Map of Kausani
Kausani is a beautiful small town on a ridge, overlooking a very wide view of snow covered peaks.
A comfortable 4 hour drive from Nanital, Kausani is a place to relax and walk. Sunrise is spectacular, with the sun rising from behing the mountains. The mountains are best seen in the early hours of the morning, being covered with clouds most of the rest of the day.
| Kausani | 
|
|
|---|
The best place to stay in Kausani is the Kumaon Vikas Nigam hotel, as it is on the highest ridge in the region. Book early online, it is simple. We could not get accomodation there, so we stayed at Suman Royal Resort. The advantage of the resort is that it is at a walking distance from the town.
| Sunrise at Kausani | View from Kausani | 
|
|
|---|
A walk to the Tea Estate took us 45 mins down and the same time up from Chrevon Eco Resort. From outside, the Chrevon Eco Resort seemed nice but probably too expensive. The Kausani Village Resort is highly recommended in all travel sites and books, but is near the Tea Factory, about 6 kms from the town and at a much lower altitude.
The best part of our stay in Kausani was eating in small road side restaurants on the road to Chrevon. They are cheap, clean and tasty, with, if you insist, the vegetable freshly plucked from the owner's farm. On one occassion we got food prepared by the family for themselves and it was a real treat. Chatting with cute kids of the owner is always an added bonus.
Himjoli, (see map) is an expensive but reliable place to shop.
| Eating in nature | Place to shop | 
|
|
|---|
The Gandhi Ashram in Kausani was a shocker. Surrounded by hotels, it is very difficult to spot. Sadly, when we reached there, it was flooded with tourists out on a picnic, with the spirit of Gandhiji only in the notice boards.
If you are the backpacker type, there are dozens of low cost hotels and in such a situation there is no need to pre book. You will find people waving at you to come in, in front of hotels. Select one with an excellent view of the mountains.
Two days is enough to stay here, unless you are doing some serious research in the flora and fauna of the area.
While driving to Kausani, try and locate a place about 10kms before Kausani from Almora, called Rudhradhari Cave & Falls. This is supposed to be a place frequented by Sonia Gandhi. If you've been there and can tell me the directions for reaching there please to email me, so that I can include it here for others.