Lakes, Himalayan Panoramas & a Colonial Cantonment — Kumaon in Full
This is the tour for travellers who have already done Nainital and want to discover the rest of the Kumaon hills — a region with some of the finest, least-crowded Himalayan scenery in North India, and a much more relaxed pace than the more famous hill stations.
After two nights in Nainital for the lake and viewpoints, the tour heads east to Kausani (1,890m) — described by Mahatma Gandhi as the 'Switzerland of India' after his visit in 1929. Kausani's panorama is genuinely extraordinary: a 300 km sweep of the Himalayan range including Trishul (7,120m), Nanda Devi (7,816m), and Panchchuli, visible in full from the town itself without any trek required.
Ranikhet (1,869m) — a former British cantonment town still home to the Kumaon Regiment of the Indian Army — offers a completely different character: manicured army gardens, colonial bungalows, dense oak and pine forest, and the historic Jhula Devi Temple. The Chaubatia Gardens, with their apple, apricot, and peach orchards against a Himalayan backdrop, are among the most peaceful spots in the entire region.
The tour concludes with a night in Corbett National Park for a wildlife safari — a satisfying contrast after days of hill-station tranquility, and a convenient route back toward Delhi.
What makes this journey special
Your journey, unfolded
Depart Delhi early morning for Nainital (290 km, ~7 hrs). Arrive by evening and check in to your lakeside hotel. Evening stroll along Mall Road and the lake promenade.
Morning boat ride on Naini Lake. Naina Devi Temple on the lake's northern shore. Snow View Point (cable car) for distant Himalayan views. Naina Peak (2,611m, the highest point above Nainital) for the most expansive panorama, or a relaxed Mall Road walk.
Drive from Nainital to Kausani (115 km, ~4 hrs) — a beautiful drive deeper into the Kumaon hills, past terraced fields and pine forest. Kausani (1,890m) was famously described by Mahatma Gandhi as the 'Switzerland of India' after his 1929 visit. Check in to your hotel — many rooms here look directly at the Himalayan range without obstruction. Evening sunset over Trishul (7,120m) and Nanda Devi (7,816m) from the town's viewpoint.
Anasakti Ashram — the cottage where Mahatma Gandhi stayed during his 1929 visit and wrote 'Anasakti Yoga', his commentary on the Bhagavad Gita. The small museum here documents his time in Kausani and the philosophy of non-attachment that gives the ashram its name. Drive to Baijnath (20 km) — a beautifully preserved 12th-century stone temple complex dedicated to Shiva, set on the banks of the Gomati River, built by the Katyuri dynasty. Rudradhari Falls and caves nearby (optional, depending on time and interest).
Drive from Kausani to Ranikhet (55 km, ~2 hrs). Ranikhet (1,869m) is a former British cantonment, still an active base for the Kumaon Regiment of the Indian Army — manicured gardens, colonial bungalows, and well-maintained roads give the town a distinctly different, more orderly character than Nainital or Kausani. Check in. Evening walk through the cantonment area and the Kumaon Regimental Centre's war memorial.
Chaubatia Gardens (10 km from Ranikhet) — extensive apple, apricot, peach, and plum orchards maintained by the Uttarakhand horticulture department, with views of the Himalayan range including Nanda Devi on clear days; one of the most peaceful spots in the entire Kumaon region. Jhula Devi Temple — a forest shrine 7 km from Ranikhet, famous for the hundreds of bells hung by devotees as offerings, creating an extraordinary visual and auditory atmosphere as the wind moves through them. Afternoon at leisure in Ranikhet's small but pleasant Mall Road.
Drive from Ranikhet to Corbett National Park (95 km, ~3 hrs). Check in to your jungle resort. Afternoon jeep safari into one of Corbett's accessible zones — sal forest, grassland, and the Ramganga river system, with chances of spotting Bengal tigers, elephants, and exceptional birdlife along the way.
Early morning jeep safari for one final wildlife opportunity. Return for breakfast, then visit the Corbett Museum at Kaladhungi. Drive back to Delhi (300 km, ~7 hrs). Tour concludes.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Included ✓
- ✓ 7 nights accommodation in handpicked hotels & jungle resort
- ✓ Daily breakfast throughout; full board on safari days
- ✓ Private vehicle for all transfers
- ✓ 2 jeep safaris in Corbett National Park
- ✓ Anasakti Ashram entry
- ✓ Baijnath Temple visit
- ✓ Chaubatia Gardens entry
- ✓ Naini Lake boating
- ✓ All applicable park fees & taxes
Not Included ✗
- ✗ Flights / trains (not required — included drive from Delhi)
- ✗ Travel insurance
- ✗ Lunches throughout (except safari days)
- ✗ Snow View cable car at Nainital (optional)
- ✗ Personal expenses & gratuities
- ✗ Camera fees inside Corbett (nominal)
Your questions, answered
Kausani's Himalayan panorama is exceptional precisely because no trek is required — many hotels and even the town's main viewpoint offer an unobstructed 300 km sweep of the snow range, including Trishul (7,120m), Nanda Devi (7,816m, India's second highest peak), and the Panchchuli group, all visible from a comfortable seat with a cup of tea. This accessibility, combined with relatively few crowds compared to Nainital, is what prompted Mahatma Gandhi to call it the 'Switzerland of India' during his 1929 visit. Clear visibility is best October–April; some haze can reduce views April–June.
Ranikhet has a genuinely distinct character — it remains an active British-era cantonment town, home to the Kumaon Regiment of the Indian Army, which means well-maintained gardens, disciplined town planning, and a quieter, more orderly atmosphere than the more commercial Nainital or the panorama-focused Kausani. The Chaubatia Gardens (extensive fruit orchards with Himalayan views) and Jhula Devi Temple (famous for its hundreds of devotional bells) are unique to the area. If you want variety across your Kumaon trip — lake town, panorama town, cantonment town — this itinerary delivers all three distinctly different experiences.
March–June: pleasant temperatures, rhododendrons in bloom, clear mountain views. September–November: post-monsoon clarity, the best Himalayan visibility of the year, crisp air. December–February: cold, occasional snow in Nainital/Mussoorie/Kausani, atmospheric but some activities limited. Avoid July–August (monsoon) — heavy rain, landslide risk on hill roads, and reduced visibility.
Absolutely — every tour is fully private and tailored to you. We can adjust duration, add Almora, Binsar, or a Char Dham extension. Enquire at no obligation.
Most of our tours include private vehicle transfers throughout from Delhi. Alternatively, Kathgodam (for Nainital/Corbett/Kumaon) and Haridwar/Dehradun (for Mussoorie/Rishikesh) have direct train connections from Delhi — a comfortable overnight or day train followed by a short drive is a popular option.
60+ days: full refund minus admin fee. 30–59 days: 75% refund. 15–29 days: 50%. Under 15 days: no refund. Travel insurance strongly recommended.
