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Posts tagged ‘backwater’

27
Oct

Kaas Plateau (Kaas Pathar) of flowers, Satara (2011)

:: Destinations – India: Kaas Plateau of Flowers (2011)

Situated in the Western Ghats, 22 kms from Satara City (approx. 110 kms from Pune), the Kaas Plateau is a UNESCO Biodiversity World Heritage site. Every monsoon, between August and September/October, the plateau comes alive with more than 800 species of wild flowers!

This was our first visit to the plateau – and while we weren’t lucky enough to get a carpetted view of the plateau (as seen in various pictures on the net), the drive, the weather, the vistas and the mood was enough to make it worth a visit – now, and again!

Click any picture below to view this album


The journey to the Kaas Plateau along the Western Sahyadri Range is riddled with amazing scenery

The journey to the Kaas Plateau along the Western Sahyadri Range is riddled with amazing scenery

In this album:
 
On the road from Pune, the drive takes you through winding mountain roads... Blue skies, lush green hills and the wind in the face. Ahh! Enroute to Kaas Plateau, there are numerous points along the Western Sahyadri Range (Ghat) to just stop and take in the scenery! Beautiful landscapes greet you at many turns along the way. (A glipmpse of the backwaters of Bhatgar Dam) A panaromic view of the lush green hill slopes, against a backdrop of blue skies and the backwaters of Bhatgar Dam
Nestled amidst the spectacular Western Sahyadri Range, the landscape simply amazes you. Beauty is all around, no matter where you look; Looking at the lush green settings enroute to Kaas Plateau. Each point atop the Western Sahyadri Range looks inviting to go to - for the thrill, as well as the views it promises! Blue waters match the blue in the skies to break the monotony of the lush greens all around.
A beautiful landscape lies alongside the final stretch to the Kaas Plateau (as seen from the overcrowded parking lot) A beautiful landscape lies alongside the final stretch to the Kaas Plateau (as seen from the overcrowded parking lot). [Visit http://bit.ly/18WFQfp for full panaroma size] A beautiful landscape lies alongside the final stretch to the Kaas Plateau (as seen from the overcrowded parking lot). [Visit http://http://bit.ly/Hm5NLC for full panaroma size] A beautiful landscape lies alongside the final stretch to the Kaas Plateau (as seen from the overcrowded parking lot). [Visit http://http://bit.ly/HiZxnt for full panaroma size]
Tiny, bright yellow wild flowers liven up the rocky terrain at Kaas Plateau Hues of green, sun and shadows due to the partly cloudy skies add that extra punch to the already dramatic settings. Tiny flowers rise up all along the Kaas Plateau (Pathar) - as people wander around taking in the fresh air and beauty. White and purple flowers rise up all along the Kaas Plateau (Pathar); the white ones are only a tad above one's ankles!
In a good season, the plateau is ablaze with purple flowers [See kaasplateau.in for more on the species of flowers] Yellow flowers line many of the trails at the Kaas Plateau Bright and sunny, these yellow flowers brighten up the place even more, at Kaas Plateau Flowers like these grow in shades of purple, pink, red and more. It would be wonderful to catch the entire place abloom!
White, purple and pink flowers abloom on the plateau. (Hmm, could've been better...) White, purple and pink flowers abloom on the plateau. A panaromic (wide angle) view of the Kaas Plateau shows shades of pink and purple of the wild flowers amidst the grass. Pink colored wild flowers carpet the Kaas Plateau this season.
Pink colored wild flowers carpet the Kaas Plateau this season. A multi-hued contrast is what makes the visit to Kaas wonderful! Yet another spectacular view of the hills, water bodies and blue sky on the way back. Catching a fleeting view of the sunset, as we drive back after a wonderful trip

See pictures of the 2013 visit to Kaas here…

10
Aug

Magical Rains: Weekend Drive to Panshet (2013)

:: Galleries – Nature: Seasons – Monsoon:

Rains are one of nature’s blessings, and more so to countries like India that are largely dependent on the annual monsoon season – a lifeline for the sub-continent. Fortunately for us, we (individually speaking, that is) are not governed by the vagaries of the monsoon, and that gives us a chance to experience and witness the wonder of the rains.

Close to Pune, about 50km out from the western edge, is a (still) sleepy little place called Panshet. Nestled amidst the mountains of the Sahyadri Range, this is also a catchment area and a source of water supply to many downstream villages, including the rapidly growing town of Pune.

Recently, with the timely arrival of monsoon in India, it was time to head out and enjoy the lush scenery after a hot and scorching summer rendered the hill slopes, rivers and trees dry. It was this thought that took us on a weekend drive to Panshet, and the scenic vistas of lush fields, rain-cloud kissed hills and bouts of sunlight amidst the rain that unfolded cannot be described in words. See the album for yourself [and, we made a promise to come back for more, before the season ends!]

