Kausani originally known as Valna is a Himalayan hill town located in the state of Uttaranchal of India. It is located in the district of Almora, which is situated at an altitude of about 6075 ft (1890 m) above sea level.
Located atop the ridge between dense pine trees, Kausani overlooks the Someshwar valley on one side and Garur and Baijnath Katyuri valley on the other side.
History of Kausani
During ancient times, Kausani was a part of Almora District, which was under the administrative control of the Katyuri king, Baichaldeo. Later, he donated a large part of this land to a Gujarati Brahmin, Sri Chand Tiwari. Further, the town of Almora was founded, when the Chand Kingdom was founded in Baramandal in 1568 by Kalyan Chand.
In 1960, Bageshwar District and Champawat District were formed from the Almora District. Vishuvati, Vat Savitri Amavasya, Harela and Harishayani Ekadashi are some of the main events that are celebrated in the region. Delicacies like bal mithai, singauri, madua ki roti and sisunak saag are the specialities of this region.
Things to do in Kausani
Kausani is a scenic hill station famous for its panoramic views of the Himalayas of almost 300 km wide. Many mountains like Trishul, Nandakot and Nanda Devi can be seen easily from this place. Mahatma Gandhi was impressed by the beauty of Kausani and called this place as ‘Switzerland of India', since it is very similar to the landscape of Switzerland. Today Kausani attracts many tourists from all over the world.
Apart from the hills and spectacular views, the place is famous for ashrams. Anashakti Ashram is the most famous place in Kausani. It is popular as Mahatma Gandhi spent some days at the ashram. Previously it was a tea estate but the ashram is now converted into a research centre and a library.
There is a memorial of Katherine Heileman also known as Sarlaben, who spent her life here doing social service. It has been established to conduct evening prayers every day. It is said that Mahatma Gandhi wrote his commentary of Anashakti Yog while he was staying here.
Besides, Kausani is also known as the birthplace of the famous poet Sumitra Nandan Pant. The Pant Museum is named after him. It is now preserved in its original ancestral form and serves as a reference library. Lakshmi Ashram is another place of importance at Kausani. It is dedicated to social service and welfare of women.
Kausani offers a lot of activities for adventure lovers like trekking, rock climbing, etc. Pindari Glacier Trek, Sunder Dhunga Trek and Milam Glacier Trek are some of the popular trekking areas. 'Makar Sankranti' at Kausani, usually called ‘Uttarayani’, is a huge fair that takes place at Bageshwar which is in the vicinity of the destination.
The best time to visit Kausani is from April to June and again from September to May.
Travelling to Kausani
In order to reach Kausani, travellers can take flights up to Pantnagar Airport, which is well connected with flights to Mumbai and Delhi. Kathgodam Railway Station is the nearest railway, which is connected by trains from places like Delhi, Howrah and Lucknow, among others. Kausani Bus Station is the main bus station serving the region.
Accommodation Options in Kausani
There are ample accommodation options available in Kausani. These include hotels ranging from budget to luxury catering to the needs of the travellers.
