Almora

Overview Almora

Almora, a small town at the southern edge of the Kumaon hills is considered as the cultural capital of Uttarakhand. A rich cultural heritage and current practices makes it a cultural hub of the state. Geographically speaking, Almora represents the shape of a horse saddle and situated along the rivers Koshi and Suyal simultaneously, this small hilly settlement is strewn with beautiful pine and fir tree woods. The snow covered Himalayan mountain range and the scenic landscapes make Almora an ideal destination for leisurely holidays.

With a very small population, the town has a tranquil atmosphere and is basically a well maintained cantonment area. Often known for its connection with Mahatma Gandhi and Swami Vivekananda, Almora finds a special mention in strong bio-graphical elements of these two great men. But, the list of the admirers doesn’t end here. The list also includes many renowned personalities who have close association with Almora, have spent time in this beautiful town and found solace amidst the green woods of Almora.

Places To Visit at Almora

The verdant landscapes and serene habitat of the town also houses some of many popular tourist attractions including Nanda Devi, Kasar Devi, Banari Devi, Binsar Mahadev, Garhnath, Chitai etc. The Rudreswar Mahadev Temple situated beside the river Ram Ganga is another popular pilgrimage site in the state. A sunset by the Bright End Corner is the most beautiful offering of the area and Lala Bazaar is a popular place top hang out. The 16th century setting with tiled roofed houses and paved streets represents a well maintained but old town. But, Almora was not developed by the Britishers unlike many other Indian hill stations. Rather, it has always been inhabited by the local Indians in the area. Once popular fro its healthy climate, Almora was a perfect illness cure centre and it still maintains its repute. Thus, the town boasts of some very well maintained health resorts.

Ranikhet is another beautiful place near Almora that attracts many tourists. There are many other nearby places each unique for their rich natural beauty and cultural heritage. Day trips from Almora are also a favorite past time in the town.

Today, Almora is frequented by hikers in search of thrill and the virgin trails along the Himalaya helps them to cure their adventurous streak. Trekking and walking along the magnificent fruit orchards sounds like a nice option to spend a vacation at Almora. These fruit orchards produce a large chunk of the total apple and apricot production in the country. And this makes Almora a major agricultural trade centre in Uttarakhand. Besides fruits, local handicraft materials are best buys in Almora when it comes to shopping.

Best Time To Visit Almora

The best season to visit Almora is April-June and September-November. But, many people prefer winter months as the place receives heavy snow fall. A snow covered town wears a deserted look but the charm of snow is beyond any literary description. The monsoon season is also very pleasant here and is often preferred by honeymooners. The off season visit helps them in avoiding the rush.

How To Reach Almora

Like most of the other towns in Uttarakhand, Almora enjoys an easy accessibility. The nearest airport is Pant Nagar and Kathgodam is the bordering railway station. Otherwise, Almora is accessible via road from other parts of the state as well as New Delhi.