Chill out in Kausani

Nestled among dense pine forests, atop a narrow ridge, is the small picturesque town of Kausani in Uttar Pradesh. Famous for its tranquil surroundings, it is also known as the Switzerland of India.

Located on the Pingnath peak among the Kumaon hills, Kausani is surrounded by the river Kosi on one side and the thunderous Gomti on the other.

With dense forests, enchanting greenery, colourful flowers and some great cloud formations, accompanied by 300 kilometre-wide view of the snow capped Himalayan range Kausani has enough to capture the mind of any tourist.

The view of the snow covered Trishul and Nanda Devi peaks is so clear that you feel like you could almost touch it. A particularly good time to view the peaks is before sunrise when you can watch the sun slowly light the tips of the mountains.

If you are in a mood to explore the place, go trekking. That is the best way to get to know more about the Kumaoni people and their lifestyle, heritage and rituals.

There is very little local transport available in Kausani. So if you want to see places, you have to be up on your feet.

When you are there, visit the Pant Museum, which is dedicated to the national poet Pandit Sumitra Nandan Pant. The poet was born in Kasauni and spent his childhood in the building which houses the museum now. It has a collection of the poet’s letters, poems and manuscripts.

Another place worth visiting is the Anashakti Ashram. This is where Mahatma Gandhi stayed when he was writing the ‘Anashakti Yoga’. This place has now been converted into a study and research centre by the Uttar Pradesh government.

Just a kilometre away from Anashakti Ashram is the Lakshmi Ashram, which runs many welfare programmes for women. They are taught to read and write, and to make woollen carpets which serve as an alternative source of income.

If you are planning a trip to Kasauni, do it between April and June and between September and November when the weather is really pleasant. Avoid the rainy season when the place turns foggy.

Kasauni can be accessed only by road. There are regular bus and taxi services from Delhi, Lucknow, Nainital, Pant Nagar and Ranikhet to reach Kasauni. The nearest rail head is at Kathgodam which is about 150 kilometres away. Kathgodam is connected with major cities by train.