Route · Kumaon

Kausani to Munsiyari

The long road to Munsiyari: down to Baijnath and Bageshwar, east to the Udiyari Bend near Chaukori and Thal, then up past Birthi Falls and over Kalamuni. About 185 km and 7–8 hours, one of Kumaon's great drives.

Distance: ≈ 185 km
Shared jeep: 8–9 h with changes
Altitude: 1,890 m → 2,200 m

Photo: Ashish Gupta from Noida, India · CC BY 2.0 · Commons

Every way to go

Options compared

How	Time	Cost, indicative 2026
Shared jeep	8–9 h with changes	₹500–800 in total
Bus and jeep	9–10 h	₹400–700
Private car	7–8 h	₹6,000–8,000 one way

1Option

Shared jeep

8–9 h with changes₹500–800 in total

Take a shared jeep or bus from Kausani to Bageshwar, then a jeep towards Thal or Munsiyari. Departures are mostly in the morning, so leave Kausani early. Changing at Thal is common; jeeps from Thal to Munsiyari cost ₹200–350. It is cheap but tiring.

2Option

Bus and jeep

9–10 h₹400–700

Roadways and KMOU buses link Bageshwar with Thal and sometimes Munsiyari. Combine a bus to Bageshwar with a jeep onward. Expect waits at junctions and carry food and water.

3Option

Private car

7–8 h₹6,000–8,000 one way

A private car lets you stop at Baijnath, Birthi Falls and Kalamuni and reach Munsiyari before dark. Many travellers break the trip with a night at Chaukori. Hire an experienced hill driver; the stretch after Birthi is narrow with steep drops.

Drawn by Himalaya Hives from Natural Earth outlines (public domain). Borders as depicted by India. Not for navigation.

At each end

The two places

Photo: Abhijit Kar Gupta from Kolkata, India · CC BY 2.0 · Commons

1,890 m · Hill station · Kumaon

Kausani

Gandhi's ridge, a poet's birthplace and a 300 km wall of peaks

Best Mar – May · Oct – Nov2 nights

Photo: Ashish Gupta from Noida, India · CC BY 2.0 · Commons

2,200 m · Town · Kumaon

Munsiyari

Panchachuli up close and the winter home of the Johar traders

Best Mar – May · Oct – Nov3–4 nights

Questions

Asked about this road

How long is the drive from Kausani to Munsiyari?

About 185 km and 7–8 hours by private car via Bageshwar and Thal, longer by shared transport with changes.

Is there a direct bus from Kausani to Munsiyari?

Not usually. Go to Bageshwar first, then take a bus or jeep to Thal or Munsiyari. Leave in the morning to reach before dark.

Is the road to Munsiyari dangerous?

It is narrow and steep in places, especially after Birthi and over Kalamuni, but is used daily by local jeeps. Travel in daylight, avoid heavy rain and check current status before you travel.

Where can I break the journey to Munsiyari?

Chaukori, about 95 km before Munsiyari, is the best halt, with a KMVN rest house and homestays. Bageshwar and Thal also have simple lodges.

Other routes

All routes

Nainital to Almora and Kasar DeviThe classic Kumaon transfer: down from Nainital to Bhowali, past Kainchi Dham, then along the Kosi river and …65 km Nainital to MukteshwarFrom Nainital to Mukteshwar the road climbs through Bhowali and the orchard country of Ramgarh to a 2,171 m r…50 km Almora and Kasar Devi to JageshwarA short, pretty drive east from Almora on the Pithoragarh road, past the Chitai Golu temple to Artola, then i…36 km Almora and Kasar Devi to KausaniNorth from Almora down to the Kosi river, past the turning for the Katarmal sun temple and through the Somesh…52 km