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Excursions of Almora :
Nearby places of
tourist interest where an excursion can be made
within a day are Bright End Corner's unforgettable
sunset, Chitai temple with it's unique collection of
brass bells of all sizes, gifted to the temple by
devotees since centuries, Kasar Devi which houses
many Europeans who fell in love with the place so
much that they settle down, Nanda Devi Temple the
cultural and religious center of Almora for now
hundreds of years and Lala Bazaar a unique market of
more than two hundred years with paved streets of
stone.
Bright End
Corner: Almora is 2 kms away from here. A
highlight of this point is the sunset and the
sunrise seen through the Himalayan peaks. A circuit
house close by allows tourists to spend some time in
this peaceful surrounding. Close by is the
Vivekanand Library which has many books on
literature. A little away is the Vivekanand Memorial
where Swami Vivekanand had stopped for a while on
his journey to the Himalayas.
Martola:
This picnic spot amidst gardens is 10 kms away from
Almora. Most of the people who live here are
foreigners. Buses and taxis come up to a point
called Panuwanaula and from there onwards one has to
walk.
Kalimutt :
4.5 kms from Almora, this picnic spot gives a
lovely view of the Himalayan Peaks.
Deer Park: 3
kms from Almora this park is in NTD (Narayan Tiwari
Dewai).
State Museum :
This museum is near the bus stand . It is closed on
Mondays and other Government Holidays. It is open
from 10:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.
Simtola: 3
kms from Almora Simtola is a picnic spot from where
one can view the beautiful mountains covered with
pine and deodar trees.
Chitai Temple:
This is a very busy area. This temple is dedicated
to Lord Golu. The people of Kumaon worship him. Once
a wish is fulfilled people hang little bells in this
temple. Therefore there are thousands of little
bells hanging there. The view of the Himalayas is
extremely beautiful from here. This temple is 8 kms
away by walk through a beautiful pine forest, but
one can go by cart too.
Katarmal:
This 800-year old Sun Temple is the second in
importance after the Sun Temple of Konark in Orissa.
Seven kms away from Almora this historical important
temple is an example of intricate sculpturing. This
temple is in need of restoration now.
Binsar: 30
kms from Almora Binsar has a temple of Shiva who is
also called Bineswar. 2412 mts above sea level this
temple was constructed by King Kalyan of the Chand
Dynasty. Visiting this temple gives one peace of
mind.
Jageshwar :
34 kms away from Almora this temple of Shiva is
situated amidst a dense Deodar forest and has a lot
of mythological importance. Here there are about 164
temples of this kind.
Nanda Devi
Temple: This 1000-year old temple is one of the
main attraction of Almora. Its walls have carvings
on them. Every year a festival is held here in which
youth from various mountainous areas come here to
participate in this dance festival.
Gannath: 47
kms from Almora this is an ancient Shiva temple
with natural caves. 2116 mts above sea level this
place is a favourite with nature lovers.
Kasar Devi :
Near Kalimutt is the temple of Kasar Devi. This
ancient temple was built on a mountain peak in the
second century. The distance between Kalimatt and
Kasar Devi is less than 1 km and can be easily
covered by foot. The surrounding area has become the
home of many foreigners. The main town is 6 km away.
Around Almora
Almora, is surrounded by many sightseeing places.
Binsar hill, locally known as Jhandi Dhar, rises to a
height of 2,412 meters and offers a panoramic view of
Almora town, Binsar, is an hour' s motor drive from
Almora, the Kumaon hills and the Greater Himalayas.
The region around in alpine flora, ferns, hanging moss
and innumerable species of wild flowers. The brow is
reached by an unpaved ridge lined by prosperous
private estate. A walk through the woods comprising
mostly oak and rhododendron forest, leads to a vantage
point at the summit, which offers an uncluttered view
of the Himalayan ranges and the surrounding valley.
Hindi poet Ajneya treated it as a famous summer spot.
How to reach Almora
By Road : Almora is well connected with
all-important cities of India by road.
By Air : The nearest airport is a Pant Nagar
(Nainital). During the summer regular flights are
operational.
By Rail : The nearest railway station near
Almora is Kathgodam.
Distance from
Almora : Lucknow (466), Dehradun (412), Nainital
(71), Delhi (382),
Bareilly (205), Kathgodam (90), Pithoragarh (122),
Haridwar (357), Haldwani (96).
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