The much-awaited Maharashtra Flower Festival is set to kick off this Sunday on 17 September at the Kaas Plateau, known as the ‘Valley of Flowers in Maharashtra.’ The plateau is getting ready to dazzle visitors with a wide array of blooming flowers, and this natural spectacle is expected to continue until October 15.
Easy Online Bookings Available
Now, you can book your tickets online to attend the festival. The entry fee for a day’s visit is Rs 150 per person. If you’d like to explore the plateau on a bicycle, you can rent one for just Rs 50 per hour. The festival’s timing has been carefully planned to let visitors fully enjoy the beauty of the annual blooming season. The forest department, Kaas Pathar Sanvardhan Samiti, and the district administration have made all the necessary arrangements for your visit.
Maharashtra’s Valley of Flowers
The Kaas Plateau, often referred to as the ‘Valley of Flowers in Maharashtra,’ is currently showing scattered blooms of various flower species. Reduced rainfall has created favorable conditions for flower growth, and by mid-September, the plateau is expected to showcase its most splendid floral display. Situated in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India, this plateau is a UNESCO World Heritage site, attracting tourists, botanists, and nature enthusiasts from around the world.
Located at an elevation of 1,200 meters above sea level, the plateau’s lateritic soil is essential for its unique floral biodiversity. Apart from the annual flower festival, the plateau offers breathtaking views of lush hills and intricate waterfalls. It’s a haven for birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts, home to various avian species and insects, including indigenous butterflies. This destination not only pleases the eyes but also serves as a living laboratory for researchers and conservationists.
A Riot of Colors
The plateau is home to about 430 rare and colorful flower varieties, including various grass species. Among them, approximately 132 varieties have already bloomed. Visitors can expect to see wildflower blooms like Pinda, Smithia, Sonki, Ceropegia, Murdannia, and more.
This year’s festival is being managed by a team of 120 volunteers, including the former deputy head of Kaas Pathar Samvardhan Samiti. To ensure the comfort of tourists, three sheds have been set up in case of sudden rain. Drinking water and bicycles are also available. Guides and walkie-talkies are provided since there’s no mobile network coverage. Additionally, a temporary barrier has been set up to restrict vehicle access to the main plateau area, and it will be removed once the festival concludes.
