About Kausani
Kausani is a small hill town at ~1,890 m on a ridge in the Kumaon hills, 53 km north of Almora and 178 km from Nainital. Mahatma Gandhi visited in 1929 and famously described the view as the "Switzerland of India" - the 350 km Himalayan panorama from Kausani covers Trishul (7,120 m), Nanda Devi (7,816 m), Nanda Kot, and Panchachuli on a clear morning. The town is much quieter than Nainital and centred on the Anasakti Ashram (where Gandhi stayed and wrote Anasakti Yoga, his commentary on the Bhagavad Gita), tea estates on the surrounding slopes, and the Baijnath temple complex 17 km below.
The Himalayan View
Kausani's northern ridge offers an unbroken 350 km Himalayan panorama. The best viewpoints are the Anasakti Ashram terrace (free, public access), the Kausani Tea Estate viewpoint (small entry fee), and the various hotel roofs along the ridge. Sunrise (5-6 AM in summer, later in winter) is the best time - the peaks turn pink before the sun hits the lower forest. On a hazy day, you might see only the closer Trishul; on a clear winter morning the entire range from Bandarpunch to Panchachuli is visible.
Anasakti Ashram and the Gandhi Connection
Gandhi spent 12 days in Kausani in June 1929 at what is now the Anasakti Ashram. He wrote his commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, Anasakti Yoga, here, drawn by the silence of the hills. The ashram now houses a small museum of Gandhi's books, photographs, and personal items, plus a meditation hall open to visitors. It remains a working ashram with a few monks. The terrace behind the ashram is one of Kausani's best Himalayan viewpoints.
Tea Estates and Day Trips
The Kausani Tea Estate (5 km below town) produces some of north India's best Himalayan tea and offers tours and tastings. Baijnath, 17 km on the way to Almora, is a 12th-century Shiva-Parvati temple complex on the Gomati river - one of the prettiest architectural sites in Kumaon. Rudradhari Falls (12 km, short trek) and Pinnath Mahadev temple (uphill from Kausani, panoramic views) are the other day-trip options.
How to Reach Kausani
- By road from Nainital: 120 km via Almora (4 hrs)
- By road from Delhi: 410 km via Hapur, Rampur, Haldwani, Almora
- By rail: Kathgodam Railway Station (155 km), then taxi
- By air: Pantnagar Airport (178 km), then 5-6 hr taxi
Nearby Attractions
- Baijnath Temple (17 km - 12th-century Shiva-Parvati complex)
- Almora (53 km - Kumaon's historic capital)
- Kausani Tea Estate (5 km - tea tour and tasting)
- Pinnath Mahadev Temple (~7 km uphill - viewpoint)
- Rudradhari Falls (12 km - waterfall trek)
Related Reading
- Nainital + Kausani + Corbett 5N/6D ex-Delhi - the only package that currently includes Kausani
- Nainital travel guide - the busier Kumaon hub
- Jim Corbett National Park guide
Char Dham Helicopter Connection
Kausani is geographically separate from the Char Dham circuit (it is in Kumaon, not Garhwal) but it is the natural Kumaon counterpoint - quieter than Nainital, with the best Himalayan view in the region. We pair Kausani with Nainital and Corbett in the 5N/6D ex-Delhi all-Kumaon tour for travellers who want a more relaxed pace than the Garhwal pilgrimage circuits.
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