Kausani – A Serene Himalayan Getaway

A trip to Ranikhet and Majkhali left us wishing for more and luckily, we had a day in the hills to spare. We decided to head to the quaint town of Kausani, which promised great views of the mighty snow clad Himalayas. This was our last day in the hills and it turned out to be the best one. Kausani is around three hours drive from Majkhali, and the drive is so picturesque that we stopped multiple times to admire the views and capture them in our cameras. We passed many a villages, patches of pine forests and temples to finally reach our destination around noon. Just when we entered Kausani, we heard a school bell ring, declaring chutti for the day. Within minutes we could hear happy noises coming from the other side of the mountain. And then, the school kids crossed over to our side and we just could not let them go without a happy picture. For a few moments, we all embraced the kid in us and thanked God that it’s still alive.

Those school-kids brought back memories of a lost era. I was transported to my own school days when the only things to worry about were the lost notebook that one would have to get photocopied from a friend. Memories engulfed me and I was in no mood to return to present day. But, then I saw something that made the past fade as swiftly as it had engulfed me. Suddenly, the clouds were gone and the sun appeared, clearing the view of the Trishul Peak for us. There it was, standing tall, in all its might, staring at us misfits from a big city, which isn’t really as big as it claims to be.

We spent some time admiring the views and clicking pictures. It was calm and serene, with no-one around but just us and that made it really special. That moment is locked forever in our memories now and it has made Kausani a little more special, in its own way. Soon, it was time for lunch and we found a small roadside eatery serving food which smelt delicious. With a little apprehension, we went inside, only to be served the best food we had eaten in days. It was simple, kind of home cooked food and it touched my soul.

After a hearty meal, it was time to explore the not so famous tea-gardens of Kausani. Not many people know that Uttrakhand also has tea-estates. Of course they are not as big and glamorous as the ones in Munnar or Darjeeling, but they are as real and enchanting. The weather is perfect for tea plantation and so are the hardworking people of the mountains who put their heart and soul into growing it. It being a Sunday, the tea factory was closed, but we could still go into the gardens and admire the hard work that gets into it.

Kausani was now opening up to us and we quite liked what we saw and experienced. We had stopped a couple of times to ask directions and people would go to lengths to explain the way. The simplicity of these people really caught my attention. An old man asked us for a lift till the next bend and we were not afraid to ask him to join us. That never happens in Delhi. Turned out, it was a great decision offering him a lift, as he shared with us a hidden gem of a place to visit while we were at Kausani. It was like life’s little miracles.

As per the old man’s suggestion, we started driving towards Rudradhari Temple which was an hour’s drive from Kausani. The road kept getting narrower and the valleys kept getting deeper. At one point, we were doubtful to continue further and thought of moving back. But then wanderlust didn’t let us do the logical thing. We kept on moving further and finally reached a village from where the hike to the temple had to begin. It was a pristine little village with a very small population settled in a valley with huge mountains guarding these mud-huts from all sides. We had to follow a trail to the top of one such mountain.

The hike was around 3km long and it ended at a waterfall. We were tired but the icy cold water made us feel alive in no time. There was a Shiv temple inside a cave. Legend goes that a man had a dream about a natural Shivling in this cave and he set out to find it. And with the Shivling, he found peace and solace and decided to stay in the cave forever. He never went back. We met this saint and he offered us his blessings. I am not sure how true the tale is, but localites are very fond of him and keep on donating in cash and kind so that the cave temple can be maintained.

Soon, we started moving back as it was evening already. The journey back was a pretty one too and we couldn’t move ahead without clicking some pictures. We were in a beautiful pine forest and contemplated staying back. If only we had brought tents, things to eat and knew how to light a fire to keep us warm. That goes into the list of things to be learnt for the next adventure.

We started our journey back to Majkhali, thinking that the adventure is over. But, we were wrong and Kausani surprised us once again. On one of the hairpin bends, we saw bands of yellow and black, staring at us from a distance. It perched there for a couple of seconds before moving swiftly into the valley for another prey. We were spared.

Kausani is a great Himalayan getaway if you wish to spend time negotiating with nature. It does not have the glamour of our hill stations and that’s why it is perfect for an offbeat getaway into the hills, away from the city, away from the crowd and away from all the hustle-bustle.

How To Reach – Book Flight tickets to Delhi from where you can catch an overnight volvo/train till Kathgodam/Haldwani. One needs to board a local bus/hire a cab from there for a five/six hour journey till Kausani.