Almora | Kumaon Region

Almora | Kumaon Region

Almora | Kumaon Region

Almora is a hill station in Uttarakhand State. Almora was the seat of power of the Chand Dynasty who ruled the land of Kumaon for almost one thousand years. An interesting fact about the discovery of Almora is that unlike other hill stations, it was not discovered and developed by the British. 

The Katyuri Dynasty ruled the region around Almora from the 9th century AD, till it made way for the Chand dynasty. Raja Balo Kalyan Chand made Almora as his new capital in 1560 AD, when he transferred his capital from Champawat to Almora. The Chands occupied Almora till the 19th century AD.

There is an interesting local legend about the discovery of Almora. Raja Kalyan Chand, the ruler of the Chand Dynasty was riding on the horseshoe shaped ridge in the pursuit of a prey. The hunted quarry protected its life by taking refuge behind the thick bushes of Kilmora, a local wild barberry bush, and revealed the place to the king. 

The story might not be corroborated by any literary or archaeological evidences but continues to be told by the locals. The Gorkhas captured Almora in 1790 AD and finally British took it over from the Gorkhas after the Gorkha wars of 1814-1815.

Jawaharlal Nehru served a term of imprisonment in the jail at Almora during the British rule. He left behind an elaborate account of the pleasures of solitude and the varied moods of nature in his various letters written from this place to his daughter.

Almora | Understanding

Almora, a town of about 60,000, is situated in the Kumaon mountains of the Himalayas in eastern Uttarakhand. Most of the town is situated on a crescent shaped mountain ridge about 5 km long, and most of it is above 1,800 m. 

The rivers Kosi and Suyal flow around Almora providing a natural barrier. Unlike Shimla, Ranikhet and Nainital, which were developed by the English, Almora is a hill station totally developed by the Kumaoni Indians.

The town is typical of crowded hill towns in northern India, but the natural beauty around it is astounding. Almora is also called a town of temples. Situated in the centre of the town is the temple of Goddess Nanda Devi. The mountain is visible from the nearby areas as well.

Almora is an agricultural base and also a trade centre.

What To See In Almora ?

Nanda Devi From The West Of Almora

Binsar temple The Bineshwar temple is a large temple complex situated 8 km from Almora. In addition, there is a good view from the nearby Binsar Top.

Temples Nearby. There are many temples in and around Almora. One can visit Chitai Temple, 8 km from city, and a group of temples in Jageshwar (20 km from Almora). Kasar Devi, 8 km from the city, has great views.

1 Mahavatar Babaji Cave, Ratkhal, Near Kukuchina Bus Stand, Pandukholi Mountain Dwarahat. Mahavatar Babaji's Cave is the place where the immortal Babaji initiated Lahiri Mahasaya into Kriya Yoga in 1861 (as described in the spiritual classic Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda)

What To Do In Almora ?

Almora offers a wide variety of diverse activities that bring one closer to it srich heritage. Exploring this tremendous town by trekking, visiting its villages and markets gives you a glimpse of the lifestyle and culture of this place.

• Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary | Encounter With The Beauty Of Wild Animals

Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary is an ideal place where you will get to see a large variety of birds and animals along with dense jungles. Tourists can even enjoy bird watching and can capture amazing photographs.


The best time to visit in Fabruary to April, and the best views to see at Sunrise to the Sunset.

• Deer Park | Experience The Wildlife

One of the things to do in Almora, Uttarakhand, India is to visit popular Deer Park which is at a distance of 2 kms from Almora city. All the wildlife enthusiasts will get to see leopards, deer, black beers along with majestic flora and fauna spending their full day as a picnic with family and friends.

The best time to visit in February, April, October and November, and the best views can be seen anytime of the day.

• Trek To The Zero Point – Add Adventure To Your Trip

Trekking to the Zero Point is the best way to explore the green beauty of Binsar wildlife sanctuary and is undoubtedly one of the best things to do at Almora.

The best time to visit in February to April, and October to November, and the best views can be seen before the Sunset.

• Getting A Glimpse Of The Past At Lakhudiyar Cave | An Ancient Sight Of Stone Era

The Lakhudiyar prehistoric cave is said to be the place where men lived during the stone era. It is one of the most interesting activities in Almora  for those who are fascinated by the historical past and witness the beauty of hand painted drawings inscribed on the walls about the daily lives of cavemen.

The best time to visit in March to June, September to November, and the best views can be seen anytime of the day.

