Kaas plateau

The Kaas Plateau, also known as the Kaas Pathar, is a plateau situated 25 kilometres west
from Satara city in Maharashtra, India.[1] It falls under the Sahyadri Sub Cluster of the Western
Ghats, and it became a part of a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 2012.[2][3]
It is a biodiversity hotspot known for various types of seasonal wild flowers bloom and numerous
species of endemic butterflies annually in the months of August and September.[3] The plateau is
situated at an altitude of 1200 metres and is approximately 10 square kilometers in area. Kaas
has more than 850 different species of flowering plants.These include orchids, shrubs such as
the Karvy, and carnivorous plants such as Drosera Indica. Kaas Pathar is a plateau made from
volcanic rocks in the Satara district of Maharashtra, and comes under the biosphere of the
Western Ghats. The flora of kaas i.e the entire flowering plants and their related plants are
typically restricted to that particular locality only.This is because the plateau is largely formed of
basalt which is directly exposed to atmosphere.The basalt is almost covered entirely by a thin
cover of soil formed due to erosion and has accumulated a layer of not more than a inch or so.

Geography[edit]
Kaas plateau is a plateau located around 25 km from Satara. There are two ways to reach Kaas.
one the more direct way from Satara and another from Tapola via the link road
connecting Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani to Kas Pathar. Kas plateau is 20 km away from
Northern part of Koyana Sanctuary. The major portion of the plateau is reserve Forest. Kaas lake
(built 100 years ago) is a perennial source of Water supply for western part of Satara city by
gravity. The flora of Kaas are around the locality of that area. The plateau is largely formed of
basalt which is directly exposed to atmosphere. The basalt rock is covered by a thin cover of soil
formed due to erosion and has accumulated a layer of not more than an inch or so. This soil is
neither black nor lateritic. At certain places water gets accumulated because of uneven surface.
The plants growing on Kas plateau are typically of herbaceous nature of like grasses. The small
shrubs and trees are located at the periphery of the plateau at Kaas plateau.[7] The small shrubs
and trees are located at the periphery of the plateau.
The various distances of Kas plateau are as follows:

 From Satara - 25 km
 From Pune - 125 km
 From Mumbai - 280 km
 From Kolhapur - 150 km
 From Sangli - 147 km

Biodiversity on Kaas plateau[edit]

Kaas Plateau is rich in its Bio-diversity. Many species are observed on plateau which are new to
the Botanical Science. Many of the endemic, endangered plants are found on Plateau. More than
850 species of flowering plants are reported on the plateau. 624 species have entered in the Red
Data Book. Out of these 624 species, 39 are found only in Kaas Region. [9]
The main plateau of Kas has been surveyed in detail by many researchers. The other three
plateaus have not been surveyed. Earliest work on the plateau was by Chavan et al. (1973).[10] Dr.
Bachulkar studied endemic flora of this area. Bhattarai et al. 2012 [11] has identified 103 species of
local concern on the Kas plateau and surrounding area. Lekhak and Yadav, 2012 [12] have
documented floristic wealth of the Kas plateau.
Kas is type locality of following species
Flowering plant:

1. Arisaema ghaticum (Sardesai, S.P.Gaikwad & S.R.Yadav) Punekar & Kumaran [19]

2. Chrysopogon castaneus Veldkamp & Salunkhe

3. Eriocaulon epedunculatum Potdar, Anil Kumar bis, Otaghvari and Sonkar [20]
4. Eulalia shrirangii Salunkhe & Potdar[21]
5. Jansenella neglecta S.R.Yadav, Chivalkar & Gosavi [22]
Insects (Beetle): A new genus:
 Kashmirobia Konstantinov & Prathapan

A new genus & species:

 Kashmirobia hugeli Konstantinov & Prathapan [23]
 Chiridopsis nigropunctata Borowiec & Ghate [24]

In addition to this, following species have been rediscovered from Kas

 Crinum brachynema reported by M. Bachulkar

 Dipcadi maharashtrensisreported by P. Tetali and others
 Cassida flavoguttata - Tortoise beetle rediscovered from Kas by Ghate et al., earlier known
from the Nilgiris
Snake:
 Striped Coral Snake: Patteri Povala was rediscovered by Sahyadri Trekking Group
Kas is very famous for the mass blooming of Eriocaulon spp., Utricularia spp., Impatiens
lawii and Smithia spp. All the typical microhabitats and species complexes of lateritic plateau are
seen here.
The plateau also has several invertebrates throughout the year. Tiger beetles are observed
mating in large numbers on Kas during September–October. Praying mantises, ants are common.
Tadpole shrimps were reported some years back. Fairy shrimps are present in the small pond.
The plateau has several signs of presence of barking deers, hares, civets and rodents. Gaur has
been reported by Sunil Bhoite from Satara in 2012. Ruddy mongoose, Rusty spotted cat have
been observed in surrounding scrub area. Presence of Leopard has been reported from the
surrounding forest area. Endemic Malabar Lark is commonly observed nesting on the rocky
plateau.[25]

