Set in the background of snow-capped Himalayan ranges of Uttarakhand, the sprawling town of Almora is a beautiful hill station. With easy accessibility from Delhi and other major cities of North India, Almora is known for its rich cultural heritage, unique handicrafts, sumptuous cuisine and magnificent wildlife. This town has two major rivers- Koshi (Kaushaki) and Suyal (Salmali). Popular pilgrimage sites like Nanda Devi and Jageshwar attract thousands of devotees each year. Almora is also popular among backpackers as it has hostels and cafes in Kasar Devi, a village near Almora.
Many routes that go deeper into the Himalayas start from Almora, and there is also single day to weekend treks near the town. Almora is also popular for mountain biking, Since it is easy to reach Almora and it is at a relatively low altitude, one does not need too much training to bike here. Many shops and resorts rent bikes by the hour or by the day, and you can also enjoy cycling across the rugged mountain paths.
Zero Point
Located in the premises of the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, Zero Point is the highest point in the town of Binsar which, in itself, lies at an elevation of 2412 masl. The view of the skies from Zero Point is mesmerising. While it is rare that one location is equally beautiful during sunset and sunrise, this place is especially unique. One can see a 360-degree panoramic view of the Himalayas including peaks like the Kedarnath Peak, Shivling, and Nanda Devi from Zero Point.
To reach Zero Point, one has to walk inside the sanctuary for 1.5 kilometres. A guided trek up to Zero Point is the recommended way to explore the green beauty of the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary. It is also a great location for bird-watching.
Jageshwar
Jageshwar is believed to be the home of one among the twelve Jyothirlingas. Surabhi and Nandini rivers flow through this place that has 124 temples built in medieval architectural style, and heavily influenced by Buddhist style craftsmanship.
Mrityunjaya is the oldest temple and Dindeshwara the biggest. Jageshwar temple complex built between 8th and 18th centuries consists of 108 temples.
Kasar Devi
The amorous view of Himalayas, from Nanda Devi to 5 snow-capped peaks of Panchachuli, unwrap the famous town of Kasar Devi. The place is famous for its home temple, the Kasar Devi Temple. The nearby area is home to pine and deodar trees, offering a panoramic view of the Himalayas along with an eye-pleasing view of Hawabagh Valley. A single road runs up high with 200 houses on each side. The village derives its name from the namesake deity Kasar Devi, with the Kasar Devi Temple dating back to the 2nd century CE. In the 1890s, Swami Vivekananda visited the place and meditated here for days. This was the first time when people got to know more about Kasar Devi as a destination. It later became a powerhouse for the counter culture that erupted in the ’60s. The region around Kasar Devi has an enormous geomagnetic field as the region comes under the Van Allen belt. The causes behind the formation of this belt have been researched by NASA for quite some time now. Other famous locations which have been found to have similar levels of a magnetic field (Van Allen belt) are Machu Picchu in Peru and Stonehenge in England.
The Kasar Devi fair is a large fair organised every year on Kartik Poornima per the Hindu calendar. People often trek up to the temple from the town of Kalimath, through cosy little alleys carved in the hills. The place has limited yet good options for accommodation.
Chitai Temple
The Temple of Chitai, locally known as Golu Devata Chitai Temple, is located 9 km from Almora City on State Highway No. 37. This Temple is dedicated to Gollu or Goljyu Devta, an Avtar (incarnation) of Lord Shiva in the form of Gaur Bhairav, built during the Chand regime.
The temple is known as the abode of the God of Justice. There are various beliefs that cause people to come and pray here. You will love the soft tinkle of the many bells caressed by the winds, hung by devotees as an act of offerings, wishing or thanksgiving can be heard far and wide. Hence, the temple is also called the temple of a million bells.
Dunagiri
Nestled in the glorious Kumaoni Himalayas of Uttarakhand, Dunagiri is a small hill town away known for providing solitude to travellers. Situated 43 km from Ranikhet, it is a peaceful haven of beauty and spirituality. Blessed with natural beauty and a sense of divine detachment from the rest of the world, Dunagiri has become that alluring destination where one finds oneself.
The village town has been etched in Indian mythological history from time to time. It is said that many famous Rishimunis made this place their abode of attaining divine knowledge and distributing it to the world. Today, Dunagiri is emerging as a new place of recreation and rejuvenation for tourists who have missed out on this beauty till now. Source: Holidify
Almora: A cozy heritage town nestled in the Himalayas
