Almora is Uttarakhand’s cultural capital – a 1,650 m horseshoe bazaar town that the Chand dynasty made their seat in the 1560s, with centuries-old temples, cobbled lanes, the state’s best food traditions and not a single mall road. It is the Kumaon trip for people who care about craft, cuisine and heritage more than viewpoints.
Quick facts
| Altitude | ~1,650 m |
| From Delhi | ~365 km (9–10 hrs) |
| Best months | March–June, September–November |
| Ideal stay | 2–3 days |
| Known for | Chand-era bazaar, Nanda Devi temple, Bal Mithai, crafts |
What to do
- Walk the old bazaar – Lala Bazaar’s stone-paved lane has traded since Chand times; tamta (copper) craftsmen still work here.
- Nanda Devi temple – the town’s spiritual centre, with the annual Nanda Devi mela.
- Chitai Golu Devta temple (9 km) – thousands of letters and bells tied to the walls, petitioning the god of justice.
- Kasar Devi (8 km) – the ridge café hamlet famous since the 1960s counterculture days.
- Katarmal Sun Temple (17 km) – the Katyuri-era sun temple, second only to Konark in importance (Katyuri history).
- Eat Kumaon – Bal Mithai, Singori, Aloo ke Gutke, Bhatt ki Churkani (food guide).
How to reach
Kathgodam railhead (~90 km); Pantnagar airport; drive from Delhi in 9–10 hours. It is the junction for Binsar, Kausani and Mukteshwar.
Best time and practicalities
March–June and September–November; the town never gets tourist-heavy. The Chand dynasty story makes it the state’s heritage anchor.
