Almora - Uttarakhand

  

            Cradled in the landscape of Himalayan mountains, the vast town of Almora shaped like a horse-shoe is a hill town that boasts of a pre-British past and an idyllic vibe. Almora is situated in Uttarakhand, 364 km north-east of New Delhi and 420 km south-east of Dehradun Capital City. It is placed in the Kumaon division of revenue, 65 km north of Nainital. It has an average altitude of 1,610 m (5,263 ft) above sea - level.

            Popular for its rich cultural heritage, unique handicrafts, sumptuous cuisine and beautiful wildlife, combined with simple accessibility, Almora offers its visitors a visit full of pleasant and memorable moments. This agrarian town has two main rivers, Koshi (Kaushaki) and Suyal (Salmali), which pass through it. "The enchanting hotties of the Himalayas, their bracing atmosphere and the calming green that surrounds you leave nothing else to be desired. I wonder if the landscape of these hills and the climate are to be exceeded, if any, by any of the glorious destinations of the world. Having spent almost three weeks in Almora Hills & astonished at why our people need to go to Europe in search of the scenic spots of the world.

                The Almora area is immensely rich with 4000 species of plants, with an extraordinary diversity of natural vegetation owing to its high altitude. In addition to the climate variability, in particular, the temperature and precipitation associated with the orientation and altitudes of the ranges and the condition of the valleys, the altitudinal development and diversity of vegetation shall be determined.

Binsar Zero Point

                Positioned in the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, Zero Point is the tallest peak in the town of Binsar, at an altitude of 2412 m. The view from Zero Point to the skies is dazzling. While it is rare that one location is extremely wonderful at sunset and sunrise, this place is distinctive. Visitors can see a 360-degree breathtaking view of the Himalayas, including peaks like Kedarnath Peak, Shivling, and Nanda Devi from Zero Point.

                Visitors have to walk inside the sanctuary for 1.5 km to reach Zero Point. A guided trek to Zero Point is a suggested way to explore the green magnificence of the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary. It's also a wonderful bird-watching destination.

Jageswar and Jalna

                Jageshwar is claimed to be the residence of one of the twelve Jyothirlingas. The rivers Surabhi and Nandini flow through this location, with 124 temples constructed in mediaeval architectural style and heavily inspired by the Buddhist style of craftsmanship. Mrityunjaya is the oldest temple, and Dindeshwara is the largest temple. The temple complex of Jageshwar, founded between the 8th and 18th centuries, consists of 108 temples.

                     A tiny and sleepy village away from the chaotic tourist centres, Jalna is a spot for hiking and exploring the wilderness. It is a scenic village, a few kilometres from Almora, with a lovely atmosphere of leisure, located at an altitude of 1,700 metres in the wild of the Himalayas. The sleepy hamlet is a great location for hiking and enjoying the surrounding natural forest.

Jalna, Almora

                It's just a stone's throw away from Almora and it's a perfect place to chill, away from the hectic city life. Jalna has a very charming atmosphere that draws travellers seeking suspense, harmony and nature.

Best Time to Visit

                Almora is best enjoyed during the spring-summer period, i.e. between Mar and May. During this time, the weather is such that it provides a pleasant respite from the scorching heat experienced by other countries of the country. It's also a great time for outdoor and adventure activities such as trekking and hiking. Almora sees a large number of trekkers attending adventure clubs and embarking on an exciting excursion through the scenic atmosphere. On the other hand, the winter season (Nov to Feb) is freezing and off-beat travellers can make the most of the season.

How to Reach

            Almora is a hill town, so there is no railway or airport. But It is well linked by road to other nearby hill stations such as Nainital, Haridwar & Mussoorie. Kathgodam is the closest railway station, 80 km far. The airport of Pantnagar has located 120 km from Almora. Then one can take prepaid taxis or rent a car. Almora to Pithoragarh about 110 Km.