The ancient town of Almora is situated in the Kumaon region to the east of Uttarakhand. It was first mentioned in the Hindu epic Manaskhand. Shaped like a horse saddle, Almora’s market is placed centrally at the top of the ridge. The western branch of the ridge is known as Selifat while the easter branch is known as Talifat. The city is known for its rich heritage, abundant wildlife, noteworthy handicrafts and natural beauty. The salubrious climate and enchanting Himalayas of Almora so impressed Mahatama Gandhi that he rightly said, "After having been nearly three weeks in Almora Hills, I am more than ever amazed why our people need go in Europe in search of health."
Places to See
Known for its rich heritage, exotic wildlife and divine natural beauty, Almora is situated on a ridge shaped like a horse saddle and flaunts some of the most majestic views of snow-covered Himalayan peaks. The best tourism spots in Almora are:
- Chitai Temple
- Gananath
- Jageshwar
- Kausani
- Kosi Temple
- Someshwar
Shopping
Sweets and clothes made from rabbit wool of Almora are quite famous. Angora is a rabbit species with fine fur, world renowned for its warmth and softness. Angora wool fabrics are available for quite reasonable price at Almora. You can also buy metal wares, especially brass and bronze wares from here.
Where to Stay
Almora is a popular hill resort in Kumaon ranges. Hence, it has good hotels built in centralized location, befitting for all budget types. Ranging from comfortable economy accommodations to top priority luxury hotels, you can find them all at Almora. We recommend:
- Kalmatia Sangam
- Kasaar Jungle Resort
- Ashok Hotel
- The Binsar Retreat
- Grand Oak Manor
- Haridarshan Resort
How to Reach Almora
Almora is directly linked with other Indian cities by road. It does not have an airport or railway station of its own.
By Road: Almora is about 200 km from Delhi. Regular bus services connecting it to Delhi and other surrounding cities include state buses and luxury coaches as well.
By Rail: The nearest railway station to Almora is Kathgodam, 91 km from the city. It takes about three hours to reach Almora from Kathgodam. Kathgodam is well connected to major Indian cities such as Delhi, Kolkata, Jammu and Dehradun. We recommend Kathgodam Garib Rath, Ranikhet Express and Dehradun Kathgodam Express to reach here.
By Air: Nearest airport to Almora is Pantnagar near Nainital, about 125 km from the city. It has flights to Delhi on every alternate day. You can find a taxi to Almora for about Rs 1600 from Pantnagar.