• Shop At Thana Bazar | Splurge Yourself In Shopping

Thana Bazar that is also known as Almora Bazar, is the heart of this city. It is spread across a stretch of 1.5 kms, and is divided into various sections, each section offering a different speciality.

The best time to visit in April to November, and the best views can be seen anytime of the day.

• Enjoy The Views From The Bright End Corner | Experience The Spectacular Sight

Bright end corner is located 2 kms away from Almora and offers an ineffable experience to its visitors by stunning them with breathtaking views. This is definitely one of the best things to do in Almora at night because of the gorgeous sunset that one can relish on their next visit.

The best time to visit in April to June, and the best views can be seen anytime of the day. The exploration time that place about one hour.

• Re-discover Simplicity At Dwarahat Village | Get A Glimpse Of A Meek village

Visit this beautiful small village to get a glimpse of Almora’s culture in its true sense. The simple lifestyle of the people makes visiting this place one the best things to do in Almora with kids too. Not only do they get a new perspective on various aspects of life but also get to experience a different pace of life altogether.

The best time to visit in March, April, May, June, September, October, and November, and the best views can be seen  anytime of the day. The time to expand here is about 4 to 5 hours.

• Enjoy A Picnic At Kalimath | Enjoy In Lush Green Surroundings

Kalinath is extremely popular for its gorgeous green surroundings and is the go-to destination for family trips and picnics. It is the nature’s true escapade as the hills surrounding it add to its charm and the overall environment of the place. It is the perfect place to sit back, relax, and just enjoy the view.

The best time to visit in  March to May and September, and the best views can be seen  anytime of the day. The time to expand here is about 5 to 6 hours.

Almora is indeed a remarkable village which is hidden in the state of Uttarakhand in Kumaon Himalayas. Tourists come here for some relaxation, serenity and rejuvenation. What excites the tourists is that the city of Almora has its royal cultural heritage along with the ancient charm.   

Visitors mainly Visit Almora from March to June in the summer season. Come and experience the spectacular Almora. Feeling excited already? Try out one of these  things to do in Almora to enjoy your trip to this gorgeous place to its fullest

Almora | Etymology

Almora got its name from Bhilmora, a kind of sorrel,(although some have tried to derive it from Berberis "kilmora" a short plant commonly found there which was used for washing the utensils of the sun temple at Katarmal. The people bringing the Bhilmora/kilmora were called Bhilmori/Kilmori and later "Almori" and the place came to be known as "Almora".

When king Bhishm Chand laid the foundation of the town, he had initially named it Alamnagar. Prior to that, Almora was known as 'Rajapur' during the early phase of Chand rule. The name 'Rajpur' is also mentioned over a number of ancient copper plates. There is still a place called Rajpur in Almora.

What is the History of Almora ?

Almora was founded in 1568 by Kalyan Chand during the rule of the Chand dynasty. Prior to that the region was under the control of Katyuri King Bhaichaldeo who donated a part of Almora to
Sri Chand Tiwari.

Old Almora | In 1860s

According to local tradition, the earliest inhabitants in Almora were Tewaris who were required to supply Sorrel daily for cleansing the vessels of sun temple at Katarmal. Ancient lore mentioned in Vishnu Purana and Mahabharata present primordial accounts of human settlements in the City. 


The Sakas, the Nagas, the Kiratas, the Khasas and the Hunas are credited to be the most ancient tribes. The Kauravas and Pandavas of the Hastinapur royal family were the next important princes from the plains who are said to have affected the conquest of these parts. 


After the Mahabharata war the district seems to have remained for some time under the sway of the kings of Hastinapur whose authority was never more than nominal. The actual rulers were the local chiefs of whom the Kulindas (or Kunindas) were probably strong in the southern and western part of the city. 


The Khasas were another ancient people who belonged to an early Aryan stock and were widely scattered in those times. They gave this region the name Khasadesha or Khasamandala.

The next age's silent of them may probably be the ones signaling many petty states, rivaling each-other for supremacy and ultimately chartering the inauguration of the noted and enduring dynasty of Chands. Earlier to this, the Katyuris are recorded as the dominant clans in copper and stone engravings. 


The Chand dynasty from their inception in 953 A.D. to their ouster in the late 18th century present a saga of strife, with horrifying series of wars with rulers of Garhwal culminating in the destruction of this prosperous land and establishment of inglorious Gurkha rule. 


This dynasty was peculiar in that it made Almora the seat of strongest hill power in 1563 A.D. From that time onwards, the limits of kingdom of Kumaon extended over the entire tracts of districts of Almora and Nainital. 


