Picturesque Almora Beckons You

Almora is a cantonment town in Uttarakhand, located at a height of about 1650 meters at the southern end of the Kumaon Hills in the Himalayan region. The picture postcard hill station is ringed by mountains, forests of fir and pines and the Rivers Suyal and Koshi. Garhwal lies to the West, Nainital to the South, Pithoragarh to the East and Bageshwar to the East. The Chand Rajas established Almora and the British developed it into a fine hill resort.

Things to Do and Sightseeing Places

Almora is a well-developed tourist town and the resort itself is a place where you may want to linger for days, watching the scenic splendor of the Himalayas as the Sun’s rays turn the peaks into shades of gold and crimson.

Tourists usually flock to the Bright End Corner to have a wonderful view of the Sun as it sets.

Another place you must visit is the Chitai temple with its collection of brass bells. The tradition is for devotees to make an offering of brass bells in fulfillment of vows or as token of thanks.

Nanda Devi Temple is undoubtedly the heart of Almora and is several centuries old, the seat of cultural and religious activities.

Go shopping along the Lala Bazar where you can pick up local handicrafts, woolens and local concoctions. You can pick up exquisite Pashmina and Angora shawls. Copperware, decorative candles, driftwood articles and Kumaoni folk art articles are available in specialist stores lined along the 200-year-old bazaar.

In and around Almora you will come upon many temples including Katarmal temple, one of the few Sun temples in the country. The Rudreshwar Mahadeva temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva is located near Sanara Ganiya, along with the banks of the Ganges.

The Panchachuli Weavers Factory, off Bageshwar Road, turns out woolen products employing about 700 women and it is a place you would find interesting.

Round off your trip with a visit to the Pandit GB Pant Museum, a repository of local folk art and historic sculptures.

Almora could be your starting point to treks in the Himalayas, go explore perilous mountain paths, explore forests or even go on to Pindari glacier. Paragliding is another popular activity in this region.

Excursion Places:

• Chitai Golu Devta Mandir – Dedicated to the local deity, Golu Devta who is considered to be an incarnation of Lord Shiva, this temple is situated at a distance of 9 kms from the village of Almora and one of the prime tourist attractions near Almora.
• Bright End Corner – located at a mere distance of 2.7 km from the beautiful and breathtaking district of Almora. This natural paradise provides some of the most mesmerizing view of the surrounding natural beauty.
• Martola – this is one of the most picturesque destinations in Uttarakhand which is located at a distance of 10 kms from the quaint village of Almora. The place is known for its magnificent and well-manicured gardens and thick woodlands.
• Kalimat – this is a fairy tale hamlet which is located in the tehsil district of Almora and is situated at a distance of 5 km from Almora.
• Simtola – situated opposite to the famous horseshoe bridge this quaint destination is located at a distance of 8 kms which has been recognized as one of the prettiest picnic spots which also offers the panoramic views of the nearby mist-laden valleys.

Activities:

• Adventure Activities – this rugged terrain offers an opportunity for every adventure seeker to test their limits and push their boundaries. Some of the major adventure activities taken up in this area are rock climbing, spider web and Burma Bridge.
• Cycling – the winding mountain roads offer the perfect opportunity for every cyclist to explore the nearby places in Almora via cycling. This is the perfect opportunity for your family and friends to bond by cycling in the Binsar wildlife sanctuary.
• Shopping – Almora is home to one of the largest markets in the entire Kumaon region and every shopaholic will find it extremely unique and worth it. There are numerous options for shopping for the item of your choice like woolen angora clothing items, locally made traditional clothing wear and utensils along with a plethora of wide-ranging products.
• Nature Walks – Almora is surrounded by a bountiful natural beauty and is home to a number of thick green forests where you can go on long nature walks and indulge in bird watching. Hiking to nearby village from Almora is a common activity for visitors.

Why Visit

The quaint village of Almora is known for its unparalleled alluring beauty and panoramic views of the surrounding Himalayas. Owing to its breathtaking beauty Almora has become one of the prime hubs for weekend getaways during the summer season and attracts a large throng of tourists throughout the year. This village is also famous for its glorious sunrises and sunsets which offer magnificent views of the valley. This is also famous for being the spot where Swami Vivekananda had stopped for a break during his quest to the upper Himalayas.

Getting There

Kathgodam is the nearest railway station, about 90 kilometers away, from where you can take taxis or buses to Almora, about 2 hours by road. You can travel direct from Delhi, a journey of 380 kilometers, as also take buses from Nainital, Lucknow and Dehradun. Pantnagar, the nearest airport is about 127 kilometers away, again well connected by taxis and buses.

Climate:

• Summer season (March to June) – the hill escape of Almora village has a pleasant climate throughout the year and are considered the best months to go for a sightseeing tour of Almora since the temperature remains at an ideal temperature of 20 to 25 degree Celsius with chilly nights.
• Monsoon season (July to September) – the monsoon months lasts from late June to September where the area receives some scanty amount of rainfall and it is not a good time to plan for your outdoor activities and excursions since the area will be prone to unexpected landslides and avalanches.
• Winter season (November to February) – the winter months of Almora are extremely cold and wet and the outdoor activities are closed for services. If you want to get some peace of mind and spend some time in experiencing the Himalayan winter, where you won’t go for outdoor activities then these are the best months. The temperature during these months stays between 11 to 8 degree Celsius.

Shopping:

Almora does not have swanky malls or shopping centres, however, there are local colorful market places available which sell some Kumauni wares especially in the old Lala bazaar 9200-year-old) areas which border the entire mall area. There are old as well as new independent stores to shop from where you can buy some local items of interest like bangles, Diyas and other utensils. You can also shop for pashmina shawls and other sweaters or woolen clothing’s made of Angora rabbit fur.

Accommodation and Cuisine

Almora, awell-developed town, offers a number of hotels and guest houses ranging from budget to luxury. As for meals, there are plenty of restaurants and roadside Dhabas to let you have your fill of traditional Punjabi foods and local cuisine. Try Mandua ki roti, Lesu and bhang ki khatti followed by sweet dishes Singori, Bal Mithai and Jhangori ki kheer.

Amid-sized town, Almora is quiet but haswell-developed infrastructure and facilities to make your trip enjoyable.