untouched beauty

Almora- The untouched beauty of India

India in its womb caters the number of beautiful places, cities, hills, and beaches while many of them are explored deeply there are numerous places in India whose beauty is virgin and untouched. One such gem is the beautiful place is ALMORA.

Although Almora is a small hamlet situated in the state of Uttarakhand its beauty of hills, snow-capped mountains and green valleys cannot be ignored. This small district is so beautiful and tranquil that you certainly won’t mind staying here for a long period of time.

About the town

“These mountains are associated with the best memories of our race: Here, therefore, must be one of the centers  not merely of activity, but more of calmness of meditation, and of peace and I hope someone to realize it.”

-Swami Vivekananda on the town of Almora and its people.

Almora is a cantonment town in the Almora district in the state of Uttarakhand. The town got its name from the plant ‘Kilmora’ which was used to wash the utensils in the Katarmal temple. The small hamlet is situated on a ridge at the southern edge of the Kumaon hills of the Himalayan range at an average elevation of 1861 meters.

How to reach?

Almora is situated at the distance of 365 Km from the capital of the country, which is easily accessible by the public transport. If you want to avoid the hassle of public transport. For all those who prefer to travel by train, the service of trains  the nearest station to Almora is Kathgodam, it is about 81 Km from the city and can be covered in the time of two hours. The best way to travel from Kathgodam to Almora would be hiring a cab.

Points of interest 

Almora will offer you enough of natural beauty, the fresh air to breathe in the picturesque scenery and green meadows. Here is a list of tourist places which you must visit when you are in Almora.

1.BRIGHT END CORNER

Located at a favourable distance of 2 km from the district of Almora, Bright end corner offers a mesmerizing view of sun rise and sun set on the hills.  The beauty of hues of orange, red and yellow at dawn and dusk will leave you breathless. You can also enjoy the panorama of the Himalayan ranges while the majestic hills change its scenery several times a day.

2 DEER PARK

Situated at the distance of 3 km from the district of Almora, it is one of the main attraction of the city. It draws the number of tourists each year because of being a home to a number of endangered species such as deer, leopard, and Himalayan black beer. The park is surrounded by the lush green pine trees adding to its natural beauty. You can enjoy the leisure walk in the amidst the beautiful wildlife creatures and green environment. Deer park is a must visit place in Almora for all the wildlife lovers.

3 ZERO POINT

Zero point is located in the premises of wildlife sanctuary where you can enjoy one of the best views of the grand Himalayan ranges. You can look across 300 km to witness the mesmerizing view of Trishul, Kedarnath, Shivling and Nanda Devi. You have to walk inside the sanctuary for half a kilometer, it is advised to hire the guide for the trek. When you walk half a kilometer to reach the point the beauty of the snowy peaks and the clouds playing hide and seek with the mountains will certainly leave you breathless.

4.MARTOLA

Martola is the beautiful spot located at a distance of 10 km from Almora known for its picturesque sceneries. The place is surrounded by the thick green woods and the lush green gardens making it a hot-spot for picnicking with families and friends. Martola with its bewildering beauty has tempted many foreigners to settle here.

5. SIMTOLA

Simtola is situated 3 km from the district of Almora on the opposite side of the horseshoe ridge. It was earlier a site of diamond and granite mining. It offers the pleasant view of the lush green terrains and the mountains covered with pine and deodar trees and misty valleys. Simtola is the famous picnic spot in Almora.

Temples in Almora

For all those who love to travel to find the peace in spirituality, Almora has a lot to offer. Here is the list of noted temples of Almora.

1.KASAR DEVI TEMPLE

Kasar Devi is a Hindu shrine temple dedicated to Kasar Devi. The temple is situated at an altitude of 2116 meters. This temple was also visited by Swami Vivekananda in 17 century for meditation. It offers the beautiful view of the Almora city and Hawabagh valley.

2.JAGESHWAR TEMPLE

Although the temple is situated a distance of 36 km from the city of Almora, but it is a must visit temple for all spiritual peace. Jageshwar is located at an altitude of 1870 m in the Jataganga river valley on Almora-Pithoragarh highway where the two streams Nandini and Surabhi flow down the hill and meet at a sacred point. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is believed to carry Jyotirlinga dedicated to Lord Shiva . The temple has a cluster of 124 large and small stones dating 9th and 13th century.

3.KATARMAL SUN TEMPLE

The temple is located at a short distance of 12 km from the city of Almora. After the sun temple at Konark , Orissa, it is considered the second most important sun temple in the country. It was constructed by the Katyuri king in the 9th century. It has 44 small temples around the main deity of Surya. The temple holds the carvings on walls and panels were declared as the site of national importance under the ancient monument and archaeological site.The ancient beauty of this temple truly deserves to be appreciated

4.CHITAI GOLU DEVTA TEMPLE

The temple is located about 8 km from Almora city and can easily be accessed by the buses or shared taxi. The Chitai Golu Devta Temple is dedicated to Goljyu Devta, the god of justice who is believed to be one of the avatars of Lord Shiva. It is believed to fulfill all the wishes of the worshipper if asked with the clear conscience.