About Almora District
Almora at 1,638m is the most important cultural and historical centre of Kumaon. Founded in 1568 as the capital of the Chand dynasty, it has been the cradle of Kumaoni culture, art, music and literature for over 450 years. The famous Kumaoni folk artist Girish Tiwari "Girda" and physicist Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna were from Almora.
Almora Town
The town of Almora is built along a ridge — the famous Mall Road is lined with old bazaars selling Bal Mithai, Singori, copper craft and woollen goods. The town has an old-world colonial charm with traditional Kumaoni stone-and-wood architecture. The Lala Bazaar and Tamta Mohalla are traditional craft areas.
Kasar Devi – The Spiritual Vortex
Kasar Devi, a small village 8 km from Almora, is one of the most spiritually charged places in the world. The Crank's Ridge here is one of three spots in the world (along with Machu Picchu and Stonehenge) lying on the Van Allen radiation belt — creating unique electromagnetic energy. Swami Vivekananda, Swami Ram Dass (Be Here Now author), Timothy Leary and Bob Dylan all visited. The area has attracted spiritual seekers since the 1960s.
Jageshwar
A group of 124 ancient stone temples dedicated to Lord Shiva in a dense cedar (deodar) forest, 36 km from Almora. The temples date from the 7th–12th century CE and represent one of the finest examples of Nagara temple architecture in the Himalayas. The main Jageshwar Jyotirlinga is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. A Shravani Mela fair is held here in August attracting thousands of devotees.
Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary
A 47 sq km sanctuary at 2,420m — dense oak-rhododendron forests sheltering leopards, barking deer, musk deer, and over 200 bird species. The Zero Point viewpoint provides a 300 km panorama of the Himalayas including Kedarnath, Chaukhamba, Trishul, Nanda Devi and Panchachuli peaks. See our wildlife guide.
Ranikhet
One of India's most pleasant hill stations at 1,829m, 50 km from Almora — known for its unspoilt natural beauty, apple orchards, the Upat golf course (one of India's highest), and the Kumaon Regiment regimental museum. Very little commercial tourism — a genuine Himalayan retreat.
Chitai Golu Devata Temple
One of the most unique temples of Uttarakhand — the temple of Golu Devata (the justice-giving deity of Kumaon) is covered in thousands of letters and petition papers tied by devotees seeking justice. Located 9 km from Almora.
Bal Mithai – Almora's Famous Sweet
No visit to Almora is complete without tasting Bal Mithai — dark-brown roasted khoya fudge covered in white sugar balls. The famous Champa Mithai shop and Joshi Mithai shop on Mall Road have been making Bal Mithai for generations. Also try Singori (leaf-wrapped khoya cone).
History of Almora District
Almora's recorded history begins with the Katyuri dynasty (7th–11th century CE), who ruled much of Kumaon from their capital at Kartikeyapura (modern Baijnath). The Katyuris were prolific temple builders — the 12th-century Baijnath temple complex in nearby Bageshwar district and the Jageshwar temples just outside Almora are their enduring legacy. As the Katyuri empire fragmented, Almora came under the influence of various successor states before the rise of the Chand kings.
The Chand dynasty is the defining force in Almora's history. Baldev Chand established Almora town in 1568, moving the Kumaon capital here from Champawat to better control the expanding kingdom. The Chands ruled Kumaon for over two centuries, reaching their greatest extent under Raja Baz Bahadur Chand (1638–1678), who repelled Mughal incursions and consolidated Kumaoni independence. They were great patrons of the arts — the distinctive Kumaoni miniature painting tradition, Aipan folk art, and the classical Chholia sword dance all flourished under Chand patronage. The Lal Mandi palace in Almora town and several fortified hilltop temples are physical remnants of this era.
In 1790, the Gurkha army of Nepal invaded Kumaon and captured Almora after a period of internal conflict among the Chand successors. The Gurkha occupation (1790–1815) was a period of harsh administration — heavy taxation and forced labour (begar) drove many Kumaoni families into poverty. However, the Gurkhas also left architectural marks on Almora: the distinctive stone paving of the town's bazaar lanes and certain fortification works date to this period.
The Anglo-Gurkha War of 1814–16 ended Gurkha rule. Under the Treaty of Sugauli (1816), Kumaon was ceded to the British East India Company. Almora became the administrative and cultural capital of the Kumaon Division under the British. The British found Almora's climate and setting ideal for administration — several colonial-era buildings, a civil station and a cantonment were established. Almora became home to the Kumaon Rifles regimental centre and attracted European missionaries, explorers and scholars.
The British period was transformative for Almora's intellectual life. The town became a remarkable crossroads of traditional Kumaoni scholarship and modern nationalist thought. Swami Vivekananda visited in 1890 and meditated at Kasar Devi, describing his experiences as profoundly spiritual. The nationalist movement found strong expression here — Badridutt Pandey (Kumaon Kesari), a major leader of the independence struggle, was from Almora. The town produced exceptional cultural figures including Mahadevi Varma (Hindi poet and novelist, Sahitya Akademi award winner) and singer Mohan Upreti.
After Independence, Almora became part of Uttar Pradesh until the creation of Uttarakhand state in November 2000. Today, as the district headquarters of one of Uttarakhand's most historically rich areas, Almora balances its role as a living museum of Kumaoni culture with its growing function as a tourism and education hub. The ancient Nanda Devi Mela — held every year in September — has been celebrated continuously for over 400 years and remains the district's greatest living cultural tradition.
How to Reach Almora
- By Road from Delhi: 380 km via Moradabad–Haldwani–Kathgodam (7–8 hours)
- By Train to Kathgodam: 90 km from Almora — then bus or taxi
- By Road from Nainital: 67 km (1.5 hours)
- By Air: Pantnagar Airport (125 km)