A historic ashram in Kausani, Uttarakhand where Mahatma Gandhi stayed for 14 days in June 1929 and wrote his Gujarati commentary on the Bhagavad Gita — Anasakti Yoga. Now a museum and meditation centre managed by Gandhi Smarak Nidhi, it houses Gandhi's personal belongings, manuscripts, and a panoramic Himalayan view of Nanda Devi, Trishul & Panchachuli. Entry ₹10 — open daily 9 AM to 5 PM (closed Mondays). Visit as part of your Kausani tour package with Tour Venture India.
Anasakti Ashram is a historic museum and meditation centre in Kausani, Uttarakhand (altitude 1,890 m), where Mahatma Gandhi stayed for 14 days in June 1929 and wrote his Gujarati commentary on the Bhagavad Gita — Anasakti Yoga. Managed by Gandhi Smarak Nidhi, it is open Tuesday–Sunday, 9 AM–12 PM & 2–5 PM. Entry fee: ₹10. Closed on Mondays.
Anasakti Ashram is a heritage museum, meditation centre, and library in Kausani, Bageshwar district, Uttarakhand, located at 1,890 metres in the Kumaon Himalayas. The ashram is historically linked to Mahatma Gandhi, who stayed here for 14 days in June 1929. During this stay, struck by the panoramic view of Himalayan peaks — Nanda Devi (7,816 m), Trishul (7,120 m), and Panchachuli — he famously called Kausani "the Switzerland of India." It was during this 14-day stay that Gandhi wrote his Gujarati commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, titled Anasakti Yoga (the yoga of non-attachment), and the site was later renamed in its honour.
The ashram is currently managed by Gandhi Smarak Nidhi (Gandhi Memorial Fund) and houses a museum preserving Gandhi's original room, personal belongings, manuscripts, photographs, and letters from 1929. The premises include a library with Gandhi's complete works and Vinoba Bhave's writings, a meditation hall offering an unobstructed Himalayan view, and a garden courtyard. Approximately 500–600 visitors visit the ashram monthly, with peak footfall between October and March when Himalayan views are clearest. Tour Venture India has conducted over 500 Kausani tours including this ashram since 2015.
The site that became Anasakti Ashram was originally a small rest house in Kausani. In June 1929, Mahatma Gandhi visited the Kumaon hills for rest and recuperation and stayed at this rest house for 14 days. He was deeply struck by the silence, the clean mountain air, and above all by the uninterrupted panoramic view of the Himalayan peaks — Nanda Devi (7,816m), Trishul (7,120m), Panchachuli, and Nanda Kot — visible from the ridge on which the ashram stands.
During this stay, Gandhi began writing a Gujarati commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, which he completed and titled Anasakti Yoga — meaning "the path of non-attachment." The text explores how a person can act selflessly in the world without attachment to outcomes. Gandhi considered the Bhagavad Gita his spiritual dictionary and this commentary one of his most important spiritual writings.
After Gandhi's stay, the site was taken over by the Gandhi Smarak Nidhi (Gandhi Memorial Fund), which converted it into an ashram and museum dedicated to preserving his memory. It was named "Anasakti Ashram" in honour of the commentary written here. Over the decades, the ashram has become a key stop on Gandhi heritage trails in India and an important pilgrimage for those interested in the freedom movement and Indian philosophy.
Anasakti Yoga is the title Gandhi gave to his Gujarati commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, written during his 14-day stay at Kausani in 1929. The Sanskrit term "anasakti" means non-attachment or desireless action — a central concept in the Gita that Gandhi believed was the key to ethical action in public life. For Gandhi, the Bhagavad Gita was not a call to war but a metaphor for the inner battle between right and wrong in every human soul.
The commentary was translated into English by Mahadev Desai and published in 1946 under the title The Gospel of Selfless Action. It remains one of the most widely read interpretations of the Bhagavad Gita and is sold at the ashram's library along with Gandhi's other writings and Vinoba Bhave's works.
Anasakti Ashram is a historic museum and meditation centre in Kausani, Uttarakhand, where Mahatma Gandhi stayed for 14 days in June 1929 and wrote his Gujarati commentary on the Bhagavad Gita titled Anasakti Yoga. Managed by the Gandhi Smarak Nidhi, the ashram is open Tuesday to Sunday, 9 AM to 12 PM and 2 PM to 5 PM, with an entry fee of ₹10. It is closed on Mondays.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Kausani town, Bageshwar district, Uttarakhand |
| Historical Significance | Gandhi stayed here Jun 1929; wrote Anasakti Yoga commentary |
| Managed By | Gandhi Smarak Nidhi |
| Timings | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM & 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM (closed Mondays) |
| Entry Fee | ₹10 per person (nominal) |
| Altitude | 1,890 metres (6,200 ft) |
| Himalayan Peaks Visible | Nanda Devi (7,816m), Trishul (7,120m), Panchachuli, Nanda Kot |
| Nearest Railway Station | Kathgodam (131 km, ~4 hrs) |
| Nearest Airport | Pantnagar (155 km, ~4.5 hrs) |
| Distance from Nainital | 135 km (~4 hours by road) |
| Distance from Delhi | ~400 km (~9–10 hours via Moradabad) |
| Nearby Attraction | Lakshmi Ashram (1 km), Kausani Tea Garden (2 km), Baijnath Temple (18 km) |
The ashram is open year-round (closed Mondays). The table below summarises seasonal conditions:
| Season / Month | Weather | Visitor Experience |
|---|---|---|
| October – November | 8–18°C, clear skies | Best Himalayan panorama; clearest sunrise views; highly recommended |
| December – February | 0–10°C, possible snow | Snow-capped peaks; crisp air; fewer tourists; carry warm clothes |
| March – May | 10–22°C, pleasant | Rhododendron blooms; good for trekking & sightseeing; moderate crowds |
| June – mid-July | 15–25°C, pre-monsoon | Lush greenery; views may be hazy; still accessible |
| mid-July – September (Monsoon) | 18–24°C, heavy rain | Ashram open but Himalayan views obscured; road conditions may be affected |
| From | Distance | Travel Time | Mode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kausani Bus Stand | 0.5 km | 5 min | On foot / short walk |
| Kathgodam (Railway) | 131 km | ~4 hrs | Taxi via Almora |
| Almora | 52 km | ~1.5 hrs | Road |
| Nainital | 135 km | ~4 hrs | Road via Bhowali–Almora |
| Pantnagar (Airport) | 155 km | ~4.5 hrs | Taxi |
| Delhi | ~400 km | 9–10 hrs | Road via Moradabad–Haldwani–Almora |
Nearest airport: Pantnagar (155 km). Taxi available from Pantnagar to Kausani via Haldwani and Almora, approximately 4.5 hours.
Nearest railway station: Kathgodam (131 km from Kausani). Regular trains from Delhi to Kathgodam; hire a taxi onward to Kausani via Almora (~4 hrs).
KMOU / UTTARAKHAND Roadways buses from Haldwani, Almora, and Nainital run to Kausani. The ashram is a 5-minute walk from Kausani bus stand.
From Delhi: NH9 via Moradabad–Haldwani–Almora–Kausani (~400 km, 9–10 hrs). From Nainital: 135 km, 4 hours. TVI arranges private cabs from Kathgodam, Haldwani, Nainital & Delhi.
The ashram is located right in Kausani town, just 500 metres from the bus stand. Easily walkable. Most hotels in Kausani are within 1 km.