Kausani Travel Guide: Himalayan Views, Places to Visit and Travel Tips

Welcome to our Kausani travel guide. Kausani is a small village at about 1,890 metres in the Bageshwar district of Kumaon, Uttarakhand. From its ridge you can see a long line of Himalayan snow peaks, including Trishul, Nanda Devi, Nanda Kot and Panchachuli. Mahatma Gandhi stayed here in 1929 and called it the Switzerland of India. This Kausani travel guide tells you what to see, when to go, how to get there and how long to stay.

Kausani Travel Guide at a Glance

Region: Kumaon, Uttarakhand
Height: about 1,890 metres
Known for: sunrise views of the Himalayan peaks, tea gardens and quiet
Time needed: two to three days
Best time: October to June
Nearest station: Kathgodam, about 135 km. Nearest airport: Pantnagar

Best Places to Visit in Kausani

Every Kausani travel guide starts with the view, but the village and the valley below have much more to see.

The Himalayan Viewpoint

Get up early to watch the sun light up the snow peaks, from Trishul and Nanda Devi to Panchachuli. Sunset is beautiful too.

Anasakti Ashram

The house where Gandhi stayed in 1929, now a quiet ashram with a small museum, a prayer hall and a wide mountain view.

Kausani Tea Estate

Walk through the green rows of tea bushes, learn how the tea is made and buy fresh Kumaon tea.

Sumitranandan Pant Museum

The childhood home of the Hindi poet Sumitranandan Pant, born in Kausani, with his books and letters.

Lakshmi Ashram

A school for village girls set up by Sarala Behn, a follower of Gandhi, with shawls and crafts made by the students.

Places to Visit near Kausani

This part of our Kausani travel guide covers the best day trips.

Baijnath: a group of old stone temples by the Gomti river, about 17 km away.
Rudradhari Falls and caves: a forest walk to a waterfall and old caves, about 12 km away.
Bageshwar: the Bagnath temple where two rivers meet, about 40 km away.
Pinnath: a forest trek to an old temple, for fit walkers.
Almora and Ranikhet: larger Kumaon hill towns, two to three hours away.
Nainital: the lake town, four to five hours away. Read our Nainital travel guide.

A Two-Day Kausani Plan

Day 1: sunset at the viewpoint, Anasakti Ashram and the Pant museum.
Day 2: sunrise over the peaks, the tea garden, Rudradhari Falls and the Baijnath temples.

Best Time to Visit Kausani

October to December: clear skies and the best snow peak views.
January and February: cold, with some snow and clear mornings.
March to June: pleasant, with spring flowers, though haze can hide the peaks.
July to September: monsoon rain and clouds, with few views.

How to Reach Kausani

By train: Kathgodam station, about 135 km away, or about five hours by road.
By air: Pantnagar airport, about six hours by road.
By road: about 52 km from Almora, four to five hours from Nainital and about ten hours from Delhi.

Kausani Travel Guide: Tips for Your Visit

Book a room that faces the peaks; it is the best part of a stay.
Carry warm layers; mornings and nights are cold most of the year.
Kausani is a village, with few shops and ATMs, so carry some cash.
Stay two nights, so you have two chances of a clear sunrise.
Read our India travel tips before you go.

Kausani Tours with Shamrock Journeys

If you want us to plan everything, see our Kausani tour packages, from a two-day getaway to a honeymoon stay, with add-ons to Nainital and Jim Corbett.

Kausani Travel Guide FAQ

Why is Kausani called the Switzerland of India?

Mahatma Gandhi gave it this name in 1929, because of its wide views of the snow peaks.

How many days are enough for Kausani?

Two to three days.

Which peaks can I see from Kausani?

On clear days, Trishul, Nanda Devi, Nanda Kot and Panchachuli, among others.

Does it snow in Kausani?

Some snow falls in many winters, in January and February.

Which is better, Kausani or Nainital?

Nainital is a busy lake town. Kausani is quiet, with much wider Himalayan views. Many guests visit both.

Plan Your Kausani Trip

We hope this Kausani travel guide helps you plan. Shamrock Journeys has planned Kumaon holidays since 2002. See our Kausani tour packages, our Nainital tour packages, our Uttarakhand tour packages and our best North India tours. Request your free quote

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