Towards the end of the 17th century, Chand Rajas again attacked the Garhwal kingdom, and in 1688, king Udyot Chand erected several temples at Almora, including Tripur Sundari, Udyot Chandeshwer and Parbateshwer, to mark his victory over Garhwal and Doti. The Parbateshwar temple was renamed twice, to become the present Nanda Devi temple.

Soldiers Of 3rd Gorkha Rifles [1895] In Almora

In 1791, the Gorkhas of Nepal while expanding their kingdom westwards across Kali River, invaded and overran Almora. In the meantime, the British were engaged in preventing the Gorkhas from over-running the whole of the northern frontier. 


The Gorkha rule lasted for twenty-four years. Due to their repeated intrusion into British territories in the Terai from 1800 onwards, Lord Moira, the Governor-General of India, decided to attack Almora in December 1814, marking the beginning of the Anglo-Gorkha war. 


The war that broke out in 1814, resulted in the defeat of the Gorkhas and subsequently led to the signing of the Treaty of Sugauli in 1816. According to the treaty, Nepal had to cede all those territories which the Gorkhas had annexed to the British East India Company. After the war, the old Lal Mandi fort, near Almora was renamed ‘Fort Moira’.

Unlike the neighboring hill stations like Nainital and Shimla which were developed by the British, Almora was developed much before by the Chand kings. The place where the present cantonment is located was formerly known as Lalmandi. 


Presently where the collectorate exists, the 'Malla Mahal' (Upper Court) of Chand kings was located. The site of present District Hospital used to be 'Talla Mahal' (Lower Court) of Chand rulers. Almora had a Population of 8596 in 1901.

What Is The Best Places To Visit In Almora ?

If you are heading to Almora for a quiet getaway, here are the best places to visit in Almora to make the best of this peaceful town. These places cannot be missed if you are someone who loves to explore. So, get ready with your camera to capture some of the most stunning sights of your life:

• Zero Point – For The Best View

• Bright End Corner – Sunsets And Sunrises

• Jageshwar Temple – Ancient Temple Complex

• Kasar Devi Temple – Old And Small Shrine

• Katarmal Sun Temple – Architectural Beauty

• Chitai Golu Devta Temple – Red And White Mistique

• Deer Park – Almora’s Wildlife

• Lakhudiyar – Remains Of Early Life

• Martola – For Lush Green Hills

• Nanda Devi Temple – A Revered Temple

• Kalimath – A Rustic Village

• Govind Ballabh Pant Public Museum – Explore The History

• Simtola – Pine Trees And More

• Kasar Devi – A Picturesque Town

• Kumaon Regimental Center – Honouring Our Martyres

• Museum – Honouring Our Martyres

• Dwarahat Village – A Serene Town

 Get In Almora

• How to Reach Almora

Almora is a hill town and so does not have a railway station or an airport. It is well connected by road to other nearby hill stations like Nainital, Haridwar and Mussoorie. The nearest railway station is Kathgodam which is 81 km away. Pantnagar Airport is situated 115 km from Almora. From there, you can take pre-paid taxis or car rentals.

• How to reach Almora by flight

There is no airport in Almora and Pantnagar is the closest airport, situated 115 km away. There are regular taxis and buses from the airport to Almora. New Delhi is the nearest international airport and is well connected by road to Almora. The nearest airport is in Dehradun, which is about 170 kms from Almora.

• How to reach Almora by road

Road is the best way to reach Almora since it is well connected to all major North Indian cities and other hill stations. There are buses run by private and government operators that connect to Almora and are usually overnight. Private taxis are also easily available.

• How to reach Almora by train

Almora does not have a railway station and the nearest station is in Kathgodam. Most trains to Kathgodam are via Delhi and this route connects Almora to most of the country. You can hire taxis from Kathgodam to Almora.

• Local transport in Almora

Pre-paid taxis is the best way to move around the town and its out-skirts. Alternately, you can hop onto a local bus to do it the Almora-way.

Road Distance Chart to Almora

• Delhi to Almora : 337 kms.

• Ghaziabad to Almora : 326 kms.

• Noida to Almora : 343 kms.

• Gurgaon to Almora : 379 kms.

• Meerut to Almora : 301 kms.

• Modinagar to Almora : 314 kms.

• Chandigarh to Almora : 512 kms.

• Bareilly to Almora : 190 kms.

• Kanpur to Almora : 461 kms.

• Lucknow to Almora : 438 kms.

• Shimla to Almora : 611 kms.

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