Kausani is a small hill town and about a decade back only the hardcore tourist reached here and that too for a day trip. But today it attracts many tourists as the infrastructure has improved. Even today it is possible to find the serenity associated with a small hill town. Kausani is famous for it breathtaking views of the Himalayan peaks and on a clear day you can see peaks like Trishul and Nanda Kot and even Nanda Devi. It’s an absolutely awesome sight to see the sun glinting on these majestic snow covered peaks. The best time to visit is post monsoon when the rains have washed away all the suspended dust particles in the air and the skies are clear. An even better place to watch these peaks is Gowaldham from where the peaks appear grander and clearer. This brings you even closer to the mountain ranges as Gowaldham is situated higher than Kausani at 6000 feet. On the way is Baijnath that boasts of an ancient Shiva temple on the banks of a river. Other than this Kausani offers nice walks through dense pine forests where you can see astonishingly over-sized mushrooms. If they were edible they would have been in a frying pan a long time before they attained these proportions.
How to get there
Delhi – Rampur: NH 24 though Moradabad bypass on to Rampur. Toll Road with six-lane highway. Smooth tarmac with moderate traffic. The best time to drive is early morning or in the peak summer in the afternoon when the roads are completely deserted.
Rampur – Haldwani: Turn left in Rampur on to NH 87.Will take you all the way to Haldwani through forest cover on a smooth road. Single-lane but hardly any traffic. Total distance between Delhi -Haldwani is 295 kilometre. Drive time: 5 – 6 hours.
Haldwani – Almora: Distance 95 kms. It is a scenic drive along the Kosi river with newly surfaced broad roads. The drive time is two and a half hours.
Almora – Kausani: 47 Kms through single lane, hill roads. Winds its way through tea shrubs and rice fields. Scenic but involves hill driving. The drive time is around two hours.
Kausani – Gowaldham: 39 kms through Baijnath and as the roads winds its way through picturesque villages and paddy fields. One can’t but help enjoy the drive. A little further up this gives way to thick pine forest and the air is heavy with the sweet smell of pine cones. Drive time a little over an hour.
Where To Stay
Other than the Government Rest house, Kausani boasts of a variety of places to stay. From privately owned resorts which provide well-appointed rooms with almost all modern amenities to small hotels meant for those on a budget. The range starts from Rs 500 and goes up to Rs 3000 in peak summer and autumn season. Plus you can find tented accommodation and small cottages where a family of four can comfortably stay. Again rates are very moderate and for a small cottage it is around Rs 750 for a night. The best part of Kausani is that almost all the hotels have rooms that face the mountains. So, you actually wake up looking at these mighty mountains.
Where To Stay
Other than the Government Rest house, Kausani boasts of a variety of places to stay. From privately owned resorts which provide well-appointed rooms with almost all modern amenities to small hotels meant for those on a budget. The range starts from Rs 500 and goes up to Rs 3000 in peak summer and autumn season. Plus you can find tented accommodation and small cottages where a family of four can comfortably stay. Again rates are very moderate and for a small cottage it is around Rs 750 for a night. The best part of Kausani is that almost all the hotels have rooms that face the mountains. So, you actually wake up looking at these mighty mountains.