Click any picture below to view this album


Amazingly scenic settings like this one greet you on the way to Panshet, making you want to just stop and stay.

Amazingly scenic settings...enroute Panshet

In this album:
 
A lush field of paddy is drenched in the fresh rains, enroute to Panshet Farms, fields, river, hills, clouds...there's nothing more one can ask for in this picturesque place (enroute to Panshet) A lone cottage stands perched atop the rolling hills, as clouds appear to engulf the top of the hill in this picturesque place (enroute to Panshet)
Amazingly scenic settings like this one greet you on the way to Panshet, making you want to just stop and stay. (Can't get enough of it) The freshly sown paddy seems to glow a fluorescent green in this amazing season, amidst a spectacular backdrop, even as a kingfisher claims the best seat! A lush green patchwork of fields extends as far as the eye can see (enroute to Panshet) The magic of the rains is seen all around, as the surroundings literally come alive.
A scenic, albeit bumpy drive led us to Lake Weekend Resort, which provided a breathtaking view of the backwaters of Panshet Dam Overlooking the Warasgaon Lake at Panshet, as we stopped for what was to be a sumptuous home-cooked lunch! A closer look at the waters of the Warasgaon Lake, muddied by fresh rainfall The Lake Weekend Resort is situated in a wonderful setting, and the winding trails are calling to be explored!
Feels like a tropical rain forest - view of Warasgaon Lake A (bad) camera setting freezes the rain drops as a storm passes through, against the spectacular backdrop of the Warasgaon Lake Just can't get enough of the views at this spot! The sit-out at Lake Weekend Resort provides a great setting in this weather. Thoroughly enjoyable!

16
Dec

Trips: Kerala – Kumarakom, Backwater Country (a journey ends)

:: Galleries – Kerala – Kumarakom, Backwater Country (cont’d…4)

From Alleypey (see last post), we began our return leg, but, first going via Pathiramanal Island – an island known for being home to many migratory birds. By that time, it was getting late afternoon, and the waters sparkled in the late evening sun…, ending with a fiery sunset – all made it a trip of a lifetime. Kerala, truly is God’s Own Country!

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A firey sunset brings a spectacular day to an end, but with memories to cherish forever

A fiery sunset brings a spectacular day to an end, but with memories to cherish forever

In this album:
Pathiramanal Island - an island in the midst of the backwaters is home to many migratory birds Large number of birds seen on the island Were it not for the cackle, it'd be hard to spot the birds A picture postcard view - houseboats criss-cross the backwaters
Gateway to the backwaters, Kerala Almost like a convoy of houseboats... Houseboats shine in the late afternoon sunlight (Kerala) Houseboats stand anchored - possibly for a night, in the pristine surroundings of Kerala's backwaters
A houseboat makes its way, as the sun begins to go down The water on the ripples shimmers in the sunlight Sparkling water... Pathiramanal Island acts as a backdrop for the shimmering waters
Water weeds once again begin to appear Shimmer and shine... More shimmer and shine, as the sun gets lower... ...and some more shimmer
More shimmering waters... Birds wait patiently for a possible meal Another large bird, spotted on the backwaters (Almost like a) Floating garden
The shimmer adds a nice glow to the silhouette of the water weeds Nearing civilization - the town of Kumarakom 'Floating Garden' Floating garden and shimmering waters...
Luxury resorts - in this nature's paradise Luxury Resorts - have the best locations! 5-star cottages situated on the banks of backwater ways Views like these are enough to invite tourists to Kerala (and yes, it's worth it)
Openings in the weeds left by the passage of houseboat(s) Locals travel by smaller boats, even as the tourist(y) houseboats wait by the side at Kumarakom, Kerala Backwaters and houseboats - that's what Kumarakom is all about! Backwaters and houseboats - that's what Kumarakom is all about!
Brightly coloured houses stand out amidst the serenity of the backwaters This side up?! A beautiful houseboat stands reflected in the still waters A houseboat appears to have been locked-in by the water plants Ahoy - land in sight. Arriving back at port...
Ripples on the water
After the amazing houseboat trip on the backwaters, we headed to the last stop – Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary – before the fiery sun set on this wonderful day.
It's a bird! It's a turkey (?) The bird sanctuary is adjacent to the backwaters...and offers a tropical environment Some interesting flowers along the path... Orchid-like flowers at the Kumarakom bird sanctuary
It's a nice, loooo....oong walk thro' the woods, as you hear a variety of birds up in the trees Close-up of the water-weed plant (seen in the backwaters) Pretty white flowers Now, that's a beautiful Kerala landscape!
A lush green expanse of paddy fields...as we head back Birds fly around in the lush fields Watching the birds in the paddy fields A fiery sunset provides a perfect end to the day
Sunset in God's Own Country (i.e. Kerala) A pink lotus brightens up a pond (at Kumarakom)

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