Almora is a hill district in the central Kumaon region of Uttaranchal. It is a beautiful scenic place situated at an altitude of 5900 ft. It was founded by Raja Kalyan of Chand Dynasty in 1560 AD. Almora is a town in the shape of a horse shoe perched on a 5 km long mountain range in between the river Kosi and Suyal. It is a very famous hill station. Almora is a good place to enjoy the spectacular view of the snow-capped mountains of the central Himalayas. There are some beautiful and interesting places to visit in and around Almora.

The temple of Nanda Devi is 1000-year old temple and is one of the main attractions of Almora. a festival is held every year where youth from different region come to participate in this dance festival. The Chitai temple is 8 km away from the main city. The people of Kumaon have strong faith in the local god Golu. The temple of Chitai is dedicated to him. It is visited by thousands of Kumaonis living in Kumaon or outside. People write letters to the god to fulfill their desires and in return they hang bells in the temple. You can see several thousand bells hanging all around the temple. The 800-year old Sun Temple at Katarmal is 7 km from Almora. It is exceptional for its architecture and intricate carvings. It is one of the few sun temples of Uttaranchal and probably the biggest group in Uttaranchal. Jageshwar is 34 km away from Almora. There is a group of almost 125 temples dating back to 7th to 11th century AD. The majority of the temples are dedicated to Lord Shiva and a few to various goddesses. The group of temples is situated amidst a dense Deodar forest. Jageshwar is considered as one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Shiva.

There is a cave where Swami Vivekanand meditated and was enlightened. Almora was captured by British from Gorkhas, who have left their mark on this town. Nanda Devi festival is celebrated here, during which devotees from all over India visit this place.

Sight Seeing

Nearby places of tourist interest where an excursion can be made within a day are Bright End Corner's unforgettable sunset, Chitai temple with it's unique collection of brass bells of all sizes, gifted to the temple by devotees since centuries, Kasar Devi which houses many Europeans who fell in love with the place so much that they settle down, Nanda Devi Temple the cultural and religious center of Almora for now hundreds of years and Lala Bazaar a unique market of more than two hundred years with paved streets of stone.

Bright End Corner: Almora is 2 kms away from here. A highlight of this point is the sunset and the sunrise seen through the Himalayan peaks. A circuit house close by allows tourists to spend some time in this peaceful surrounding. Close by is the Vivekanand Library which has many books on literature. A little away is the Vivekanand Memorial where Swami Vivekanand had stopped for a while on his journey to the Himalayas.

Martola
This picnic spot amidst gardens is 10 kms away from Almora. Most of the people who live here are foreigners. Buses and taxis come up to a point called Panuwanaula and from there onwards one has to walk.

Kalimutt
4.5 kms from Almora, this picnic spot gives a lovely view of the Himalayan Peaks.

Deer Park
3 kms from Almora this park is in NTD (Narayan Tiwari Dewai).

State Museum
This museum is near the bus stand . It is closed on Mondays and other Government Holidays. It is open from 10:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.

Chitai Temple
This is a very busy area. This temple is dedicated to Lord Golu. The people of Kumaon worship him. Once a wish is fulfilled people hang little bells in this temple. Therefore there are thousands of little bells hanging there. The view of the Himalayas is extremely beautiful from here. This temple is 8 kms away by walk through a beautiful pine forest, but one can go by cart too.

Katarmal
This 800-year old Sun Temple is the second in importance after the Sun Temple of Konark in Orissa. Seven kms away from Almora this historical important temple is an example of intricate sculpturing. This temple is in need of restoration now.

Binsar
30 kms from Almora Binsar has a temple of Shiva who is also called Bineswar. 2412 mts above sea level this temple was constructed by King Kalyan of the Chand Dynasty. Visiting this temple gives one peace of mind.

Jageshwar
34 kms away from Almora this temple of Shiva is situated amidst a dense Deodar forest and has a lot of mythological importance. Here there are about 164 temples of this kind.

Nanda Devi Temple
This 1000-year old temple is one of the main attraction of Almora. Its walls have carvings on them. Every year a festival is held here in which youth from various mountainous areas come here to participate in this dance festival.

Gannath
47 kms from Almora this is an ancient Shiva temple with natural caves. 2116 mts above sea level this place is a favorite with nature lovers.

Kasar Devi
Near Kalimutt is the temple of Kasar Devi. This ancient temple was built on a mountain peak in the second century. The distance between Kalimatt and Kasar Devi is less than 1 km and can be easily covered by foot. The surrounding area has become the home of many foreigners. The main town is 6 km away.

Accessibility

By Air : The nearest airport is a Pant Nagar (Nainital). During the summer regular flights are operational.

Rail : The nearest railway station is Kathgodam (90kms.). Connected by rail with Lucknow, Delhi and Howrah.

Road : Connected by road with most places of Uttaranchal Distance from Almora : Lucknow (466), Dehradun (412), Nainital (71), Delhi (382), Bareilly (205), Kathgodam (90), Pithoragarh (122), Haridwar (357), Haldwani (96). Local Transport : Private Taxis are available.