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Almora Uttaranchal
Almora General Information
Introduction :: Almora67km from Nainital, this picturesque hill station, at an altitude of 1650m, is famous for its exquisite temples and a rich medley of fairs and festivals. Almora also offers the visitor a healthy selection of treks which combine the pleasures of sightseeing with the spirit of adventure like the treks to Binsar - 30km, and to jageshwar -34km. Over 400 years ago it was the capital of the Chand rajas of Kumaon. Almora is larger than Ranikhet and Kausani, and has good views of the mountains and some great walks.
Area
11 sq. km (City area).
Altitude
1646 metres (5400 feet).
Climate
Summer :- Max 29ºC, Min 9ºC.
Winter :- Max 4.4ºC, Min 2ºC.
Rainfall
82 cm (37") average.
Season
April to June & mid-September to Oct. end.
Clothing
Summer : Cottons and light woollens.
Winter : Heavy woollens.
STD Code of Almora Uttaranchal
05962
Almora Sightseeing
Nanda Devi Temple :: Nanda Devi Temple, AlmoraThis ancient temple is one of the main attractions of Almora town. This temple is hundreds of year old and carries deep faith of many people from this area. The images and statues on walls of this temple are intricately and delicately carved. They are very attractive and almost true to life depiction has been done. Every year a fair is organized here. People from all over the place come and participate in this fair. Groups of young men & women dance on the pulsating music of the mountains.
Deer Park :: Deer park is located some three kms from Almora. An evening stroll in Deer park has its own pleasure.
Chetai Temple :: Chetai Temple, AlmoraThe local people have much faith on this temple. The Chetai temple is located eight kms from Almora. This temple is surrounded by dense fur and pine tree forest. If you are a nature lover then you will certainly enjoy this place.
Public Museum ::
Near Almora bus stand is the Govind Vallabh Pant Public Museum. This museum provides a deep insight of the development of art, culture, life style of this region. It has a very rich collection items relating to Archaeological, Historic and cultural significance. This museum has unique collection of 'Apen', a folk style of painting. One can have a good view of the various aspect of this style painting. This museum is open from 10:30 in the morning to 4;30 in the evening.
Simtola :: This is a picnic spot about three kms from Almora town. The whole place is covered with pine and fur trees. The calmness and peaceful environment has fun of its own kind.
Almora Excursions
Jageshwar :: Jageshwar, Almora Excursion Jageshwar is located 34 kms from Almora. A complex of over 150 shrines set gem-like in a narrow riverine valley enclosed by towering, ancient deodars.
Bageshwar :: About 77km from Almora, This is pilgrim town, once a trade terminus, is also the base for treks to Pindari, Kafni and Sunderdhunga glaciers. It is located along the River Saryu. There is temple dedicated to Lord Bagnath from which this place derives its name. This temple was built in 1450. A little away from Bageshwar is the Pindari Glacier. At Bageshwar one has good accommodation facilities
Sheetalkhet :: Watching the Himalyas from Sheetalkhet, 35km from Almora, is an incomparable experince. Scouting camps are often held here and Syahi Devi temple is just km ahead.
Lakhudiyar :: About 16km from Almora. Literally meaning 'one lakh caves, this is noted for pre-historic wall paintings. A hood -like rocky shelter is the chief specimen.
Binsar :: About 30km from Almora and lies along the Almora-TAkula-Bageshwar route. Breathtaking and intimate view of the Himalayas.
Katarmal :: 17km on the Almora-Ranikhet road. This is renowned for an 800-year-old Sun templle. A little beyond are the woods of Bikut.
Gannath :: Gannath is known for natural caves and ancient Shiva temples. This place is 47 kms from Almora. It is good place for nature lovers and ideal for spending your day with surpassing beauty. Every year on Kartik Purnima day a fair is organized here.
Almora Shopping :: Almora is famous for Rabbit wool cloths. A special breed of Rabbit, Angora produces wool which is very soft, fine and very warm. Warm clothes made from this wool is famous all over the world. In Almora one can get good bargains at comparatively low prices. Then there are decorative items, brass items and other kind of metal utensils which are quite popular among the visitors. One can purchase woollen garments at reasonable rates from the Garud woollens. This shop is part of the Kumaon Schedule Tribe Development Corporation at Shikhar Hotel compound. For Bronze and Brass wares & decorative items one can have a look in shops at Lal Bazaar and Chowk Bazaar.
Gannath is known for natural caves and ancient Shiva temples. This place is 47 kms from Almora. It is good place for nature lovers and ideal for spending your day with surpassing beauty. Every year on Kartik Purnima day a fair is organized here.
Almora Helpline
Banks Money Changers
State Bank of India.
Nainital Bank.
Punjab National Bank.
Bank of India.
Post & Telegraph Offices
Main Post & Telegraph Office, The Mall.
Post Offic at Lala Bazar and Almora Court.
