Almora is a Municipal Board and Cantonment town in Almora District in Uttarakhand, decorated with the views of some of the higher peaks of the Himalayas. Situated at an elevation of 1861 m above sea level, the town of Almora was found by Chand Kings in 1568 and the place is now the administrative headquarters of the district. The town stands at a ridge at the southern edge of kumaon hills of Himalayan range, the east of which is known as “Talifat” and the west is called “Selifat”, also the Almora market stands at the top of the ridge where the two terminate. The name “Almora” is derived from “Kilmora” which is a short plant found in the region generally used for washing the utensils of the famous Katarmal Sun Temple. The beautiful town of Almora is surrounded by thick forests of pine and fir trees along with the flowing rivers such as Koshi and Suyal accompanied with a background of snow capped Himalayas and mild temperate climate throughout the year.
Popularities:
Almora which is also known as The Cultural Heritage Of Kumaon is popularly known for the following:
- Cultural Diversity
- Divine Aura
- Charismatic Views of Himalayas
- Unique Handicrafts
- Rich cultural Heritage
- Picturesque Landscapes
8 Places to Visit In The Cultural Heritage Of Kumaon: Almora
Chitai Golu Devta Temple
The Chitai Golu Devta Temple is situated at a distance of approximately 10 kms from the main town of Almora and is dedicated to Golu Devta, a mythological god of Kumaon Region who is worshipped as a key deity in the region and is also considered as an avatar of Lord Shiva by the local people in the form of Gaur Bhairav. Surrounded by a thick forest of Chir and Pines, the temple of Chitai is believed to be the most sacred of all the temples in the region. Devotees worship Golu Devta as the God Of Justice with a belief that wishes come true if asked by a clean and clear conscience. The devotees seek intervention or justice for the injustice made to them by the means of writing to him. One can find thousands of bells, stacks of letters and copies of petitions from the court pinned all across the temple premises.
Bright End Corner
The Bright End Corner is located at a distance of around 2kms at the Almora ridge and outlines the beginning of the Almora Road. Named after Mr. Brighton the place provides a mesmerizing view of the sunrise and sunset along with some breathtaking views of the Himalayan Peaks along with the whole town. The place is generally preferred by nature lovers and is famous for trekking, serenity, photography and picturesque views. Also it is believed that Swami Vivekanand spent some days here while his stay in the Himalayas and hence a library dedicated to him and named as Vivekanand Library is located nearby. Bright End Corner along with Vivekanand Library is a must visit in Almora.
Martola
Martola is basically a village situated approximately 10 kms from the main town of Almora at an altitude of 530 meters above the sea level. Surrounded by thick forests and well manicured gardens the place is a picnic spot which is famous for its serenity, scenery and photography. One can experience a proper village life, a natural aura and lush greenery backdrop, which is the reason many foreigners have settled here. People call it as Heaven on Earth as there seems to be no boundaries between Human and Nature. Also Katarmal Sun Temple is located nearby.
Katarmal Sun Temple
The Katarmal Sun Temple is located in Katarmal village that is approximately 19 kms from Almora at an elevation of 2,116 metres above the sea level. The famous temple was constructed by the Katyuri Kings in the 9th Century and is amongst one of the tallest temples of the region. The temple exhibits the architectural style of the ancient artisans having intricate designs carved on wooden doors and panels, and was considered to be the second most beautiful temple. These carves doors and the other beautiful antiques were later taken to National Museum, Delhi. It is believed that a Katyuri king Katarmalla constructed this temple. The complex includes a main temple dedicated to god Surya which is known as Burhadita or Vraddhaditya along with 44 smaller temples around the main deity which are dedicated to deities like Shiva- Parvati, Laxmi Narayan etc. The walls and panels of the temple hold carvings and the temple has been declared as a monument of national importance under Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.
Simtola
Simtola is basically an eco park which is located opposite to a horse shoe ridge approximately 8 kms away at Bal Dhoti village, near Hiradungi which was a diamond mining centre and a granite hill earlier. The place is surrounded by dense forests of pine, fir and deodar trees. The place offers pleasant valleys and is a picnic spot preferred by the nature lovers as it serves as a good spot for hiking.
Govind Ballabh Pant Museum
The Govind Ballabh Pant Museum is located at the mall road in Almora and is dedicated to the efforts of Govind Ballabh Pant who was a great freedom fighter. The museum is a must visit for the people who seek interest in the culture of kumaon as it exhibits a great collection of ancient style of kumaoni paintings which are locally referred as ‘Aipan’. The museum is also a house for a number of antiques which belong to the rulers of Katyuri and Chand dynasty along with local cultural norms. A large statue of Mr. Govind Ballabh Pant outside the museum adds to the aura.
Kasar Devi Temple
Kasar is a village located around 13 kms from the main town of Almora, in the verdant kumaon hills. The place offers majestic paranomic views of the Almora valley, rivers and hamlets along with a calm and quite atmosphere. The village derives its name from a local deity, Kasar devi, to whom a temple is also dedicated. The temple holds a fair on Kartik Poornima every year in the month of November or December which is attended by a large number of people. Swami Vivekanand also visited this place and meditated here and hence this place is also mentioned in his writings. Because of the quite and calm atmosphere of the village many foreigners have settled here and hence turned it into a hippie hill. One can find a number of resorts and cafes in Kasar and the place is best for village walks, meditation and bird watching.
Nanda Devi Temple
Nanda devi Temple is located in the main town of Almora and is dedicated to the regional goddess of kumaon, Nanda Devi who is believed to be an incarnation of the Hindu goddess Durga. Nanda Devi is actually associated with the rulers of the Chand Dynasty and is believed to be their patron goddess. As an incarnation of the Hindu goddess Durga, Nanda Devi is considered to be destroyer of the evil and the savior of Kumaon. The walls of the temple are beautifully carved by the artists of that period along with a majestic monument embellished with crown or amalaka ring, by the wooden roof. The architecture of the temple suggests that it has been built in kumaoni style and is very beautifully maintained. The temple is believed to be a thousand years old and is visited by a number of devotees throughout the year. The Parbateshwar temple was renamed twice before it finally came to be known as the Nanda Devi Temple. In the month of September, like most of the regions of kumaon, a Nanda Devi Fair is organised on the occasion of Nanda Astami which witnesses a huge crowd from all over the place.
Other attractions in Almora
Apart from being famous for all the majestic views and flawless valleys, the town of Almora is also famous for its markets. One can find anything they want at an affordable price. Almora is also famous for sweets such as Bal Mithai and hence one may witness a number of sweet shops in Almora. The main and the most famous markets of Almora includes :
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Lala Bazar : This market is probably the oldest market of Almora and is considered to be 200 years old.
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Malli Bazar
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Karkhana Bazar
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Thana Bazar
Good To Know
- Almora is situated at a distance of 365 km from the National capital, Delhi.
- The capital city of Uttarakhand, Dehradun is at a distance of 415 km.
- The famous town, Nainital is just 63 km away.
- The nearest airport at Pantnagar is at a distance of 115km.
- The nearest railway station at Kathgodam is just 83 km away.
For making your experience wonderful and better, we, the family of Vaibhav Laxmi Tourism awaits for you at Haldwani. Give us an opportunity to serve you with the best we have.
