Kausani by car: distance, drive time and fares
Kausani sits about 410 km from Delhi by road, via Moradabad, Haldwani, Kathgodam, Almora and Someshwar, which takes around 10 to 11 hours, so most travellers break the trip. From Kathgodam station it is about 140 km. Our sedan fare from Delhi is Rs 14,760 Pay Now to Reserve one way; an Innova Crysta is Rs 23,370 Pay Now to Reserve, both plus 5% GST.
Kausani is really one long ridge at about 1,890 metres, draped in pine forest and tea gardens, facing north over the Someshwar and Garur valleys to the high Himalaya. On a clear morning the snow peaks, Trishul, Nanda Ghunti, Nanda Devi, Nanda Kot and away to the east the five summits of Panchachuli, stretch across roughly 300 km of horizon, and the first sunlight turns them pink, then gold, then brilliant white. It is one of the finest mountain views in India that you can enjoy from a hotel balcony with a cup of tea.
Mahatma Gandhi came here in 1929 intending to stay two days and stayed about two weeks, writing his commentary on the Gita, and is often quoted calling Kausani the Switzerland of India. The poet Sumitranandan Pant was born here. The village remains small and quiet, and because it is further from Delhi than Nainital or Ranikhet, the crowds thin out long before you arrive. That distance is also why a good car and driver matter. RutzIndia.com runs one-way drops, pickups at Kathgodam and Pantnagar, and multi-day Kumaon circuits that fold Kausani in with Almora, Ranikhet and Bhimtal.
What to see in and around Kausani
- Sunrise from the ridge. The main reason to come. Most hotels face the peaks; the viewpoints near the Anasakti Ashram and along the upper road are also excellent. Be up by first light.
- Anasakti Ashram. The guesthouse where Gandhi stayed, now a peaceful ashram with a small museum of photographs and a prayer hall. Evening prayers are open to visitors who wish to join quietly.
- Sumitranandan Pant Gallery. The poet's family home, now a small museum with his manuscripts, letters and belongings.
- Kausani tea estate. Terraced tea gardens on the slopes below the village, with a sales outlet where you can taste and buy the local brew.
- Lakshmi Ashram. A women's education and weaving ashram founded in the 1940s by Sarala Behn, a follower of Gandhi; shawls and woollens are sold here.
- Baijnath temple complex. About 17 km away on the banks of the Gomti, a group of Katyuri-era stone temples with a celebrated Parvati image, protected by the Archaeological Survey of India. See the ASI website for its monument listings.
- Bageshwar. About 40 km away, a temple town at the confluence of the Saryu and Gomti, with the Bagnath temple and the Uttarayani fair each January.
- Rudradhari Falls and caves. A short trek through forest and terraced fields about 12 km from Kausani.
The Uttarakhand Tourism Kausani page and the Bageshwar district website have more on local sights and events.
The drive: Delhi to Kausani, broken into stages
This is a long drive, and it is more pleasant split in two. Here is how the day unfolds.
- Delhi to Rudrapur (about 250 km, 5 hours). The Delhi-Meerut Expressway and NH9 through Hapur, Garhmukteshwar, Moradabad and Rampur. Fast, tolled and full of breakfast options.
- Rudrapur to Kathgodam (about 45 km, 1 to 1.5 hours). Through Haldwani, which is slow at peak hours. Kathgodam is where the hills begin.
- Kathgodam to Almora (about 90 km, 3 hours). Up to Bhimtal and Bhowali, then down the Kosi valley through Garampani and Khairna to Kwarab and up to Almora. Many families sleep here, and our Almora by road guide covers that town in detail.
- Almora to Kausani (about 75 km, 2.5 hours). A lovely road through pine forest and terraced fields to Someshwar, a small market town on the Kosi, and a final climb to the ridge.
Travellers coming from Ranikhet can reach Kausani in about 3 hours; see our Ranikhet by road guide. Pantnagar airport is about 175 km from Kausani. For every airport or station pickup, we track the arrival, hold a name board, and wait 30 minutes free after a domestic arrival before waiting charges begin.
Reading the Kausani skyline
Half the pleasure of Kausani is putting names to the peaks, and hotel staff are usually happy to point them out. Looking north from the ridge, the long white massif on the left is Trishul, its three summits recalling Shiva's trident. Moving right, Nanda Ghunti and then the twin tops of Nanda Devi, India's second-highest mountain, rise behind the nearer ranges, with Nanda Kot below and to its right. Far to the east, on the border with Nepal, the cluster of five summits is Panchachuli, associated in legend with the five Pandava brothers cooking their last meal.
