Things to Do in Almora

The Chitai Temple is one of the major landmarks of Almora. The presiding deity here is Lord Shiva, who often reffered to as Golu Devta. This hilltop temple is visited by hundreds of devotees throughout the year with their offerings.

The temple was constructed in the 12th century by a general from the Chand dynasty. The temple became famous over the centuries as it helped people with food and shelter without turning them away.

The temple is also known for its unique collection of brass bells which have been gifted over the years by the devotees who would offer it as thanksgiving for prayers answered. The temple walls are covered with court stamp papers by devotees who did not receive justice in courts. Earlier, animal sacrifice was the norm but the practice has slowly come to a stop.

The Kasar Devi temple is located around 5 kms away from the city of Almora. It is visited by devotees all round the year. It’s not only the worshp that come here though;the place is a famous picnic spotwith some stunning views of the Hawabagh Valley.

The temple was built in the 2nd century, and legend has it that it served as the abode of a Dutch monk from 1970 to the early 1980. That wasn’t the first of the foreigners. This is practically an international celebrity checkpoint!Celebrities like Bob Dylan, George Harrison of ‘The Beatles’ and writer D H Lawrence also visited the temple for meditation.

It is also believed that Swami Vivekanada meditated here at one point in time and made mention of the temple in the diaries that he maintained so meticulously.

The temple also hosts the popular Kasar Devi Fair on Kartik Poornima during November to December. 

Crank’s Ridge - A place popularly known as Crank’s Ridge is located close to the temple was a favoured destination during the Hippie Movement of the 1960s and 1970s. In fact, it still continues to be a popular destination among both International and local trekkers and tourists.

Bright End Corner, is located 2 km away from Almora and serves as a vantage point that offer stunning views of the sunrise and sunset with the snow clad peaks serving as the perfect background. It marks the start of the Mall Road in Almora.

A centre for meditation can also be found at Bright End Corner which is popularly known as Shri Ramakrishna Kutir Ashram. Hundreds of tourists travel from across the world to visit this place seeking divine intervention. The feeling of peace and calm that you experience there is quite special.

The Vivekananda Library can also be found near the sunset point and is a repository of some rare books on literature. A Vivekananda Memorial has also been constructed in memory of Swami Vivekananda, who rested at the spot during his journey to the Himalayas. Travellers can rest at a circuit house on the way back.

The Govind Ballabh Pant Museum is one of the popular tourist destinations in Almore city. It was built in dedication to Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant’s contribution as a freedom fighter as well as for his developmental efforts towards Uttarakhand. The museum is known for possessing a varied and good collection of ancient antiques which date back to the Katyuri and Chand dynasties that ruled Uttarakhand for years.

The museum also houses a good collection of an ancient form of Kumauni paintings which are called Aspen in the museum. These paintings are a reliable and good source of information for research on Uttarakhand’s culture and history.

The Katara Sun Temple is located around 2116 meters above sea level and is the second-most important sun temple, with the Konark Temple in Odisha ranking first.

The temple was built in the 9th century by Katarmalla, a Katyuri dynasty king. It is a fine example of intricate structuring with the first rays of the sun falling straight on the temple. The main deity of the temple is Vraddhaditya (the old Sun God). The main temple is surrounded by close to 45 smaller shrines.

The temple is a major attraction and is visited by hundreds of devotees throughout the year.

Binsar is located proximate to Almora and is a beautiful, scenic place which provides a stunning view of the Himalaya mountain range. It also served as the summer capital of the Chand kings.

An adrenaline-inducing trekking expedition to Zero Point is well worth the expended energy as it offers a panoramic view from a tower of a distance of around 25 km. It is the best spot to view a sunset or sunrise. The nearby jungle is also a great place to go adventure hopping for its varied flora and fauna.

Dwarahat is a beautiful hill station situated in the heart of the Kumaon Mountains of Almora, Uttarakhand. It is popularly known as the ‘village of temples’.

It was the erstwhile centre of power of the Kayuri and Chand dynasties. There are a number of temple complexes located in the area, all of which were built from the 10th-12th Century AD. Most of the temples have been constructed in the pyramidal cone form – made from stone and held together by iron chains. These temples are being preserved and maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.

The village also offers spectacular views of the picturesque landscape that surrounds the area, thereby making it a preferred tourist destination.

The Kumaon Regimental Centre Museum and Memorial was constructed in Ranikhet in 1974 and stands as a symbol of bravery of the Indian Army. The museum was added to the memorial in 1978 to preserve and exhibit the legacy and customs of the Kumaon Region. The Kumaon regiment is well known for their bravery and selfless acts of valor during battles, and this memorial stands as a testament to that fact.

The museum also showcases valuable treasures like Rani Jhasi's silver sceptre, a number of Chinese rifles that date back to the 1962 war, a World War II Japanese wireless field telephone as well as some important documents pertaining to the Kargil War.

It also displays memorabilia from past regiments, traditional costumes worn by men in the regiment, armour worn by the soldiers in past battles as well as medals won, among other items of historical significance.

Sadar Bazar is a popular shopping destination in Ranikhet, around 53 kms from the main city of Almora. This bustling market area deals in a variety of goods including handicrafts, readymade garments and other provisions. However, the main attraction would have to be the embroidered garments such as blankets and carpets, among others. Women can splurge on wooden bangles, traditional jewellery, as well as the famous Garwahli shawls – in short, it is a shopper’s paradise.

With a number of hotels in the area, Sadar Bazar is one of the noisiest and busiest pockets in the city. The market comes alive during the festival of Diwali where a variety of sweets and crackers are available for purchase. There are a number of temples also located in the vicinity, popular among them being the Haidakhan Temple, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Jhula Devi Temple, dedicated toGoddess Durga.

The Dunagiri ancient temple is a few kilometers away from Dwarghat and is more than 2500 meters above the sea level. This place offers the widest paroramic view of the Himalaya and its snow covered peaks.

The temple derives its name from the combination of two places rather two peaks of the higher Rangesand. This temple is covered with rich history and regional stories. According to the legendary tales, Lord Hanumana found the medicinal herb plant on this Dunagiri peak that saved Lakshmana’s life. Again, on the other hand according to the Mahabharata, Dunagiri was the abode of the Pandavas. Later the temple was constructed in this very place.

All in all, this place is beautiful especially for its cool and calm surroundings that have proved to be a tourist hotspot and a place for meditation for many saints who look for solitude.

The hill station Sitalakhet is not popular, but it is small and beautiful. It is only well known by the locals for its beautiful fruit orchards and lush green forests. The incredible surroundings of the place with the majestic snow capped peaks are just mind blowing. It is the home of the village of Khoont where the great freedom fighter Govind Vallabh Pant was born.

The most important attraction of Sitalakhet is the Syahi Devi Temple. It is on a small hill in Almora. It is said to be a very holy temple and the deity there, Syahi devi is said to be the savior of Almora. Colourful fairs are held here especially during the Navaratri Festival.

Sitalakhet is a part of the Kumaon Tourism. The main languages spoken here are Kumaoni, Gadhwali, Hindi and English. Thus, this place is a must visit at least once.

This hotel comes highly recommended by most travelers. The rooms are spacious and there is a big open area. One is treated to an amazing view of the Himalayas. the service and the hospitality offered to guests is of the highest quality and the food is also excellent.

Almora is a quite town and with not much night life taking place. However, most tourists take off in evenings to take in a panoramic view of the Himalayas, from nearby hotels, motels or lodges. Night walks are quite common in Almora.

If you are on a budget, Hotel Bhagwati Palace is good for value for money accommodation.

For those who want to splurge, Khali Estate will do the trick.