Almora Attractions - Tourist Places To Visit In Almora

Nanda Devi Temple is a renowned religious site located in Almora. The temple holds a great religious importance and is regarded as one of the sacred sites of the Kumaoni region. The history of the temple can be traced back to more than 1000 years. This temple is devoted to the patron goddess of the Chand dynasty and it has been designed in the Kumaoni style of architecture. It has been constructed within the antechamber of a Shiva Temple. This shrine is adorned with a crown known as stone amalaka, surrounded by a wooden roof. The walls of the shrine are designed with attractive stone art. Every year in the month of September, a fair called the Nanda Devi Fair is organised here attracting a large number of tourists.

Kasar Devi Temple is a popular shrine located at a distance of 5 km from Almora. This temple was built during the 2nd century and according to locals, it was the house of a Dutch Monk from the year 1970 to early 1980s. 

The backdrop of the temple is adorned with the scenic Hawabagh Valley, as a result, this site also serves as a picnic spot. According to legends, Swami Vivekananda, the great Indian monk who founded the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission, once meditated in this place. 

Travellers can reach this temple on foot from the town of Kalimath. The place is well connected by buses and taxis from Almora.

Chitai Temple is a popular holy site located at a distance of 6 km from Almora. The temple, also known as the Chaiti Temple, is devoted to the legendary and mythological God of the Kumaon region known as Golu Devta, an incarnation of the Hindu Lord Shiva. 

It is believed that the temple was constructed in the 12th century by a general of the Chand Dynasty. The temple is located on a hilltop and is surrounded by dark forests of chir pines and mimosa clumps. 

Every year devotees in large numbers visit this temple to offer their prayers. Travellers can see court stamp papers on the walls of the shrine. These papers are the appeals from devotees who have not got justice in the court. Devotees whose wishes get fulfilled sacrifice goats in the temple. Travellers can take bus, taxi or carts to reach the temple from Almora.

Bright End Corner is a noted tourist spot located at a distance of 2 km from Almora. This site offers remarkable views of the sunrise and the sunset behind the snow-capped peaks. One can also enjoy the serene moonrise from this spot. The amazing sight of sunset, sunrise and moonrise is a once in a lifetime experience.

The place has been named after Lord Brighton and this famous tourist spot marks the beginning of the Mall Road in Almora. A renowned meditation centre known as Shri Ramakrishna Kutir Ashram is also located close to the place. Travellers interested in meditation can visit this centre from the months of April to June and September to November. The Vivekananda Library and the Vivekananda Memorial are worth visiting sites located nearby. According to records, Swami Vivekananda stopped here for sometime on his way to the mighty Himalayas.

Katarmal Sun Temple is one of the popular religious sites located 16 km from the town of Almora. It is the second most important temple dedicated to the Sun God in the country after the Konark Sun Temple in Orissa. 

The temple complex is 800 years old, and the main temple is surrounded by 45 smaller temples. Though this ancient shrine is in ruins today, it is regarded as a major tourist attraction of Almora. The shrine is devoted to the Hindu God Burhadita or Vraddhaditya, the old Sun God. 

Devotees can also see the idols of the Shiva-Parvati and Lakshmi-Narayana in the temple premises. The architectural style of the temple is unique, and its walls are adorned with intricately carved images. According to records, this temple was built in the 9th century by the Katyuri king, Katarmala. 

The shrine, perched at an elevation of 2116 m above sea level, is east-facing. It is built in such a way that the first ray of the sun falls on the Shiva Lingam enshrined in the temple. The walls of the temples are made of stones, and the pillars are adorned with beautiful carvings. 

The wooden doors add attraction to the beautiful architecture of the temple. The idol of the presiding deity was stolen during the 10th century, so the carved doors and the panels were brought to the National Museum located in Delhi.

The Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary is a major tourist site located at a distance of 30 km from the town of Almora. The sanctuary covers an area of 45.59 sq km and is perched at an elevation ranging from 900 to 2500 m above sea level. 

