Day safari at Maharashtra's Kas resumes; to boost tourism

The Kas Plateau Executive Committee, which also manages the plateau during the Kas Flower festival, said that they were losing revenue as the resumption of the day safari was delayed. However, the initiative will help the employ youth in the region. Kas plateau resumed bookings on December 11, after being shut since June. The Kas darshan ‘day’ safari in Kas plateau, an Unesco World Heritage Site in Satara district of Maharashtra, resumed bookings on December 11, after being shut since June. The Kas Plateau Executive Committee, which also manages the plateau during the Kas Flower festival, said that they were losing revenue as the resumption of the day safari was delayed. However, the initiative will help the employ youth in the region. Maruti Chikne, member of Kas plateau executive committee said, “Roughly 20 youths from villages in the region received employment through this initiative. These youths contribute largely to control wildfires, fill artificial water holes and conduct night patrols. Poaching activities are also curbed because of this.” Datta Kirdat, deputy head of the Kas plateau executive committee, said, “The Kas Darshan safari covers nearly 50 kms and tourists can visit Kas plateau, Mandapghal caves, Sajjangad point, Ghatai Devrai (sacred groves), Kumudini lake, Vanjulwadi, Vajrai waterfall, Andhari Sahyadri nagar windmills, Venna river, Ekiw falls, Navra-Navri hill at Attadi village.” During the Kas Flower festival — between end-August to mid-October — most of the points on the day safari remain closed for visitors. “Tourists can visit these natural sites only in the rest of the year,” added Kirdat.