End of Bloom: Kaas Plateau’s Famous Valley of Flowers Turns Yellow as ‘Mickey Mouse Blooms’ Signal the Season’s Close
End of Bloom: Kaas Plateau’s Famous Valley of Flowers Turns Yellow as ‘Mickey Mouse Blooms’ Signal the Season’s Close
It’s the end of another magical season at Kaas Plateau, Maharashtra’s very own “Valley of Flowers.” The bloom has now faded, but for a few weeks, the plateau was glowing in bright shades of yellow, thanks to Smithia hirsuta, fondly called the “Mickey Mouse flower.” As the monsoon retreated, these cheerful yellow blooms covered the landscape, drawing tourists and nature lovers who came to witness nature’s grand finale before the flowers disappeared for the year.
Meet the Mickey Mouse Flower
The Smithia hirsuta got its cute nickname because its petals look a bit like Mickey Mouse’s face, round and cheerful. These bright yellow flowers grow in clusters and have tiny red marks on the petals, giving them a cartoon-like look. The plant is small, about 30–35 cm tall, and loves to grow in wet, grassy patches on the plateau. It starts to bloom around September and lasts through early October, painting the hillsides in sunshine yellow.
But the Mickey Mouse flower isn’t the only star here. Kaas Plateau is home to more than 850 species of flowers, many of which are found only in the Western Ghats. Depending on when you visit, the plateau changes colour, from purple and pink to white and gold, every few weeks.
The Magic of Kaas Plateau
During the early monsoon, tiny purple Utricularia plants, which are actually carnivorous, cover the land. Then come the white puffballs of Eriocaulon, the magenta Impatiens lawii, and even the rare Karvy shrubs that bloom only once every 7–8 years. Each visit feels like stepping into a new garden painted by nature herself.
The Kaas Plateau isn’t just a paradise for flowers. It’s also home to a wide variety of animals and insects. Visitors often spot colorful butterflies fluttering around, tiger beetles racing across the soil, and mantises blending in with the plants. The nearby forest areas are filled with birds like the Malabar Lark, and sometimes even small mammals can be seen wandering around. Every part of this ecosystem depends on the other, from the plants that hold the soil together to the insects that help in pollination.
What is Kaas Plateau?
Spread over 1,000 hectares, the Kaas Plateau is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most beautiful natural wonders of India. During the monsoon months, it transforms into a living painting with thousands of colours all around. Visitors often describe it as standing inside a rainbow made of flowers. It’s not just a place for taking photos. It’s also an important site for scientists and researchers who study rare plants and how they survive in changing weather.
Even as the bloom season slowly ends by late September and early October, the golden grasses and the last few blossoms make it worth visiting. Whether you’re a child seeing the Mickey Mouse flowers for the first time or an adult admiring the vast fields of colour, Kaas Plateau always feels like stepping into a dream, one painted by nature herself.