The place is a natural habitat of animals like Leopard, Nemorhaedus Goral, Chital,Musk Deer, Serow, Jungle Cat, Sus Scrofa, Black Bear, Pine Marten, Fox, Langur, Monkey, Porcupine, Flying Squirrel and Barking Deer. 

The sanctuary was declared as an Important Bird Area by the Bird Life International as it has more than 200 species of birds. Tits, Forktail, Nuthatches, Blackbirds, Parakeets, Laughing Thrush, Magpies and Kalij-Pheasant are some of the important birds that can be seen here. 

The indigenous flora found in this sanctuary include pines, oaks, rhododendrons, bryophytes, pteridophytes, hanging mosses, Kaphal, Pinus roxburghii, Engelhardtia spiicata, Macaranga pustulata, Quercus gloca, Quercus incana and Quercus leucotricophora. 

Binsar is a popular tourist hotspot located in the district of Almora. The name of this place is derived from the Hindu God Shiva, also known as Binsar Deo. This place was the summer capital of the Chand Kings. 

The place is situated at the backdrop of the mighty Himalayan Ranges and serves as a popular hill station of Almora. Binsar is nestled at an elevation of 2400 m above sea level on the Jhandi Dhar hills. This is the highest hill station located in the region of Kumaon. A temple devoted to the Hindu God Shiva is located nearby. Besides, this place offers a panoramic view of the mighty Himalayan peaks, namely Kedarnath, Shivling, Trishul and Nanda Devi.

Lal Bazaar is an important tourist spot located in Almora. Visitors can shop for a range of items from delicious sweets to beautiful brass and bronze souvenirs at reasonable prices. The rabbit wool clothes are the centre of attraction of this shopping area. These clothes are extremely soft and warm and are manufactured from a special breed of rabbits. Metal utensils and decorative items are also found in this famous market.

Gobind Ballabh Pant Public Museum, also known as the State Museum, is a popular tourist attraction located on the Mall Road in Almora. This museum exhibits a wide and rich collection of cultural, historical and archaeological items. 

It also offers the opportunity to see the precious articles belonging to the Katyuri Dynasty and the Chand Dynasty. Visitors can also see the ancient Aspen paintings and Kumaoni antiquities in this museum. Travellers can visit this museum between 10:30 am and 4:30 pm.

Deer Park is a major tourist attraction located in Narayan Tiwari Dewai (NTD) at a distance of 3 km from Almora. The place is surrounded by lush green pine trees and is a natural habitat of varied species of fauna. Travellers can see deer, leopard and the Himalayan black bear in this park. Evenings here are pleasant for leisure walking.

Simtola is a picturesque tourist spot located on the opposite side of the horseshoe ridge. This place is situated at a distance of around 3 km from Almora and is surrounded by lush green pine and fir trees. In earlier times, this place was a granite hill and a diamond mining centre. The place is popular as a scenic picnic spot and offers picturesque views of the mountains covered with pine and deodar trees.

Martola is a scenic picnic spot located at a distance of 10 km from Almora. This place is famous for its lush green forests and gardens. The beauty of this place has attracted many foreigners to build their homes here. The place can be reached on foot from a point known as Panuwanaula.

Trekking is a popular activity amongst the tourists visiting Almora. This place offers alluring views of the 5 km long Almora mountain range to trekkers. One of the famous treks here is the interesting yet easy trek from Almora to Jageshwar. On this route, trekkers can see lush green fields and beautiful Kumaoni villages. Rhododendron trees, deodar trees, the Jageshwar Temple complex and Vridh Jageshwar are the main attractions on this trek. Religious souls can use this route to reach the Kasar Devi Temple. The best time for trekking is from the month of October to March.

The Pindari trek is another popular route for adventure lovers. This route passes through lush green pine forests and valleys. The Pindari Glacier located amid the Nanda Devi Mountain and Nanda Kot also offer a memorable experience to trekkers.

Mountain biking, though quite a new concept, is one of the most popular adventurous activities here amongst tourists. There are various easy biking trails and facilities located on the Almora hills. Interested visitors can hire bicycles and other required items on rent. There are many tour operators offering biking tours in Almora and the neighbouring regions.