Hospitals / Nursing Homes
Civil Hospital, Eye Hospital,
Almora Travel Information
How to Rech Almora
Air :: Nearest airport is Pantnagar, 127 kms.
Rail :: The nearest railhead is at Kathgodam, 90 kms.
Road :: Almora is well connected by road with all major centres of the state.
Some important cities distance from Almora
Nainital
65 kms.
Delhi
373 kms.
Kausani
52 kms.
Pithoragarh
116 kms.
FAIRS and FESTIVALS OF ALMORA
The fairs and festivals of Almora are not only an expression of the religious social and the cultural urges of the people but have also sustained the folk culture and have been central to the economic activities of the people. Also at remotely located places of hilly terrain, especially where communication is difficult and the land is cut up by mountain or water, the need is felt for periodical meetings at convenient centers, where exchange and sale of commodities may take place. A district like Almora holds many valleys which are absolutely dependent on such meetings for their supply of common necessaries, and consequently fairs or periodical markets are numerous. There are two kind of these. The weekly assemblages, corresponding to "market-day" in an English provincial town, are called "Penth". They are of an ordinary kind, and have no religious associations. The great annual fairs are known by the name of "Mela", and are always connected with religious ideas and customs. They very often center round some famous local shrine, which reaps an extensive harvest at the annual festival. Business, pleasure and religion are cheerfully combined in these junketing, which are doubtless the chief oases in the monotonous lives. Out of innumerous such fairs the following are of considerable importance :-
Nanda Devi Festival :: Nanda and Sunanda ( Photgraph : Anoop Shah)The best known fair of this region, held in the month of September at Almora town, is organized since the Chand kings ruled this place. It is believed that 'Nanda' used to be the family Goddess of Chanda dynasty. The word meaning of the word 'Nanda' is prosperity. The temple of 'Nanda' in Almora was built by Dyot Chanda in seventeenth century, the then ruler of this place. Presently this temple remains the core of the festival. The duration of the festival is five days and approximately twenty five thousand people tourist come to attend this festival.
Uttraini Festival Bageshwer :: One of the largest fair of Kumaun region, the Uttraini festival of Bageshwer, is organized in the month of January for a period of one week and is frequented by Almora traders, on barter or money lending intent, and by the Bhotiyas from the snows, as well as by a great multitude of people from the surrounding villages. The town of Bageshwer, 90 km from Almora town, is a junction of two rivers, namely Saryu and Gomti. At the junction of these rivers stands a large temple with it's conical tower. Here is the shrine of Bageswar or Vyagreswar, the, "Tiger Lord", an epithet of Lord Siva. This temple was erected by the Kumaun king, Laxmi Chand, about 1450 A.D., but there is an interesting Sanskrit inscription there of a far earlier date. The chief articles of merchandise are : ponies, goats, sheep, furs, yak tails, musk pods, borax, salt horns, books, shoes, fruit dried and fresh. The Bhotiyas bring down excellent ponies, which breed in a wild or semi-wild state over the Tibetan border.
Jageshwer Moonsoon Festival :: The festival of great religious and historical importance, Jageshwer Monsoon Festival is organized from 15 July to 15 August. The temple of Lord Jagnath , erected somewhere in 8th - 9th century is one among the twelve 'Jyotirlinga' of Lord Shiva in India. Having it's archeological importance the group of temples of Jageshwer consists of 125 small and big temples of ancient times. This festival is of great religious importance for Kumauni society. The daily inflow of the number of tourists in this month long festival remains one thousand approximately.
Dushara Festival Almora :: Dushera at Almora ( Photograph : Anoop Shah)The famous festival of Hindus, Dushara, in October, commemorates the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana, the monstrous ten-headed king of Lanka or Ceylon, as described in Ramayana, is celebrated in a very unique way in Almora town. Approximately five to six thousand tourists from the outskirts come to attend the festival in Almora town. Showing the symbolic victory of the truth the effigies of devils are prepared in a very artistic manner in almost all the 'Mohallas' (wards) of the town. Finally in a social gathering all these effigies are burnt. The festival is generally celebrated in the month of October.
Other Festivals :: In addition to these, various other local festivals are organized in this region, which are religiously or otherwise associated with the heritage, art and culture of this region. Out of these very famous are
Srikrishna Janmasthami Festival,Ranikhet,
Nanda Devi Festival of Nainital and Ranikhet,
Autumn Festival Nainital and Ranikhet,
Syaldey - Bikhauti Mela, Dwarahat,
Somnath Mela, Masi,
Mahashivratri Festivals of Binsar Mahadev, Sauni;Hedakhan, Chiliyanaula ; Bhikiyasain;
Punyagiri Navratri Maila,
Devidhura Raksha Bandhan Mela,
Doonagiri Mela,
Mustamanu Fair,
Kapileshwar Fair,
Krishnajanmashtami Fair of Kalapani Gunji
Kanardevi fair at Baram at Gori Valley
Honkara Devi Fair at Birthi
Dhanlekh Fair at Askot Laccher
Fair of Naini Patal
