Let’s take you to a place situated on the top of a hill, amidst canopying pine trees, with spectacular sunrises and breathtaking views at almost every step. Mahatma Gandhi gave this place the title of “Switzerland of India” due to Switzerland’s resemblance. Yes, you guessed it right! We’d be talking about Kausani today.
Your exclusive guide right from knowing about its history to the places to visit and trek to Hotels and Restaurants’ food and facilities in Kausani. In this article, we’d also discuss how you could reach Kausani conveniently, taking Delhi as the reference point. So get ready to embark on the journey to Kausani hassle-free because this article shall cover it all.
- History
- How To Reach
- Why Kausani
- Place To Visit
- Things To Do
- Nearby Treks
- Where To Eat
- Where to Stay
- Bollywood in Kausani
Brief History and Geography of Kausani
It is in Bageshwar district, near Amora in the hill state of Uttarakhand. It has an elevation of around 1900 m above sea level. Kausani is the birthplace of the famous poet Sumritranandan Pant. Kausani is not so renowned Hill station has been a prominent princely kingdom with Kartikeyapura being its capital. The ruins of which can be found even today around this place.
Till independence, Kausani was the part of the Almora district of Uttarakhand. However, on 15th September 1997, a new district named Bageshwar was made, and Kausani became a part of Bageshwar. Kausani lies on the top of a hill with dense coverage of pine trees.
The Himalayan peaks like Trisul, Nanda Devi, Panchchuli spreading over 300 km vast stretch, make this place a paradise for tourists. Kausani has three rivers Kosi, Ramganga, and Gomti. Seras, which translates to a riverbank, are known for their lands’ fertility.
Reaching Kausani: Everything you need to know.
Road Connectivity
Kausani is approximately 415 km away from Delhi and is around 50 km from Almora in Uttarakhand. By Road, Kausani has good road connectivity and connects well to all major cities. One can take a direct bus from Delhi to Almora or Kathgodam. Taxis are readily available throughout Uttarakhand and can be conveniently made use of for traveling within Uttarakhand.
Railways
Kathgodam Station near Nainital is the nearest station. Kathgodam, situated at a distance of around 135 km from Kausani.
How to reach Kausani from kathgodam
To reach Kausani from Kothgodam, you can easily book a taxi from outside the railway station. Bus services on this route are not frequent, although hopping on a shared cab is highly recommended.
Air connectivity
The nearest Airport Patnanagar, which is around 160 km. Taxis are readily available from Kausani. Airport to take you to your hotel or wherever you wish to go.
Why is Kausani a must-visit Hill Station?
Kausani has been acclaimed as the writer’s paradise and also is a haven for solo travelers. It is a very safe place if you talk about crime rates. The people here are quite literate, and this place is not like the typical overrated tourist destination. It is also a perfect new year destination because of much crowding of destinations like Shimla, Manali, Nainital, etc. It is also a must-visit for newlywed couples and can be a perfect honeymoon destination because of the complete versatility of activities that this place offers.
Weather and Climatic Conditions in Kausani
The climate here is generally quite pleasant throughout the year. It ranges between 8-25 degrees Celsius in Summers to 2-15 degrees Celsius in Winters.
Best time to visit Kausani
Kausani is an ideal destination if you wish to witness the snow. It generally snows around December, and it remains covered in the snow till February. However, the perfect time to visit Kausani is in summers to escape the scorching heat of the plains. The months of June- July, and September to November are generally the most recommended months to visit Kausani.
Tourist Attractions and Places of Interest in Kausani
Anashakti Ashram
This is the place where Mahatma Gandhi spent around a fortnight in the year 1929. Therefore this place is also called Gandhi Ashram in his honor. This spiritually awakening place around one kilometer from the Main Bus Stand of Kausani. This is the place that inspired Gandhiji to write his famous book “Anasakti Yoga.”
Overly enchanted by Kausani’s natural beauty, Gandhiji gave Kausani the Title of “Switzerland of India.” This place now acts as a research center and also houses a museum. This place is relatively peaceful and is the perfect place for a self-introspection. It also has a Prayer room to offer your prayers. What makes this place even more impressive is that it is surrounded by Deodar and Pine trees all over.
