Kausani Travel Guide
A tea-garden ridge with one of the widest Himalayan panoramas in Kumaon — Trishul to Nanda Devi.
- Altitude
- 1,890 m
- Best season
- Year round
- From Dehradun
- ~400 km
- Category
- Kumaon
Why visit Kausani
- Uninterrupted 300 km Himalayan panorama including Trishul (7,120 m), Nanda Devi (7,816 m) and Panchachuli (6,904 m) — one of the widest peak-views accessible by road in Uttarakhand
- Anasakti Ashram, where Gandhi stayed in 1929, is now a thoughtful museum set in the same pine-shaded building above the ridge
- Working tea gardens producing Uttarakhand's only commercial tea — factory tours show the full process from leaf to packet
- Baijnath (19 km), with its 12th-century Katyuri-dynasty temple complex, is one of the finest examples of medieval Kumaoni architecture
- The village is small enough to walk end-to-end in 30 minutes — a quality of stillness that larger hill stations cannot offer
Kausani's ridge faces a roughly 300-kilometre sweep of snow peaks — Trishul, Nanda Devi and Panchachuli — which Gandhi, staying at what is now the Anasakti Ashram, famously compared to Switzerland.
Tea gardens, sunrise viewpoints and the Baijnath temple cluster in the valley below fill an unhurried two-day stay.
Explore around
Places near Kausani
12th-century Katyuri-dynasty Shiva temple on the Gomti riverbank; cluster of carved stone temples in a park setting; no entry fee
Two-stage waterfall in forest; 2 km walk from the road; refreshing in summer
Fertile valley with rice terraces and the Someshwar river; drives through here are scenic even without a specific destination
Kumaoni pilgrim town at the Saryu-Gomti confluence; Baghnath temple; base for Pindari and Sunderdhunga glacier treks
Gandhi's 1929 retreat; now a museum with original letters, photographs and the quiet meditation hall he used
What to do
Activities at Kausani
Sunrise panorama
The ridge above the tea gardens faces northeast and catches the first light on the peaks at dawn. On clear days (October is best, March is good) the Nanda Devi massif turns pink before the sun clears the horizon. Set an alarm for 5:30 am.
Tea garden walk
Uttarakhand Tea's gardens begin just below the main road. Factory tours are available on request on weekday mornings — you see withering, rolling and firing before tasting the finished product. The garden paths themselves make a pleasant 1-hour walk.
Baijnath temple visit
The Katyuri temple complex at Baijnath (19 km) sits beside the Gomti river and has been in continuous worship since the 12th century. Stone carvings of Shiva, Parvati, Mahishasurmardini and the Navagrahas fill every panel. Allow 1.5–2 hours including travel.
Rudradhari waterfall hike
A 2 km trail through mixed forest leads to the double-drop Rudradhari falls. The path is clear and flat for the most part; the final approach is rocky. Best visited before noon when the sun enters the gorge.
Before you go
Kausani travel tips
- Kausani has a single main road with hotels on both sides — "upper" rooms facing the peaks cost more but deliver the view that justifies the trip
- Peak views are most reliable October–November and March–April; May can be hazy, June–September mostly cloudy
- Kathgodam (140 km) is the nearest railhead; shared taxis and buses take 4–5 hours on the winding mountain road
- Baijnath temple has no parking close to the entrance on busy weekends — arrive before 9 am or after 4 pm
- The tea garden factory does not operate on Sundays and Gazetted holidays — confirm timing before visiting
- Kausani is small enough that everything is walkable; renting a vehicle is only needed for Baijnath and Rudradhari
- Gandhi Ashram (Anasakti) charges a nominal entry; it is open daily including holidays
Getting there
How to reach Kausani
Pantnagar Airport (155 km, ~4 hrs) is the closest. Jolly Grant, Dehradun (300 km) has more frequent flights. Taxi from either airport.
Kathgodam station (140 km). Ranikhet Express from Delhi (overnight) arrives at Kathgodam. Shared taxis depart from outside the station for Kausani (4–4.5 hrs).
Delhi → Haldwani → Almora → Kausani (approx. 430 km from Delhi, 9–10 hrs). From Almora it is 117 km via Someshwar. The Almora–Kausani road is well-maintained with good views throughout.
Where to stay in Kausani
- Krishna Mountview and Uttarakhand Tourism's KMVN property offer reliable mid-range stays with peak views
- Kasaar Jungle Resort (8 km below) is the most upmarket option in the area, with forest setting and good food
- Small guesthouses (Himalayan Abode, Panchachuli Guest House) along the main road suit budget travellers
- Advance booking essential in October and the March–April blossom window
Food & dining
- Most hotels include meals in their tariff — order Kumaoni thali at least once for gahat soup, kafuli greens and local red rice
- The main road has a handful of cafes and small restaurants; Vandana's Café is consistently recommended for simple home-cooked food
- Buy packets of Uttarakhand tea at the factory shop — far cheaper than the same brand in Delhi stores
- Fresh produce (apples, walnuts, local honey) sold from roadside stalls is generally reliable and worth buying
Background
History of Kausani
Kausani was essentially an unnamed ridge settlement until the British opened a road through it in the early 20th century as part of the PWD expansion into Kumaon. Its geography — a narrow ridge with an unobstructed northeast face — gave it the panoramic quality that would later define it as a destination.
Mahatma Gandhi visited in June 1929, staying at what was then called the Anasakti Ashram of Sarala Behn (Catherine Heilman), a British follower who had settled in the Kumaon hills to work on rural self-reliance. Gandhi was so moved by the view of the peaks that he extended his stay and wrote "Anasakti Yoga," his commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, during those two weeks. The ashram now bears the title of that work.
The Uttarakhand Tea plantation at Kausani, established under state government initiative in the mid-20th century, pioneered high-altitude tea cultivation in the western Himalaya and demonstrated that Kumaon's climate and soil could support quality tea — something previously considered viable only in Darjeeling and Assam.
Plan your trip
Suggested Kausani itinerary
- Day 1Arrive from Kathgodam or Almora. Check in. Evening on the ridge watching sunset light on the peaks. Dinner at hotel.
- Day 2Sunrise from the ridge (5:30 am). Morning tea garden walk and factory visit. Anasakti Ashram after breakfast. Afternoon Rudradhari waterfall hike.
- Day 3Drive to Baijnath (19 km) for the temple complex. Continue to Bageshwar (41 km from Kausani) for Baghnath temple and bazaar. Return or continue onward.
Common questions
Kausani FAQ
- Can I see Nanda Devi from Kausani?
- Yes — on clear days from the ridge, Nanda Devi (7,816 m) is clearly visible as the highest point in the panorama. The best chances are October–November and early March before the pre-monsoon haze builds.
- How far is Kausani from Nainital?
- Approximately 118 km by road via Almora, taking about 3.5 hours. Many travellers combine the two in a Kumaon circuit.
- Is Kausani suitable for families with children?
- Very well suited — gentle terrain, no steep treks required, good motor access, and short-drive attractions like Baijnath that appeal to all ages.
- What makes Kausani tea different?
- Grown at 1,800–2,000 m in mineral-rich Himalayan soil with a cooler growing season than Assam, Kausani tea develops a distinctive light, slightly floral character closer to Darjeeling second-flush than to standard north Indian CTC.
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