Almora !

Almora got its name from Kilmora a kind of sorrel a short plant commonly found here. Almora is situated on the Kashyap hills in the shape of a horse saddle. It is situated 365 km northeast of the national capital New Delhi and 415 km southeast of the state capital Dehradun.

Almora city is known for its rich cultural heritage, unique handicraft, and delicious cuisine. The place is home to many eminent personalities like Swami Vivekananda, Rabindranath Tagore, and Ravi Shankar. The city also serves as the starting point for many trekking spots like Jageshwar, Pindari, Mornaula, Mukteshwar, Binsar, and Ranikhet.

Almora is immensely rich in various species of plants. Climatic variations, particularly in temperature, its valleys, and the variety of vegetation make Almora a favorite place for travelers. The flora is considered as the most natural abode of the largest number of medicinal plants found in this region.

Places To Visit In Almora City

Zero Point

Zero Point is located in the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary and to reach Zero Point one has to walk for around 2 km inside the sanctuary. It is basically a tower situated in the middle of the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary at an elevation of around 2400 meters above the ground level.

Visitors can enjoy a mesmerizing view of the sunrise and sunset from Zero Point and it is a perfect destination for nature lovers and adventurers. One can also see a 360-degree panoramic view of the Himalayas and peaks like Kedarnath, Shivling, Trishul and Nanda Devi from here. Vehicles are not allowed till this point and one has to do a trekking of around 2 km to reach the tower.

Jageshwar Dham

Jageshwar Dham is a Hindu pilgrimage city located near Almora in Almora district of Uttarakhand. Jageshwar Dham is named after the presiding deity Jageshwar, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The site is protected under Indian laws, and managed by the Archaeological Survey of India. The place is one of the largest group of temples located in a single complex anywhere in the world. Jageshwar Dham has more than 125 big and small temples within it. It is also believed to be one among the twelve Jyothirlingas.

Kasar Devi Temple

Kasar Devi Temple is a famous Hindu shrine which located at an altitude of 2,116 meters above sea level. It is believed that Kasar Devi temple is positioned on the earth's Van Allen Belt. The region surrounding the Kasar Devi Temple has an enormous geomagnetic field. Also thanks to the gaps in bands of radiation. As a result, Kasar Devi is endowed with a cosmic energy similar to that of Stonehenge in UK and Machu Pichu in Peru. Kasar Devi has always been a melting pot of art, spiritualism and poetry. The nearby area of Kasar Devi is home to pine and deodar trees and offers a beautiful view of the Himalayas along with an amazing view of Hawabagh Valley.

Chitai Temple

Chitai Temple is locally known as Golu Devata Chitai Temple (an incarnation of Lord Shiva). It is located at a distance of 9 km from Almora City and it is built during the Chand regime. There are various beliefs related to the temple which cause people to come and pray here. Visitors will love the soft tinkle of the bells cuddled by the winds, hung by devotees as an act of offering, wishing, or thanking. It can be a pleasant experience to the visitor's ears and hence the temple is also called the temple of bells.

Dunagiri

Dunagiri Temple is a famous temple of Hindus and it is dedicated to goddess Durga. It is situated on the top of Drona Mountain in the Kumaoni Himalayas of Uttarakhand. This temple of Mother Dunagiri is the second Vaishno Mata Shaktipeeth in the region after Vaishno Devi. It is believed that when Hanuman Ji was carrying the 'Sanjiwani buti' to save Laxman's life, a piece of 'Sanjiwani buti' fell here and from that day this place is known as 'Doonagiri'. Dunagiri is a small hill city in the Almora region and provides beauty, spirituality, and peace to travelers.

Transport

Airway

The nearest airport for Almora is Pantnagar which is situated 115 km from Almora. Taxis are available from Pant Nagar Airport to nearby places like Nainital, Kathgodam, Haldwani, etc...

Railway

The nearest railway station is Kathgodam which is situated at a distance of 90 km from Almora. Kathgodam railway station has got decent railway connectivity and trains are available to major cities like Delhi, Lucknow, Howrah, and Dehradun.

Roads

Almora city is well connected by Uttarakhand Transport Corporation. The transport authority runs buses from Almora bus station to major cities like Delhi, Dehradun, Lucknow, Chandigarh, etc. Private taxis and buses are also connecting Almora City to other major destinations of the Kumaon region.

Climate & Best Time To Visit

Summers are moderately hot in Almora and the temperature ranges between 12°C to 32°C in these months. The summer capital of Kumaon is best when visited during the summer and spring seasons. The climate is such that it provides a pleasant weather and a cool breeze keeps the evening fresh, refreshing, and calm for the visitors. Travelers can also venture out on hikes, enjoy picnics, go for local sightseeing, and can enjoy the warmth of the mountain Sun during the summer season.

Winter Season in Almora begins in the month of November and it lasts till the month of February. Winters are extremely cold and the temperature sometimes reaches minus also. Visitors can experience snow during the winter season and may enjoy activities related to it offering tourists the best holiday experience.

Monsoon in Almora experiences moderate rainfall and lies between July and September. The monsoon brings freshness and rejuvenating greenery to the place. But sometimes the season may affect outdoor activities and therefore it is advisable not to visit Almora during this season. The tourists may not be able to explore all the places they wish to because of the rainfall.