Almora
Almora district is situated in the hilly terrain of the Himalayas in the state of Uttarakhand. Almora is famous for its unforgettable natural beauty, biodiversity, historically rich monuments, delectable cuisine and handcrafts. Insider says that this picturesque place, Almora boasts the pride of being the workplace of many legends like Swami Vikekanand and the great poet Sumitranandan Pant.
History pages show that Almora was the capital of the Chand Dynasty in the olden days. This region was earlier under the reign of Katyuri king Baichaldeo, who donated this whole area to a Gujarati Brahmin Shri Chand Tiwari. In 1560 the capital of the Chand Dynasty was shifted to the Almora district (from Champawat) by the king Kalyan Chand.
This town offers beautiful views of the snowy summits of the Himalayas and it is an excellent place to enjoy a peaceful holiday. Various pilgrimage sites, ancient bazaars, an international woollen market, little quaint resorts in nearby regions and green forest peaks(perfect for adventures like trekking, mountain climbing etc) add an extra taste of happiness to the travellers’ faces.
8 Best places to visit in Almora
Here is a list of some famous locations in Almora that you should visit when planning to go there. Of all the below locations, Golu Devta temple is the most famous place to visit in Almora and you should visit there once.
1 – Chitai Golu Devta Temple:
10Km away from the main city of Almora, Chitai temple is specially dedicated to Golu Devta which is a very famous temple in the Kumaon region. An avatar of Lord Shiva, he is reputed to fulfilment of an individual’s wish if he/she prayed with a clear conscience.
2 – Nanda Devi Temple:
It is a historic temple which is placed in the centre of the town of Almora.
3 – Goddess Nanda Devi.
The fantastic feature of Nanda Devi temple is the image carved on the walls of the temple. Nanda Devi festival is held every year in the month of September.
4 – Lal Bazaar:
Almora ko Lal Bazaar. Almora is a shopper delight district like Nainital which offers a wide variety of options to buy including woollen garments, decorative items, metal utensils and Local crafts.
5 – Someshwar:
Located 35Km away from the main Almora city. Someshwar is famous for its ancient Lord Shiva Temple. This temple was constructed by Raja Som Chand from the Chand Dynasty so the name of the temple was named Someshwar after that.
6 – Deer Park Almora:
Deer park is located at a distance of 3Km outside the city. A good choice for evening walks and spending time with nature.
7 – Jageshwar:
Famous for Shiv Temple with amazing architecture style within dense forests. The temple complex has 124 shrines and hundreds of statues with outstanding craftsmanship on them.
8 – Bright End Corner:
This place located 2Km away from the main Almora city, is famous for the pleasant scenes of Sunrise and Sunset. Swami Vivekanand Memorial and Vivekanand Library is also situated there.
How to reach Almora
- By Road: Almora district is well-connected with the other parts of the country via road route.
- By Train: The nearest railway station is Kathgodam, which is at a distance of 90 Km from the main Almora. Public and private transport vehicles are available at Kathgodam Railway Station.
- By Air: The nearest Airport to Almora city is Pant Nagar in Nainital, which is 127 Km away.
Stats of Almora District
- District Headquarter: Almora
- Languages spoken in Almora: Kumaoni, Garhwali and Hindi
- Best season/time to visit Almora: April – June, September – November
- Population of Almora: 6,21,972
- Literacy Rate: 74.53%
- Latitude: 29 degree 36′ North
- Longitude: 79 degree 30′ East
- Area: 3090 sq Km
- Altitude: 1651 mtr