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Almora

Known for its cultural diversity, Almora is a bewitching hill station which is situated at an average elevation of 1,638 metres above sea level and is spread across a 5 kilometre long ridge on Kashyap Hill. Surrounded by the dwindling pines and old oaks, the city has a divine natural aura that is enough to allure anyone and everyone. To make the scenery even more mesmerizing, the snow-capped Himalayas stand in utmost grandeur to please the eyes of the admirer. Almora is famous for its rich cultural heritage, unique handicrafts and delicious cuisines, thus claiming its name as the cultural capital of Kumaon.  Almora has attracted people through the ages. Swami Vivekananda visited Almora at the turn of this century.The Ramakrishna Mission at Mayawati Ashram bears his footprints. Rabindranath Tagore spent some memorable summers here. The internationally acclaimed dancer Uday Shankar fell in love with this place and set up his dance academy here. Sitar maestro Ravi Shankar, artist Zohra Sehgal, the film star Guru Dutt all came here and became earnest lovers of the town. Our first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru served a term of imprisonment in the Jail at Almora during the British rule.

The town is surrounded by the mighty Himalayan ranges, with holy shrines on the top of their peaks dedicated to Goddesses Banari Devi, Kasar Devi and Sayahi Devi.

A District Known For…

  • Alluring beauty
  • Panoramic view of the Himalayas
  • Rich cultural heritage
  • Unique handicrafts
  • Delicious cuisines.

What Is In And Around Almora To Experience?

Almora as a town is famously known as the town of temples

Chitai Temple- The famous Temple of Chitai Almora is the Golu Devta Chitai temple, dedicated to Gollu or Goljyu Devta an Avtar (incarnation) of Lord Shiva in the form of Gaur Bhairav. Although there are many temples of Golu Devta in Almora but the Chitai Golu Devta Temple is the most sacred one. It is reputed to make every wish come true, provided the worshipper ask for it with a clear conscience. The temple is situated at 9kms from Almora.

Jageshwar Temple- Jageshwar is situated at an elevation of 1,870 mts above sea level and at a distance of 37 kms from Almora. Jageshwar is an important tourist destination of Kumaon and receives thousands of visitors every year. It is situated amidst dense Deodar forest with a stream flowing at its backyard.

Kasar Devi Temple- Kasar Devi Temple is a famous Hindu shrine which sits high at an altitude of 2,116 metres above sea level. This 2nd-century temple is adorned on a hillock overlooking the toy town of Almora. The temple is about 5 km downhill from Tarai Nagri and is surrounded by lofty pine and deodar trees.

Katarmal Sun Temple- Katarmal Sun Temple was built by the Katyuri king Katarmalla in between 9th to 13th century. About 17 km from Almora, this ancient piece of history lies in the salubrious Hills of Kumaon. Katarmal Sun Temple is considered as the second most important sun temple in India after Konark Sun Temple (Orissa). It is believed to be the only sun temple located in the hills. A 2 km steep climb is required to reach the temple, which is placed at the top of the hill. What awaits the visitor is the brilliantly made architectural wonder perched at 2,116 metres above sea level. Main deity of the well-designed temple is the old Sun God known as Burhadita or Vraddhaditya. The primary shrine is surrounded by 45 smaller shrines. Besides the statue of Vraddhaditya, the main temple structure also includes statues of other deities.

Intricate carvings can be found on pillars, walls, doors and panels. Paintings and beautiful sculptures made of stone and metal showcase the level of artistry achieved by the artists of that time. Once a 10th century idol was stolen from the temple premises, since then the wooden doors and panels, with fine carvings, were removed and shifted to National Museum in Delhi. From the temple complex, one can have a wonderful 180 degree view of the valley.

Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary- Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary is the paradise for Nature Lovers & Bird Watchers, located in the Almora district of Uttarakhand State. The sleepy region of Binsar is one of the scenic places of Kumaon region of Uttarakhand.Perched at an elevation of 2420 metres, Binsar is known for offering spell-binding views of the majestic Himalayan peaks such as Chaukhamba, Nanda Devi, Nanda Kot, Panchachuli, and Kedarnath. The main attraction of Binsar is the 300 kms of majestic and panoramic view of Himalayan peaks from Binsar Zero Point.

This compact hill town is encircled by the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary which serves as a habitat for the rare animals, birds and flower species. Since the place is wrapped up in thick foliage, it is undoubtedly the best place for experiencing adventurous hiking, camping and nature walks.

Kumaon Regimental Centre Museum- KRC (Kumaon Regimental Centre) is a well-maintained museum that showcases the glory, top notch achievements and triumphs of the Kumaon Regiment. The museum was built in 1970’s so as to preserve and exhibit the legacy and customs of the Kumaon Region. The interiors of the museum displays lead to endless photographs depicting many wars related to the Kumaon Regiment. This centre for military enthusiasts displays weapons used by the armed forces and enemies, medals and uniforms of the brave soldiers, the flags of rebels captured during battles, stone tablets depicting information about various wars and stories of the First and the Second Param Vir Chakra, which belongs to Kumaon Regiment. Silver scepters of Rani Jhasi, documents and pictures associated with Kargil War, wireless field telephones operated by Japanese and Chinese rifles captured during the 1962 war are some of the impressive collection of the museum.

Famous personalities visited – Swami Vivekananda, Timothy Leary, Cat Steven and Bob Dylan


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