Mahatma Gandhi stayed at Kausani for 14 days in 1929, writing his commentary Anasakti Yoga. The house he stayed in is now the Anasakti Ashram, a short walk from the bus stand.
Source: Kausani
Hill station in Kumaon
Kausani
Gandhi's ridge, a poet's birthplace and a 300 km wall of peaks
Kausani is a pine-covered ridge village at about 1,890 m, 52 km north of Almora, facing a wide panorama of peaks from Trishul and Nanda Devi to Panchachuli. Gandhi stayed here for two weeks in 1929 and the Hindi poet Sumitranandan Pant was born here. Two nights covers the ashrams, tea estate and Baijnath.
Photo: Abhijit Kar Gupta from Kolkata, India · CC BY 2.0 · CommonsKausani runs along a narrow ridge on the Almora–Bageshwar road, with the Someshwar valley on one side and the Garur and Katyur valleys on the other. The rivers below, the Kosi and the Gomti, water the flat, fertile fields called seras. On a clear morning from the ridge, the snow peaks stretch for some 300 km across the northern sky, with Trishul and Nanda Devi closest and the Panchachuli group far to the east.
In June 1929 Mahatma Gandhi stayed here for about 14 days while writing Anasakti Yoga, his commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, and is said to have compared the view to Switzerland. The house is now the Anasakti Ashram, with a prayer hall and exhibition. His English disciple Sarla Behn founded the Lakshmi Ashram, a school for hill girls, just below the village in 1946.
The Hindi poet Sumitranandan Pant was born in Kausani in 1900, and his family home is a small museum. Today the village is a quiet stop on Kumaon circuits, with the KMVN rest house, a government tea estate and a few cafés. The temple town of Baijnath, once the Katyuri capital, lies 17 km below, and Bageshwar 40 km on, on the way to Munsiyari.
Say it like a local · KumaoniSera
flat, irrigated riverbank fields, like those of the Kosi and Gomti valleys below Kausani
What to do in Kausani
Sunrise from the ridge
Stand outside the KMVN rest house or the Anasakti Ashram at first light. From October to February the sun lights Trishul first, then Nanda Devi and the long line of peaks to Panchachuli. Arrive 20 minutes early and dress warmly.
Anasakti Ashram
The house where Gandhi stayed for about two weeks in 1929 is now an ashram with a prayer hall, photographs and a small library. Evening prayers are open to visitors. Keep silence inside and dress modestly.
Sumitranandan Pant museum
The poet's childhood home near the bus stand holds his manuscripts, letters, awards and personal belongings. It is small, free or low-cost, and gives a sense of the Hindi literary world that grew around Kumaon.
Kausani tea estate
A tea garden on the slopes outside the village grows and sells hill tea. Walk the rows, see processing where open, and buy packs at the shop. Tea in Kumaon was first planted under the British in the 19th century.
Baijnath temples
Seventeen kilometres below Kausani, the Baijnath temple group stands on the Gomti river in the old Katyuri capital. The stone temples are protected by the ASI; the riverside setting is calm in the morning.
Lakshmi Ashram
Founded in 1946 by Gandhi's disciple Sarla Behn, this school for girls lies in pine forest about 1 km below the village. Visits are possible with prior permission; it is a working school, not a sight.
Field notes
What most guides miss about Kausani
The Hindi poet Sumitranandan Pant was born in Kausani on 20 May 1900. His family home is now a museum holding drafts of his poems, letters, awards and articles of daily use.
Source: Kausani
Lakshmi Ashram near Kausani was founded in 1946 by Gandhi's English disciple Catherine Heilemann, known as Sarla Behn, to support the education and self-reliance of Kumaoni women.
