Kausani
A ridge-top village facing a near-300-km wall of Himalaya — Trishul, Nanda Devi and the Panchachuli peaks laid across the horizon. Mahatma Gandhi called it the Switzerland of India and stayed to write; the view still stops travellers in their tracks.
A balcony onto the high Himalaya
Kausani sits on a narrow pine ridge between the Kosi and Gomti valleys, with an unbroken panorama of the snow peaks — Trishul, Nanda Devi and, to the east, the five summits of Panchachuli. Gandhi spent two weeks here in 1929 and, moved by the setting, wrote his commentary on the Anasakti Yoga; his cottage is now the Anasakti Ashram.
Below the village, terraced tea gardens climb the slopes and the Kausani Tea Estate presses a well-known Himalayan brew. The poet Sumitranandan Pant was born here, and travellers still come simply to watch the light move across the mountains, morning and evening.
What to see in and around Kausani
Sunrise over the peaks
First light striking Nanda Devi and Panchachuli is the reason to be up early in Kausani.
Anasakti Ashram
Gandhi's 1929 retreat, with a small museum and one of the finest mountain views in the village.
Kausani Tea Estate
Walk the terraced gardens and taste the estate's orthodox Himalayan tea straight from source.
Rudradhari Falls & caves
A gentle forest walk to a stream-fed waterfall and an old Shiva shrine below the village.
Baijnath temples
A cluster of 12th-century stone temples by the Gomti river, about 18 km down the valley.
Sumitranandan Pant Museum
The home of the Jnanpith poet, now a gallery of his life, letters and manuscripts.
Getting there
About 117 km via Almora — a four-hour drive on hill roads. Kausani is best enjoyed as an overnight; we'll help plan the route and a stay.
Best time to visit
October to June for the clearest peaks; post-monsoon October–November is exceptional. Winter mornings are cold but crystal clear.
Good to know
The mountain views are weather-dependent — build in a spare morning. Carry warm layers even in summer for dawn at the viewpoint.
Make Blessed Aura your base
Kausani is a Kumaon highlight worth a night of its own — base with us at Blessed Aura and we'll plan the drive up and back.