Mahabaleshwar
On the outskirts of Mahabaleshwar, towards Panchgani.
The first historical mention of Mahabaleshwar dates back to year 1215 when the King Singhan of
Deogiri visited Old Mahabaleshwar. He built a small temple and water tank at the source of the
river Krishna. Around 1350, a Brahmin dynasty ruled this area. In the middle of the 16th century
the Maratha family of Chandarao More defeated the Brahmin dynasty and became rulers
of Javli and Mahabaleshwar, during which period the temple of Old Mahabaleshwar was
rebuilt.The first Briton to set foot here was Sir Charles Malet in 1791.
In the 17th century Shivaji Maharaj took over Javli and Mahabaleshwar and constructed
the Pratapgad fort in 1656.
In 1819, the British included the hills in the territory of the Raja of Satara. Col. Lodwick (Late
General Sir ) stationed at Satara, in April 1824 with a contingent of soldiers and Indian guides
climbed up the mountain face reaching what is now known as the Lodwick Point.
Starting with Sir John Malcolm in 1828, a succession of them from Sir Mountstuart Elphinstone,
Arthur Malet (for whom the seat at "Point Arthur" is named), Carnac, Frere and many others
became regular visitors.Under General Peter Lodwick and Sir John Malcolm, the Governor of
Bombay, sanatorium was built in 1828.
Present day Mahabaleshwar came into existence in the year 1829-30. In old records it is
mentioned as Malcolm Peth, but in practise today it is known as Mahabaleshwar.
Added to the scores of magnificent scenic "points", the perennial springs, streams, and waterfalls
of Mahabaleshwar plateau, with its year round superb climate, drew the English and others to
Mahabaleshwar. By the end of the 19th century it had become an attractive popular hill station of
world renown. Raj Bhavan, the Summer residence of the Governor of Maharashtra, is also located
here. An older building named "The Terraces" was purchased in 1884 and rechristened as Giri
Darshan in 1886.[1]
"Babington House", a magnificent colonial-style bungalow built in the shape of a cross with a deep
veranda, elaborate metal work railing and extensive outhouses is considered Mahableshwar's
most beautiful country house. It was formerly one of the principal country seats of the Dubash
family, a Parsi ship chandler dynasty from Bombay who sold it to the Rahejas in the early 1970s. It
contains a central dining room with a 24-seater table and a lovely library pavilion with 1st edition
books collected by the Dubash family, notably Jamsetjee "Jimmy" Kavasjee Dubash, a great
bibliophile and art collector.
Geography[edit]
Mahabaleshwar is located at 17.9237°N 73.6586°E.[2] It has an average elevation of 1,353 metres
(4,439 ft).
Located about 120 km (75 mi) southwest of Pune and 285 km (177 mi) from Mumbai,
Mahabaleshwar is a vast plateau measuring 150 km2 (58 sq mi), bound by valleys on all sides. It
reaches a height of 1,439 m (4,721 ft) at its highest peak above sea level, known as
Wilson/Sunrise Point.
Mahabaleshwar comprises three villages: Malcolm Peth, Old "Kshetra" Mahabaleshwar and part
of the Shindola village.
Mahabaleshwar is the source of the Krishna River that flows across
Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The legendary source of the river is a
spout from the mouth of a statue of a cow in the ancient temple of Mahadev in Old
Mahabaleshwar. Legend has it that Krishna is Lord Vishnu himself as a result of a curse on
the trimurtis by Savitri. Also, its tributaries Venna and Koyna are said to be Lord Shiva and Lord
Brahma themselves. An interesting thing to notice is that 3 other rivers come out from the cow's
mouth apart from Krishna and they all travel some distance before merging into Krishna which
flows East towards the Bay of Bengal. These rivers are the Koyna, Venna (Veni) and Gayatri. The
Savitri river flows Westward via Mahad to the Arabian Sea.
Climate of the area is suitable for cultivation of strawberries, Mahabaleshwar
strawberry contributes to about 85 percent of the total strawberry production in the country. [3][4] It
also received the geographical indication (GI) tag in 2010.[5]