General Information

Picturesque district of Almora is a fine blend of mountain beauty; ancient cultural influences, sanctified spots, thickly wooded forests, scenic valleys, quaint cottages, crystal lakes and gushing rivers...... all inspiring one to call it the
'Switzerland of India'.

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

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

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 

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.

Simtola: 3 kms from Almora Simtola is a picnic spot from where one can view the beautiful mountains covered with pine and deodar trees.

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 favourite 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.

Places to Visit in Almora>>>>