Known for its cultural diversity, Almora is a bewitching hill station which is situated at an average elevation of 1,638 metres above sea level and is spread across a 5 kilometre long ridge on Kashyap Hill. Surrounded by the dwindling pines and old oaks, the city has a divine natural aura that is enough to allure anyone and everyone. To make the scenery even more mesmerizing, the snow-capped Himalayas stand in utmost grandeur to please the eyes of the admirer. Almora is famous for its rich cultural heritage, unique handicrafts and delicious cuisines, thus claiming its name as the cultural capital of Kumaon.
Almora is located on a 5 km long horse shoe shaped ridge, the eastern portion of which is called the Talifat and the western one is known as Selifat. The Kosi and Suyal rivers run alongside the town adding to the beauty of the place. Almora is considered the cultural heart of the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. The town got its name from kilmora, a short plant found in nearby region, which was used for washing the utensils of Katarmal Temple. The people bringing kilmora were called Kilmori and later Almori and the place came to be known as Almora. Almora is one of the top attractions you must include in Nainital packages.
Almora was founded in 1568 by Kalyan Chand during the rule of the Chand dynasty. Prior to that the region was under the control of Katyuri King Bhaichaldeo and he has donated part of this land to a Gujrati Brahmin Sri Chand Tiwari. In the days of the Chand Kings it was called Rajapur and was also mentioned over a number of ancient copper plates. Later it was occupied by British forces.
Almora is famous for its alluring beauty, panoramic view of the Himalayas and rich cultural heritage. Kasar Devi, Katarmal, Banari Devi, Chitai, Jageshwar, Binsar Mahadev, Govind Vallabh Pant Public Museum, Nanda Devi Temple, Almora Fort and Bright End Corner are important attractions in Almora. It also serves as the starting point for many treks like Mornaula, Mukteshwar, Binsar, and Ranikhet among others.
Almora is known for its indigenous handicrafts, local cuisine and its rich culture and tradition. The traditional Panchmarchi Shawls in soft wool, decorative candles, drift wood statues and copperware are popular. Almora has been an important location for shooting Bollywood movies because of its exquisite landscape.
Almora town has a several accommodation options from budget to mid-range hotels and also has a few resorts. During September, hotels are usually crowded as tourists throng the town to attend the Nanda Devi fair and so it is advisable to make your travel plans in advance.
Pantnagar Airport is the nearest airport, which is about 119 km from Almora. It has direct flights from Delhi. The nearest railway station is Kathgodam, approximately 82 km from Almora. It is connected by train with Delhi, Agra, Lucknow, Jaipur, Patna, Kolkata and Mumbai. Almora is well connected by road with Nainital, Ranikhet, Kathgodam, Delhi and Haldwani.
Tourist Places In And Around Almora
The Nanda Devi Temple is an ancient shrine built in the Kumaoni architectural style. This temple is devoted to the patron Goddess of the Chand Dynasty and is thronged by devotees every year. Another well known shrine here is the Kasar Devi Temple situated 5 km away from Almora. The shrine was constructed during the 2nd century, and it is believed that Swami Vivekananda performed penance here. Visitors can enjoy the beautiful views of sunrise and sunset from the Bright End Corner. Simtola and Martola are ideal for picnickers. The Deer Park located at a distance of around 3 km from the town of Almora is also quite popular among visitors. The park is home to animals like deer, leopard and the Himalayan black bears. Some other popular tourist attractions of the place include Gobind Ballabh Pant Public Museum and the Binsar Wildlife sanctuary. Trekking and Mountain Biking are popular activities among visitors here.
How To Reach Almora
Travellers can easily reach the destination by air, rail and road. The Pantnagar Airport and the Kathgodam Railway Station are the nearest airbase and railhead to Almora, respectively.
Uttarakhand is replete with a vast array of scenic vacation spots as well as pilgrimage destinations. Apart from the popular travel destinations of Uttarakhand, there are a couple of lesser-known ones too. To know about the top hidden places of Uttarakhand, Uttarakhand is a land of many marvels and amazing tourist destinations. While some like the Char Dhams, Mussoorie, and Nainital etc are very well known there are other destinations which few tourists know about. Here are the top 10 hidden gems of Uttarakhand that can capture your heart and mind with their exquisite beauty and rich heritage.