Source: Kausani
Experiences
Three days worth having in Kausani
Photo: Kinkhab · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Kausani · 2 hours
Sunrise and silence at Anasakti Ashram
Watch the peaks light up from the garden of the house where Gandhi stayed in 1929, then see the small exhibition on his…
Free; donations welcome
Photo: sushanta mohanta sin… · CC BY 3.0 · Commons
Kausani · 1–2 hours
A walk through the Kausani tea estate
Walk the tea rows on the slopes below Kausani, see how leaf is picked and processed when the factory is working, and bu…
Free to walk; tea packs ₹150–500
Photo: Shikharsaxena1618 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Commons
Kausani · Half day
Baijnath temples in the old Katyuri capital
Drive 17 km down from Kausani to Baijnath on the Gomti river, where a group of stone temples marks the old Katyuri capi…
Free entry; taxi ₹1,000–1,500 return
Real prices
What things cost in Kausani
ItemIndicative 2026
Shared jeep seat, Almora–Kausani₹150–250
KMVN rest house double₹2,000–4,500 a night
Budget hotel double in the village₹1,200–2,500 a night
Taxi to Baijnath and back₹1,000–1,500
Kausani tea pack at the estate shop₹150–500
Kumaoni thali at a local eatery₹150–250
Local prices change with season and fuel costs. Check current status before you travel.
Getting there
How to reach Kausani
Air
Pantnagar Airport is about 178 km away, 5–6 hours by road via Almora. A taxi costs roughly ₹6,000–7,500.
Train
Kathgodam railway station is about 145 km away, 5 hours via Almora. Take a shared taxi to Almora and a shared jeep or bus on to Kausani, or hire a taxi for ₹4,500–5,500.
Bus
KMOU and Uttarakhand Roadways buses run from Haldwani and Almora towards Bageshwar and stop at Kausani. Shared jeeps run between Almora, Kausani and Bageshwar through the day. Check current status before you travel in the monsoon.
Where to stay
Sleeping in Kausani
Saver: the KMVN tourist rest house on the ridge has some of the best mountain views in the village at a modest price, and several budget hotels near the bus stand start around ₹1,200 a night; the Anasakti Ashram has simple rooms for guests who keep its routine. Comfort: a handful of mid-range resorts on the ridge and along the Baijnath road offer heated rooms and Himalayan-facing balconies. There is no true luxury hotel in Kausani; signature trips usually stay at Binsar or Kasar Devi and visit.
Trips that stop here
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Photo: Travelling Slacker · CC BY 2.0 · Commons
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Munsiyari and the Johar valley by shared jeep
Shared jeeps and buses via Almora, Chaukori, Thal and Bageshwar
From, per person₹18,500Apr – May · Oct – Nov
Questions
Kausani, answered
Why is Kausani famous?
For its wide view of the snow peaks from Trishul and Nanda Devi to Panchachuli, for Gandhi's stay in 1929 at what is now the Anasakti Ashram, and as the birthplace of the Hindi poet Sumitranandan Pant. It is also known for tea and quiet.
What is the best time to visit Kausani?
October to February for the clearest mountain views, and March to June for pleasant weather and rhododendrons. July and August are rainy and the peaks are usually hidden.
How many days are enough for Kausani?
Two nights is enough to see sunrise twice, visit the ashrams and Pant museum, walk the tea estate and drive to Baijnath. It combines well with Almora and Binsar or as a stop on the way to Munsiyari.
How do I reach Kausani from Kathgodam?
Take a shared taxi to Almora, about 3 hours, then a shared jeep or bus on to Kausani, about 2 hours. A private taxi from Kathgodam costs about ₹4,500–5,500 and takes 5 hours.
Does it snow in Kausani?
Light snow falls in some winters, usually in January or February, but not every year. Nights are cold from December to February, often near freezing.
Is Kausani good for families?
Yes. It is quiet, safe and walkable, with short outings to the tea estate and Baijnath. There is little nightlife or shopping, so it suits families who enjoy views and slow days.
Where should I stay in Kausani on a budget?
The KMVN rest house on the ridge has excellent views for its price. Budget hotels near the bus stand start around ₹1,200 a night. Book north-facing rooms for the view.
Is there network in Kausani?
Jio, Airtel and BSNL work in the village. Speeds are fine for messages and maps, but slower in bad weather. Some hotels have Wi-Fi.
Can I go from Kausani to Munsiyari?
Yes. The road runs via Baijnath, Bageshwar and Thal, about 180 km and 7–8 hours. Shared jeeps run from Bageshwar. Leave early and check current status before you travel in the monsoon.