Photographers should be in position about 20 minutes before sunrise, with a tripod if possible and a longer lens for the distant peaks; the colour changes fast and the best light lasts only a few minutes. Late afternoon can also be beautiful in winter, when the snow catches the setting sun. A tip from the drivers who know this road: on days when the valley is full of cloud at dawn, wait an hour. The mist often burns off by mid-morning and leaves the whole range floating above it.
When to go to Kausani
- October to December: the prime months for mountain views. The air is washed clean by the monsoon and mornings are often perfectly clear. Cold nights; pack a proper jacket.
- January and February: very cold, sometimes with snowfall on the ridge. Views can be stunning between weather systems. The Uttarayani fair at Bageshwar takes place around Makar Sankranti.
- March to June: pleasant days and blooming rhododendrons, though afternoon haze often softens the view by May. A good escape from the plains' heat.
- July to September: monsoon. Green, misty and quiet, with the peaks hidden most days and occasional slips on the Kosi valley road.
No permits are required for Kausani, Baijnath or Bageshwar.
Chauffeured cars and Kausani fares
We price every trip from our published per-km card, before 5% GST. Tolls, parking and state charges go on the bill exactly as paid. Where the car stays out overnight, add the driver's night allowance of Rs 1,500 per night. Round trips are billed on the actual distance or 250 km per calendar day, whichever is higher.
| Kausani trip | Compact sedan | Ertiga | Innova Crysta | Tempo Traveller |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi to Kausani, one way (about 410 km) | Rs 14,760 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 17,220 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 23,370 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 31,980 Pay Now to Reserve |
| Kathgodam station to Kausani (about 140 km) | Rs 5,040 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 5,880 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 7,980 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 10,920 Pay Now to Reserve |
| Delhi Kumaon loop, 5 days (1,250 km billed) | Rs 45,000 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 52,500 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 71,250 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 97,500 Pay Now to Reserve |
- Two or three travellers: a compact sedan handles the Almora and Someshwar roads comfortably.
- Families: the Ertiga or an Innova Crysta on rent gives more space for the long day in the car.
- Groups of 12 or more: a Tempo Traveller; the Kausani ridge road takes 17-seaters without trouble in dry weather. See our outstation cabs page for more vehicle options.
- Want to spend a night by a lake on the way? Our Delhi to Nainital taxi fares cover the first half.
Our fleet is kept within four model years. Cancel more than 72 hours before pickup at no cost; after that we retain 10% (within 72 hours), 50% (within 48 hours) and 100% (within 24 hours or on a no-show). The cancellation policy explains the details.
A 4-day Kausani itinerary by car
Day 1: Delhi to Almora (about 335 km). An early start, breakfast at Gajraula, lunch near Haldwani, and an evening in Almora's bazaar.
Day 2: Almora to Kausani (about 75 km). A relaxed morning drive via Someshwar, lunch with a view, afternoon at the Anasakti Ashram and the Pant gallery, and sunset from the ridge.
Day 3: Baijnath and Bageshwar (about 110 km round trip). Sunrise from the hotel, then Baijnath's temples by the Gomti in the morning and Bagnath temple at Bageshwar in the afternoon. Evening at the tea estate.
Day 4: Kausani to Delhi, or onward (about 410 km). A final sunrise and a long drive home, or a gentler route back via Bhimtal for a lakeside night; see our Bhimtal by road guide.
Where to stay and eat in Kausani
Accommodation lines the ridge road, and almost every property sells itself on the view, so ask specifically for a room facing north towards the peaks. The choices range from the government tourist rest house and budget guesthouses near the bus stand to comfortable resorts on the slopes above and below the village. The Anasakti Ashram also offers simple rooms for those willing to follow its quiet routine. Book early for October, November and Christmas.
Meals are straightforward: North Indian and Kumaoni dishes in hotel dining rooms, a few small restaurants near the market, and tea stalls everywhere. Try the local tea, of course, and the Kumaoni raita made with cucumber and mustard seed. Carry snacks for the drive; long stretches between Kathgodam and Almora have only small roadside stalls.
Practical tips for Kausani
- Break the journey. Ten or more hours of driving in one go, the last three on hill roads, is tiring. A night in Almora or Bhimtal makes the trip far more enjoyable.
- Set an alarm for sunrise. The view is at its best in the first hour of light.
- Carry cash. Kausani has limited ATMs; Almora and Bageshwar have more.
- Pack warm. Even in May, early mornings on the ridge are cold.
- Fuel at Almora. Pumps between Almora and Kausani are few.
- Keep your car for side trips. Local taxis are scarce, and Baijnath and Bageshwar are best done with your own driver. For Delhi pickups and drops, our taxi service in Delhi covers the whole NCR.
