Highlights
About Almora
Almora is a district in the Kumaun region of Uttarakhand in India. Almora is known for its cultural heritage, handicrafts, cuisine, scenic beauty and wildlife. Incidentally the town of Almora is perched over a horse saddle shaped ridge of a mountain. The eastern portion of the ridge is known as Talifat and the western one is known as Selifat. The market is at the top of the ridge where Talifat and Selifat jointly terminate.
Places To See
Binsar templeThis temple complex is situated about 8 km away from Almora. Apart from enjoying the serene atmosphere one can also appreciate the beautiful view from the nearby Binsar Top.
Shiva Temples in JageshwarJaheshwar Dham is a famous holy place in this region which is known for housing temples dating back to hundreds of years. The place is associated with Hindu mythology and you would require atleast 4 days to explore all the shrines found here.
KalimutAs the name suggests, this scenic spot is dedicated to Goddess Kali and is located about 5kms from Almora. From here, you can take in the views of the snow-capped Himalayan peaks.
Katarmal Sun TempleThe Sun Temple is the second most important temple dedicated to Sun God, in India. It is believed to be more than 800 years old and has intricate sculpturing.
Chitai Temple or Gollu DevtaDevotees flock here to seek the blessings of Gollu Devta, an incarnation of Gaur Bhairav. The belief goes that if you tie a bell here your wishes will be fulfilled. Thousands of bells are strung in the temple complex testifying to this belief.
Things To Do
Binsar wildlife sanctuarySituated 25 km from Almora, the sanctuary has several scenic jungle walkways along which you can see several kinds of birds. It gets very cold in winters and if you plan on visiting this place during the winter months, be sure to take heavy woolens along.
Bright End CornerAbout 2 kms away, you will come across Bright End Corner from where you can see the marvelous sunset and sunrise through the peaks of the Himalayas. There is also a Vivekananda Memorial, built at the place where Swami Vivekananda had stopped for some time on his way to the Himalayas.
MartolaThe place is situated about 10 kms from Almora and is mostly inhabited by foreigners. You can enjoy picnics and nature walks in the picturesque locales.
SimtolaFor some enchanting views of the snow-clad mountains head to Simtola. The place is also famous for camping and picnicking. You can explore the scenic trails passing through the forests.
Village walksThese walks are a great way to enjoy the countryside and gain an insight into the lives of the locals. The walks will take you through fields and forests, streams and lush cedar and pine forests.
