CategoriesDistricts of Uttarakhand By garhwalitraveller

Almora Travel Guide – Places to Visit, How to Reach

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

haridwar uttarakhand
CategoriesDistricts of Uttarakhand By garhwalitraveller

Haridwar Uttarakhand – Places to Visit and Things to Do

Haridwar – Dharmnagri Gateway to the Land of Gods

As you enter the Dharmnagri Haridwar you will be welcomed with the sound of temple bells. Haridwar city has religious importance as the River Ganga enters the plains of Northern India for the first time in Haridwar. It is also known by the former name “Gangadwara ”. There are plenty of ancient and holy places nearby Haridwar within 50 Km you can also visit during your Haridwar tour.

Haridwar is one of the seven holiest places in India, it is also known by the name Hardwar or Hari-Dwar.

Importance and History of Haridwar

Haridwar is made up of two words Hari (means Lord Vishnu) and Dwara (meaning gate) so Haridwar stands for “The Gateway to Lord Vishnu”. It is also an entry point to Char Dham which are Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. With Nasik, Ujjain, Allahabad, Haridwar is the fourth important pilgrimage centre of India, where Kumbh Mela is celebrated every 3 years. Maha Kumbh Mela will be held in Haridwar in 2022. Haridwar is also known by the Gangadwara, Mayapuri and Mokshadwar in ancient writings.

According to Hindu mythology, during the Samudra Manthan the precious drops of Amrit were accidentally spilt at four places i.e. Ujjain, Nasik, Allahabad and Haridwar. To commemorate this event, Maha Kumbh Mela and Kumbh Mela are celebrated once every 12 years and in 3 years at one of the four holy places respectively. Brahma Kund is believed to be the place in Haridwar where the drops of elixir fell.

Haridwar Business Hub and Industrial Town of Uttarakhand

Haridwar is an ancient city and is one of the 13 districts of Uttarakhand. It is the largest city of Haridwar district. This holy place is developing in industrial estate as the State Industrial Development of Uttarakhand(SIDCUL), BHEL(Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited), Patanjali Ayurved and many other companies and industries are here.

Travel Tips and Guide to Haridwar

  • Ganga Aarti takes place every evening at the bank of the holy river Ganga in Har Ki Paudi one shouldn’t miss this.
  • Photography is prohibited somewhere inside the temples but is allowed outside everywhere, so please follow the guidelines.
  • Please don’t carry non-vegetarian and alcoholic beverages together. There are no liquor shops in Haridwar in case you are wondering.

For what Haridwar is famous for?

  • Haridwar is famous for Dharmnagri, Pilgrimage.
  • It is recommended as a destination for Kids and Family, Couples, Solo and all.
  • Haridwar is a popular destination for the following activities: Dharmnagri, Mayapuri, Char Dham Route, Business Hub, Kumbh Mela, Temples etc.

Overview Haridwar

  • Temperature: 27 (Max) and 13 (Min) in March
  • Location: Haridwar, Garhwal
  • Stay (Recommended): 2 or 3 Days
  • Nearest Railway Station: Haridwar
  • Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun (36 Km)
  • Famous for: Dharm Nagri, Temples, Mansa Devi, Pilgrimage
  • Best times to visit: February, March, April, May, June, September, October, November and December