Situated in Kumaon hilly terrain of the Himalayas in the state of Uttarakhand, Almora is famous for its unforgettable natural beauty, hand-crafts, bio-diversity, delectable cuisine and historically rich monuments. Insiders say that this picturesque place boasts the proud of being workplace of many of the ascetics that is like legend Swani Vivekanand and the great poet Sumitranandan Pant.
History of Almora
Pages of history show that Almora was the flourishing capital of the Chand dynasty. The region was earlier under the reigns of the Katyuri king Baichaldeo, who donated this area to a Gujarati Brahmin Sri Chand Tiwari. In 1560 the capital of Chand Dynasty was shifted to Almora (from Champawat) by Kalyan Chand.
Sitting on a 6 km long horse saddle shaped ridge, this town affords breathtaking views of the snowy summits of the Himalayas and is an excellent place for a peaceful holiday. Various Pilgrimage Sites, little quaint hill resorts in nearby regions, ancient bazaars, international woolen market and forest peaks (perfect for adventures like trekking) add extra taste of happiness to traveler face.
Almora District Stats
- District Headquarters: Almora
- Area: 3090 sq km
- Latitude: 29° 36' N
- Longitude: 79° 30' E
- Total Population: 6,21,972
- Literacy Rate: 74.53%
- Altitude: 1651 m
- Language: Kumauni, Garhwali, Hindi
- Best Season: Apr - Jun, Sep – Nov
Places to Visit in Almora
- Chitai Temple: 10 km from the main city of Almora, Chitai Temple is dedicated to Golu Devata, pouplar in Kumaun region. An incarnation of Lord Shiva, he’s reputed for the fulfillment of one’s wish if prayed with clear conscience.
- Nanda Devi Temple: A historic temple is placed in the center of the town of Goddess Nanda Devi. An interesting feature of Nanda Devi temple is image carving on the temple walls. Nanda Devi festival is held in the month of September every year.
- Bright End Corner: This place, locating 2 km away from the main city of Almora, is famous for pleasant scenes of Sunrise and Sunset. A circuit House, Swami Vivekanand Memorial and Vivekanand Library is also situated there.
- Lal Bazaar: Almora is a shopper delight as offers wide variety of options to buy that includes Local Crafts, woolen garments, decorative items and metal utensils.
- Someshwar: Situated 35 km away from Almora city, Someshwar is famous for its ancient Lord Shiva Temple. This temple was constructed by Raja Som Chand from Chand Dynasty.
- Deer Park: Located just 3 km outside the city, this is a good choice for evening walk and time seclusion.
- Jageshwar: Famous for Shiva temple with stunning architecture style within dense forets. The temple complex has 124 shrines and hundreds of statues with outstanding craftsmanship.
How to Reach Almora
- By Air: Nearest Airport to the city is Pant Nagar in Nainital, 127 km away from Almora.
- By Rail: Kathgodam is the nearest Railway Station, 90 km away from Almora. Public and Private Vehicles are available at Kathgodam Railway Station 24*7 hours.
- By Road: The district of Almora is very well connected to the other parts of the country via Road Route. Opening the way of Almora to the outside world, Delhi and Lucknow are directly connected via 378 km and 460 km long road route.