Almora is a popular hill station in the state of Uttranchal and is located in the Kumaon region of the Himalayas at an altitude of 5500 feet. The town was established as a capital of the Kumaon region by the Chand Rajas in 1560. Almora offers a beautiful view of the Himalayas far from the city crowd. The post colonial era buildings, the fruit orchards, the pine and deodar forests, the small handicraft shops blend together to make Almora a beautiful hill station. The town of Almora is in the shape of a horseshoe on a 5 kms long mountain range. The rivers of Koshi (Kaushiki) and Suyal (Salmale) flow along side the town of Almora with the Himalayas in the backdrop. Almora has a rich cultural heritage and various fairs and festivals are held in Almora are round the year. The pleasant climate and peaceful location attract a large number of tourists in all seasons. Almora is also in close proximity to other tourist hot spots like Dehradun, Nainital, Corbett National Park, Ranikhet and Kasauni in Uttranchal.
History:
For those interested in history, Almora, before its establishment was under the possession of Katyuri king Baichaldeo. He donated major part of this land to a Gujarati Brahmin Sri Chand Tiwari. Later on when Chand kingdom was founded in Baramandal, the town of Almora was founded at this centrally located place in 1560 by Kalyan Chand. In the days of the Chand Kings it was called Rajapur. The name 'Rajpur' is also mentioned over a number of ancient copper plates. The town of Almora is situated over a horse saddle shaped ridge of a mountain. The eastern portion of the ridge is known as Talifat and the western one is known as Selifat. The market is at the top of the ridge where these two, Talifat and Selifat jointly terminate.
Although Almora can be visited all round the year except monsoon, the best months would be April to June and September to November when the climate is pleasant. It is advisable to carry light woolen in summer and warmer clothes in winter as night temperature is considerably lower.
Almora is a small town hence money-changing facilities are of limited nature therefore it is advisable to change money at any bigger city before arriving Almora. State Bank of India at the Mall offers limited facilities. There are few ATMs in Almora therefore it is advisable to carry sufficient cash.
No permit is required to travel to Almora other than a visa for India.
By Road :There are regular state run buses to nearby cities like Ranikhet, Nainital, Pithoragarh, Kausani, Bageshwar, Bareilly, Lucknow and Delhi. Taxis can also be hired to Almora from these nearby cities.
By Rail:Kathgodam is the nearest railhead and is 90 kms from Almora. There are regular trains from Kathgodam to Delhi, Lucknow, Kolkata and Dehradun. Taxis and buses are available from Kathgodam to Almora at regular intervals.
By Air: Pant Nagar is the nearest airport and is about 127 kms from Almora and there are regular taxis and buses from Pantnagar to Almora. Delhi is the nearest International airport located about 380 kms from Almora. International Flight: Delhi is the nearest International airport located about 380 kms from Almora.
Nanda Devi Temple: This is the most popular temple in Almora, located in Lalal Bazaar area. The temple is dedicated to Nanda Devi and is about 1000 years old. The temple has some exquisite carvings on stone and a fair is organized here every year.
Chitai Temple: The temple is about 8 kms away from Almora on the road to Pithoragarh. One can see thousands of little bells hanging all around a temple which are tied by people whose wished have been fulfilled. The temple offers a great view of the Himalayas.
Pt GB Pant Museum: Situated in the heart of Almora, the small museum has a collection of artifacts from the Katyuri and the Chand dynasties as well as local folk art.
Kalimutt: A popular picnic spot in Almora. From this spot one can get a scenic view of the town and the Hawabagh Valley.
Kasar Devi: The Kasar Devi Temple is located near Kalimutt. This hilltop temple is the place where Swami Vivekananda meditated. The temple is said to have been built in the second century and has many visitors.
Bright End Corner: This is a popular tourist spot in Almora known for its spectacular sunrise and sunset views of the Himalayan peaks. The Vivekananda Library and Vivekananda Memorial are situated nearby.
Simtola and Martola are picnic spots that have a beautiful mountain view. The mountains are covered with pine and deodar trees.
Katarmal: The 800 year old Sun temple is about 14 kms from Almora and a shared jeep can be hired to reach the temple. The temple has intricate carvings and sculptures.
Treks and nature walks are popular activities in Almora and a few companies like Discover Himalaya and High Adventure offer organized treks.
Where To Shop:
The Panchachuli store sells good quality shawls and woolens. Mahila Haat at the Mall also offers good knitwear at reasonable rates. Tamta Mohalla is famous for its traditional copperware and one can find some of the best coppersmiths working in this area.
Where To Eat: There are a large number of restaurants in Almora serving a variety of cuisines. Madras Café, Swagat Restaurant, Soni Restaurant are popular food joints in Almora. There are many more restaurants and cafes serving Indian, Chinese and Continental fare.
Where To Stay: Almora has accommodation to suit all budgets. There are low budget hotels with only basic facilities as well as higher end hotels and guesthouses with more facilities. The Government accommodation includes the Circuit House, Forest Rest House and P.W.D Inspection House. Club Mahindra Valley Resort, Kalmatia Sangam Himalayan Resort and Hotel Shikar are a few options for stay. KMVN's Holiday Home is a tourist bungalow with cottages.
