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ALMORA
Almora is a wonderful hill station in the shape of a horse shoe from where the magnificent snow of the central Himalayas could be seen. It is situated on a 5 km long mountain range. Almora has its own historical, cultural and political significance. It was the capital of Kumau once upon a time, set up by King Balo Kalyan Chand in 1563.The descendents from the Kyutar dynasty and the Chand dynasty ruled Almora in the old times. The forts, other historical monuments, courts and legislative offices are present even today. The two rivers, Kaushik (Koshi) and Shalmali (Suyal) flow near the town. The snow peaked mountains of the Himalayas look like a spectacular train of ice and snow from here.
History
Almora is also known as the town of temples. Located in the centre of the town is the temple of Goddess Nanda Devi. Unlike Shimla, Ranikhet and Nainital which were developed by the English, Almora is totally developed by the Indians. Swami Vivekananda gave his famous lectures here. The town has maintained its ancient tradition even today. The terraced fields, stone slatted barrack-like village houses make Almora distinct and special from everyday modernity.
Places on Interest
Bright End Corner: Almora is at a 2 km distance from here. The significance of this place is amazing sunset and the sunrise seen through the Himalayan peaks. A circuit house close by allows tourists to spend some peaceful moments at this place. Bear by is the Vivekananda Library which has a good collection of books on literature. A little away is the Vivekananda Memorial where Swami Vivekananda had stopped for a short while on his way to the Himalayas.
Chitai Temple: This is a very busy neighborhood. This temple is dedicated to Lord Golu. The natives of Kumau worship him. Once a wish is fulfilled people hang little bells in this temple. For that reason there are thousands of little bells hanging there. The view of the Himalayas is extremely stunning from here. This temple is 8 kms away by walk all the way through a beautiful pine forest, one can go by horse and cart too.
Deer Park: 3 kms from Almora is the deer park.
Katarmal: This 800-year old Sun Temple is the next in significance after the Sun Temple of Konark in Orissa. Seven kms away from Almora, this historical important temple is an excellent example of intricate sculpturing.
Nanda Devi Temple: This 1000-year old temple is one of the main attractions of Almora. Its known for its famous wall carvings. Each year a festival is held here in which youth from various hilly areas participate in dance festivals.
Kasar Devi: Near Kali mutt is the temple of Kasar Devi. This ancient temple was built in the second century on a mountain peak. The distance between Kali matt and Kasar Devi is less than 1 km and can be easily covered by foot. The neighboring area has turned out to be the home of many foreigners. The main town is 6 km away.
General Information
Altitude: 1646 mts above sea level
Best Time to Visit: Almora is ideal for tourists almost all through the year; summers however would be the best times to visit.
Travel Info
Road: Almora is well connected with all the important cities of India by road.
Rail: The nearest railway station near Almora is Kathgodam.
Air: The nearest airport is Nainital. Regular flights are operational during summers.