Famous for unique meditation points, rich cultural heritage, art & crafts, cuisine, Almora was once the capital of the Chand Dynasty. Almora is situated on a ridge at the southern edge of the Kumaon Hills in a horse saddle shaped hillock. The eastern part of the ridge is called Talifat and the western is called Selifat. The Almora Market is present at the joint of the 2 ridges signifying magnificent views of the Koshi and Suyal Rivers with snow covered mountains and thick trees in the background. Almora is one of the best places of the Himalayan Ranges giving astonishing vibes of tranquil life, leisurely moments from the daily hustle bustles and hence is visited by numerous tourists throughout the year for relaxation and gentle times in the lap of nature.
The History!
Almora was founded by Kalyan Chand, the king of the Chand Dynasty in the year 1568. The history of the town dates back to the ancient era of Puranas. In Vishnu Purana and Mahabharata the inscription of the city is shown. The Kauravas and Pandavas were believed to rule the region. In stone and copper engraves, it is found that the Katyuris ruled the region and were very powerful. In the 17th century the kings of the Chand Dynasty constructed several temples in Almora to mark their territory. The governor general of India, Lord Moira attacked Almora in 1814 beginning the Anglo-Gorkha War. The Treaty of Sugauli was signed in 1816 and the old Lal Mandi Fort was renamed as Fort Moira.
Meditation and Temples!
Almora offers the perfect place to meditate in the calm and quiet background and introspect our thoughts and imaginations. Kasar Devi is regarded as the best place for activities including yoga and meditation. The small village in the mystic Kumaon Region is heaven for the artists, philosophers, writers, photographers and yogis. Due to the enormous geomagnetic field known as the Van Allen Belt, it receives a cosmic energy positive for our body and soul. After Swami Vivekananda's meditation in 1890, the place came into limelight.
Almora is often called the Temple City as it has a major religious belief and importance being surrounded by numerous temples and worship sites. Kasar Devi, Nanda Devi, Khakmara, Pataal Devi, Jageshwar Temple, Chitai Temple, Baijnath are some of the important places. Dunagiri is popular among locals where the modern day Kriya Yoga took birth and is the symbolism of Shaktism. The ancient temple Pandu Kholi is inscribed in religious books that the Pandavas spent some time here to escape from Duryodhana.
How to reach the city
Almora is a very commonly asked tourist destination and hence well connected to other cities via Air, Road and Railway.
1. Airways:
Pantnagar Airport is the primary airport and Indira Gandhi International Airport is the nearest international airport at Delhi.
2. Roadways:
Almora is well linked to the neighbouring cities via road. Tourists generally take the road way to Almora from Dehradun and Delhi.
3. Railways:
Kathgodam Railway Station is the nearest station that connects Delhi, Howrah, Dehradun.
Places to visit
1. Kasar Devi:
Kasar Devi is the small town worth having a visit which includes breathtaking views of the snow capped mountains and dense forests. It is again famous for the Kasar Devi Temple and a large fair is organized every year on Kartik Purnima.
2. Zero Point:
Zero Point is a famous place among travelers where a captivating bird's eye view can be watched. It is the highest point of Binsar and people like to trek to the place.
3. Jageshwar:
Jageshwar is a place also called "The Temple City" where you can find 125 temples. The Jageshwar Mahadev Temple has religious importance and the architectural beauty of the temple built in the 9th century is marvelous.
4. Dunagiri:
Dunagiri is an offbeat calming place in the Kumaoni ranges of the Himalayas. The mesmerizing views of the mountains and sky touching trees are something to experience.
5. Bright End Corner:
Bright End Corner, located just 2 km from Almora is very popular among tourists for the views of spectacular sunrise and sunset. The place remembers Swami Vivekananda and there is also a library named after him.
6. Binsar:
Situated at 33 km from Almora, Binsar is the soul of Almora. The dense forests of Oak, pine and chir, and magnificent views of the beautiful valleys are what make Binsar a traveler's paradise.
7. Govind Ballabh Pant Museum:
The museum is a perfect place to spend some time looking into the art, crafts, textiles, wood works, paintings, musical instruments,etc. The museum has a rare collection of antiques from the rulers of Katyuri and Chand Dynasty.
8. Jalna:
Jalna is the place perfect for a leisurely moment away from the city crowds just a few kilometers away from Almora. Situated at a height of 1700 meter in the Himalayas it is one of the offbeat places where people are visiting often lately.
Best time to visit
Almora falls under a humid subtropical climate and gets heavy rains with thunderstorms.
1. Summer- March to June- 25°C to 32°C (not very hot)
2. Rainy- July to October- 25°C to 28°C (continuous rain)
3. Winter- November to February- 8°C to 15°C (chilly)
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