Baijnath Temple
Situated around 20 km from Kausani, it is one of the must-visits even if you aren’t much on the spiritual side. This temple is on the banks of River Gomti. This temple dates back to the 12th century and is a must-visit for all history buffs. Hindu Mythology believes this place to be the place where Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati got married.
The confluence of River Gomti and Garur Ganga is the exact place where the ceremony of their marriage took place. The temple complex also has a fish pond. It is auspicious to feed the fishes after you offer your prayers in the temple. The temple has been built quite aesthetically by the Kings of Katyuri with stone. The temple has a flight of stone stairs from the riverside.
Tea Gardens in Kausani
Located around 5kms on the Bageshwar Road, Tea Gardens is a must-visit to have a closer look at the beautiful tea plantations. The Kausani Tea exported to countries like the United States of America, Australia, Korea, Germany, etc. The tea here is undoubtedly going to re-energize you and is indeed going to be addictive. It is a must to scrutinize the complete process of manufacturing tea to understand the process better.
Sumitranandan Pant Museum and Gallery
It is located just half a kilometer from the central city. This museum is one of the major attractions of the city. This museum was built in memory of the great poet of Hindi Literature, Sumitranandan Pant.
Rudradhari Falls and the Famous Someshwar Temple
It is located around 15 km from the central city on the Kausani- Almora road. The waterfall’s pristine beauty amalgamated with the lush green meadows makes this place a sight to behold. A small temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu is also an essential highlight of this place. There are also some caves which further add more charm to the beauty of this place. This place is a must-visit because of the breathtaking views along with spirituality and rejuvenation.
Stargate Observatory
What better could it be to observe the celestial objects in a clear, pollution-free sky. The observatory is the perfect place for people interested in astronomy.
Activities in Kausani
Shopping in Kausani Mall Road
The shops are loaded with Kumaoni, pickles, chutneys, and famous Kausani tea. You could also find the famous shawls of this region which could be a perfect gift for your loved ones.
Nature Walk and Birdwatch
Kausani is an ideal place to have a walk while enjoying the panoramic view of the majestic mountains. You could also spot some endemic Himalayan birds in this region.
Also Read: Getting In and Around Nahan: A Complete Guide To This Beautiful City
Treks Near Kausani
Milam Glacier Trek
It is one of the most massive glaciers of Kumaon Himalayas located in the Pithoragarh District of Uttarakhand. The trekking commences from the village Munsiyari. It is one of the challenging treks and is recommended only for seasoned trekkers.
Pindari Glacier Trek
Pindari glacier is around 3 km long and 370b m wide. It is in the upper parts of the Kumaon Himalayas. This trek is one of the arduous treks and requires around six days for completion. It is complete with a trekking guide who knows the place and the trail quite well.
Food and Restaurants in Kausani
Garden Restaurant
Costs Rs.300 for a meal for two. It is quite an economical restaurant which maintains good quality in its food.
Yogi Restaurant
It is situated right on the mall road of Kausani.Food for two costs Rs. 150.
Valley Restaurant
It is one of the best vegetarian restaurants. The meal for two costs approximately Rs. 200.
Accommodation and Dodging-Lodging in Kausani
Booking.comKausani Best Inn
Has been rightly called “home away from home.”It aims to make the stay of its guests a relaxing experience. The Rudrahari Mahadev Temple is located quite close to the Kausani. Best Inn offers its guests various facilities like Free Parking, Car hire, BBQ facilities, In a house restaurant.
Himalaya Darshan Resort
It rightly boasts of being the only cottage-style restaurant. The thing which makes this restaurant different is the panoramic views it offers. It also provides various fun-filled activities like Jungle watching, Bird watching, Village visits, etc. It offers multiple services like Free parking, Free breakfast, a Playground for children, Breakfast Buffet, House Restaurants, amongst others.
The Buransh
It is located on Baijnath Road. It has 19 suites, fully loaded with various facilities to ensure a comfortable stay. The CEO of this resort is a well-known trekker, photographer, and author. This place offers various facilities like Free Parking, Free Breakfast, Banquet Room, Breakfast Buffet, Flatscreen Television, Laundry services, etc.
Kausani in Movies
Kausani was the place where the shooting of the 1994 movie “1942:A love story” took place. The film starred various actors and actresses like Anil Kapoor, Manisha Koirala, Anupam Kher, Jackie Shroff.