquarter also boasts of having the twin hillstations of Mahableshwar & Panchgani under its tottering control.
The unassuming plateau, 22kms from this town up a winding hillroad, is a treat to the eye for its visuals as well as the bio-diversity it supports. Flowers bring in insects & bees that inturn bring in birds and smaller land scurrying animals like geckos, filed mice, serpents which again attract simians. Reports of leopard sightings have also made rounds in the hills nearby.
The bloom lasts merely for 8weeks each monsoon. Hues of brilliant yellow (smithia & sontikli), purple (karvi), milk white (pindi), inkblue (abhai), fresh pink (balsam) adorn the plateau in a magnificence befitting the nuptial bed of Gods! Prevalent colours are decided by the dominant pollen during your visit. Now, how personal is that?
Downside? Irresponsible Man, ofc(o)urse! Strewn plastic bottles, glass, sachets are already jostling for space!
A 2hr road journey towards the south of Pune (125kms), is the modest town of Satara, once the hotbed of mountain warfare during the rule of Maharaj Shivaji. It has remained a political bastion since but little benefit has been brought to its residents. The district headquarter also boasts of having the twin hillstations of Mahableshwar & Panchgani under its tottering control.
The unassuming plateau, 22kms from this town up a winding hillroad, is a treat to the eye for its visuals as well as the bio-diversity it supports. Flowers bring in insects & bees that inturn bring in birds and smaller land scurrying animals like geckos, filed mice, serpents which again attract simians. Reports of leopard sightings have also made rounds in the hills nearby.
The bloom lasts merely for 8weeks each monsoon. Hues of brilliant yellow (smithia & sontikli), purple (karvi), milk white (pindi), inkblue (abhai), fresh pink (balsam) adorn the plateau in a magnificence befitting the nuptial bed of Gods! Prevalent colours are decided by the dominant pollen during your visit. Now, how personal is that?
Downside? Irresponsible Man, ofc(o)urse! Strewn plastic bottles, glass, sachets are already jostling for space!
Allow me to share some snaphots with you from our recent visit...
