Almora - अल्मोड़ा

Almora is spread across a 5 km ridge atop Kashaya Hill, 5,400 ft above sea level and 49 km from Ranikhet.

Situated at an elevation of 5400 ft, in the Kumaon Hills, Almora is well known for its healthy climate. Balo Kalyan Chand, the Raja of Champawat, founded the town of Almora about 1560 AD. Almora is cultural centre of Kumaon and a picturesque mountain resort. Sunrise offers a particularly beautiful view of the greater Himalayas. Almora is also called a town of temples. Situated in the center of the town is the temple of Goddess Nanda Devi. Unlike Shimla, Ranikhet and Nainital that were developed by the English, Almora is a hill station totally developed by the Indians. Almora is a town in the shape of a horseshoe. It is on a 5 km long mountain range. It has its own historical, cultural and political importance. Once upon a time, it was the capital of Kumaon.

The descendents from the Katyur dynasty and the Chand dynasty ruled here in the old times. The forts, other historical monuments, courts and governmental offices are still present today. The two rivers, Kaushik (Koshi) and Shalmali (Suyal) flow near the town. The snow capped peaks of the Himalayas look like a long train of ice and snow from here.