North Indian City Guide - Uttarakhand - Almora
Almora is a small town of Uttarakhand known for its rich cultural heritage and legacy and serene surroundings. One of the oldest towns in the hills of Uttarakhand, there was a town here called Rajapur which dates back to the 16th century, well before the British developed most of the other hills stations in this part of the country.
Almora - City Guide
Located a bit more than 1600 metres above sea-level and surrounded by the foothills of Himalaya, Almora is not quite the high-altitude refuge from the summer heat that places like Manali are, but this means it has a slightly longer tail-off into winter, and is quicker to warm up in late February/early March. Views of the Himalaya above and pine forested slopes all around make it a most scenic spot.
Almora is quite a small town with plenty of its original charm still intact. Sunrise can be viewed from Bright End Corner, a reasonably descriptive name, which Zero Point gives a panoramic view of the Himalaya when skies are clear.
Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary is a place to explore the forest area and when the rhododendrons are in flower around April it is particularly pretty. There are leopards, langur monkeys and barking deer here, as well as a variety of birds.Within Binsar you’ll also find Kasar Devi Temple, which is reached via a somewhat adventurous walk along a steep-sided ridge. There is another temples here, Katarmal Sun Temple which is around 800 years old and closely resembles the Sun Temple at Konark in Odisha.
Almora as a hill station showcases its art and craft through the local markets like the 200 year old Lala Bazaar that is known for its ethnic jewelleries and clothes as well as the Karkhana Bazaar which has all sorts of antiques and crafts.
Climatic Condition
Summer temperature, late March to June, are between 20 and 34C, which from December to early February it can get to freezing point. The monsoon months (July/August, early September) are best avoided as rainfall and road closures can make for difficult travel. The best months are October and November with generally clear skies and temperatures between 14 and 24C.
Major Attractions
Zero Point, Bright End Point, Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kasar Devi Temple, Katarmal Sun Temple, Gobind Vallabh Pant Museum, Lala Bazaar.
Best Time to Visit
March to June / October and November.
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