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Posts tagged ‘mountains’

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!

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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…

18
Nov

Trips: Kerala – The drive to Thekaddy (continued)

:: Galleries – Kerala – The drive to Thekaddy (continued)

The drive from Munnar to Thekaddy was absolutely scenic, and the scenic landscape unravelled one amazing vista after another. Part I of the album can be seen in the previous posting, and here’s the rest of this album.

 

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Scenic vistas complete with waterfalls and tea plantations mark the scenic drive to Thekaddy

Scenic vistas complete with waterfalls and tea plantations mark the scenic drive to Thekaddy

 
In this album:

Beautiful contrasts of nature Through the maze of tea plantations on the hill slopes Clouds come-a-rolling over the terraced landscape, enroute to Thekaddy Simply stunning panaroma!
Superb scenery! Tea plantations turn a flouroscent green even as clouds descend low Hills, more hills...even more hills, enroute to Thekaddy Waterfalls break the monotony of the tea-slopes...
A foamy white waterfall cuts across the hill slopes The towering waterfall A serene lake snakes its way through the landscape Following the winding lake
Gentle slopes covered with lush green tea plants span from top to bottom Ha! The grass was greener on our side this time Wonderful scenery Scenic views, at any angle, and any depth
Makes for a perfect picnic spot (except, these are privately owned plantations!) That's the mountain range we crossed over from Munnar... More spectacular carpetted green slopes At the water's edge
Wild flowers Wild flowers View from our resort at Ramakkalmedu - apparently, the windiest place in Asia

17
Nov

Trips: Kerala – The drive to Thekaddy

:: Galleries – Kerala – The drive to Thekaddy

It was barely the half-way mark in the trip, but Cochin and Munnar, with the lush tea plantations, rolling hills, waterfalls and amazing national parks, had already provided glimpses of why Kerala is so aptly christened ‘God’s Own Country’. After a hearty breakfast, it was time to head to Thekaddy, home to the largest wildlife sanctuary in India, viz. the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve.

 

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Scenic drives mark the journey to Thekaddy

Scenic drives mark the journey to Thekaddy

 
In this album:

Enroute from Munnar to Thekaddy Amazing panaromas greet us as we drive on Bright-roofed houses snuggle into the soft slopes, enroute to Thekaddy Bright-roofed houses snuggle into the soft slopes, enroute to Thekaddy
Tea plantations cover every available inch, up into the hills Terraced gardens, enroute Thekaddy Greens of tea plantations, as far as the eye can see Beautiful landscape, enroute to Thekaddy
Wispy clouds roll in over the carpetted slopes Symmetry: the tree-line, the slopes, the clouds (enroute Thekaddy) Lush green carpet of tea plantations against a spectacular backdrop A view of the road, etched into the hillside, enroute to Thekaddy
A cloudy avalanche seems to descend on the slopes Up, above the clouds so high... Clear blue skies provide the perfect background to these settings (enroute Thekaddy) Scenic drives like these mark the journey to Thekaddy
An expanse of tea plantations seems to boil over What a landscape! Aisles of winding road snake through the green hills, enroute to Thekaddy Scenic and sculpted landscape of tea gardens
More from this amazing album (continued in the next post)