Kausani is a destination for Himalayan tourists. It is located 53 km North of Almora. The altitude of this place is about 1890 mts. This place offers a 350 km view of the Himalayan peaks like Trisul, Nanda Devi and Panchchuli. There are very few places in the Himalayas which can compare with the beauty of Kausani - a picturesque hill station famous for its scenic splendor and its spectacular 300 km-wide panoramic view of the Himalayas. Kausani lies on the atop the ridge amidst dense Pine trees overlooking Someshwar valley on one side and Garur and Baijnath Katyuri valley on the other on Almora-Bageshwar-Didihat Highway. Mahatma Gandhi called this place the 'Switzerland of India', due to similarity in landscape.
The Baijnath temple has been continuously under worship ever since its construction in 1204 A.D. by two local merchants named Ahuka and Manyuka. The two long inscriptions in the porch of the temple indicate that a temple of Siva existed on the spot even before the present one was constructed. The present temple is a beautiful example of the early medieval north Indian temple architecture known as Nagara style of temples. The Svayambhu form of Sivalinga is enshrined in the sanctum of the temple that has five projections on each side and is surmounted with a tall curvilinear Shikhara.
Rudradhari Falls and Caves in Kasauni are located at a place with terraced fields, lush green paddy fields and dense green pine forests. These magnificent waterfalls can be viewed while trekking to Adi Kailash region in the hill station of Kasauni. The Rudhadhari falls is a natural attraction here and many ancient caves are explored nearby areas. The falls impinging the valley flows from their as rivers and small springs. The puranic stories relate this place with Lord Shiv (Rudra) and Lord Vishnu (Hari). The caves are natural and very impressive. The Shiv Temple at Someshwar is situated close to the waterfalls.
Mahatma Gandhi, during his stay at Kausani, penned his memorable commentary on the 'Gita-Anashakti Yoga' inspired by the scenic grandeur of this richly gifted spot. Mahatma Gandhi was so much impresses that he started calling it “Switzerland of India”. The guesthouse where Mahatma Gandhi stayed is now known as the Anashakti Ashram. Famous Hindi poet Sumitra Nandan Pant was born at Kausani. Some of her early poems composed here have described the nature in its manifestations. Kausani is ideal spot for those who seek an escape from the hustle-bustle of big cities and wish to spend a quiet holiday in the lap of Nature.
One of the most fascinating places of the Kumaon region, is a limestone cave temple 14 km from Gangolihat in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand state in India. It is located in the village Bhubneshwar. Legend and folklore have it that this underground cave enshrines Lord Shiva and thirty three crore Gods. The cave is 160 m long and 90 feet deep from the point of entrance. Limestone rock formations have created various spectacular stalactite and stalagmite figures of various hues and forms. This cave has a narrow tunnel-like opening which leads to a number of caves. The cave is fully electrically illuminated. There is a folklore that the Pandava brothers passed their time here during banishment. It is built due to the flow of water. It cut the rocks in such a fascinating way that it looks like that any artist had made those entire statues within the cave & on its wall. It has some cave opening and it is believed that these opening will be close as the centuries .
This small village located at the foot of the Gopalkot peak is just 5 km away from Kasauni and makes for an ideal destination for trekkers owing to its accessibility, ease of trek and breathtaking views.It is known for a temple by the same name, dedicated to Bhairon and every year in October, celebrations are conducted in the village. The temple in itself is a sight to behold as it is nestled in the foothills of the Gopalkot Peak, overlooking Kosi valley. The village also hosts a grand fair annually in the month of October, which attracts a large number of visitors from the nearby villages and is an experience of a lifetime.
