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Located 53 km to the north of Almora, Kausani, is a picturesque hill station famous for its scenic splendour and its spectacular 300 km-wide view of the Himalayas. Situated atop a narrow ridge, at 6075-ft (1890 metres) above sea level, Kausani is often compared with Switzerland. It is thickly forested, and separated from the soaring Nanda Devi ranges by low mountains. In 1929, Mahatma Gandhi stayed here at the Anashakti Ashram, and was greatly impressed by its environs. Kausani is also the birthplace of the poet Sumitra Nandan Pant.

This is a small town covering an area of just 5.2 sq. km with a population of 4046 as per the last census. One can spend time strolling through the town and taking in its natural beauty. Some spectacular views of the hills exist and several snow-capped peaks spanning a 300-km range can be seen from vantage points around. One of the best spots from which to photograph the Nanda Devi range is the State Bungalow at Kausani. A particularly good time is prior to sunrise when one can watch the sun slowly lighting up the tips of the Nanda Devi range.

One can also visit the Anashakti Ashram, a quiet and revered place where the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi spent 12 days in 1929. This is where he penned his memorable commentary on the Gita- Anashakti Yoga as he sat inspired by the beauty of this town. Set against the breathtaking beauty of the Himalayas, the Ashram offers a serene and peaceful atmosphere. It also has an interesting library.

The town has only one bank branch, that of UCO Bank, so make sure you do all your banking and encashment of travellers cheques at Almora, Ranikhet or Nainital en route to Kausani.

Best Season:
The town is accessible all year round. For those who wish to avoid the cold, the best season is between April and June and again between September and November. Summer months will require light woollen clothing and winter- heavy woollen.

Accommodation:
One can stay at the Holiday Home of the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam. Phone: (05969) 45015. Other accommodation includes the Forest Rest House, the Zila Parishad Dak Bungalow, Anashakti Yoga Ashram, the State Bungalow and a few privately run hotels such as Pine View Hotel and Himalaya Hotel. There are many small local eateries that offer simple and mainly vegetarian food.

Getting there:
Air: The nearest airport is the small one at Pantnagar 180 kms away.
Rail: The nearest railway station is at Kathgodam. From there one starts the climb to Kausani via Almora (a 142-km route). An equally beautiful route is via Ranikhet (163 kms). Some of the important train connections for Kathgodam are: Shatabadi Express, Howrah Express (3019/3020), Ranikhet Express (5013/5014), Rampur Passenger (1/2 R.K. Passenger and 3/4 R.K. Passenger) and Nainital Express (5308/5307).
Road: Kausani is linked to several other hill stations by road routes. Some of the major road distances are: Almora-53 km. Rainkhet-62 km, Pithoragarh-107 km. Gwaldam-39 km and Nainital-117 km.