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Budget-Friendly Almora Tour Packages
Perched on a saddle shaped ridge, at an altitude of 1646 mtr above sea-level is the ancient town of Almora. The natural beauty of Almora is greatly enhanced by the surrounding hills, which are covered with dense forests of fragrant pine and other conifers, each crowned by a temple. It is different from other hill resorts in Uttarakhand, as it has not been deserted by its senior citizens who made some mark in life. It has retained the aura of being a hub of educational and cultural activities, and because it was patronised by the Chand rulers and Britishers alike. Nature has made Almora a trekkers’ town and from here one can venture forth on to exhilarating treks past soaring pines and glades of ferns, rhododendrons and wild flowers to the dramatic spectacle of snow and stark mountains.
In the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, the Chand dynasty ruled Kumaon from Champawat. As they annexed larger areas in the west, they found it difficult to administer their kingdom from Champawat and looked for a more central place. In 1560, Bhishma Chand selected the Khagmara Hills as his new Capital and gave it the name Almora, but before he could move there, he was slain.
Befittingly this town became the centre of Kumauni culture and great Indian traditions. The doyen of Indian philosophy Swami Vivekanand (1863 – 1902) visited Almora three times. First time in 1890 when he along with his companion Akhandanand came as seekers of knowledge and meditated at Kakri ghat under a peepul tree. It is here that he had a deep spiritual experience which he mentioned in his diary that macrocosm and microcosm are built on the same plan. In other words all that exists in the universe also exists in the body, and further that the whole universe exists in the atom. This was the beginning of his theory of Zero and birth of the cosmic system out of Zero. This became the theme of his lecture in Chicago that raised him to the status of international thinker on cosmic system and humanities.
Nanda Devi Temple
Nanda Devi is the presiding deity of whole of Uttarakhand. Like many other places, bang in the heart of old Lala Bazar is the Nanda Devi temple built around thousand years back by the Chand rulers.
Kasar Devi Temple
Temple On way towards Ranikhet at about 6km is the Kasar Devi temple at a height of 1740 mtr, where Swami Vivekanand is said to have come to meditate.
Patal Bhubaneshwar
A place of tourist interest near Chaukori is the famous cave temple of Patal Bhuwaneshwar, which is 34 kms away on the road to Gangolihat. At 12 kms is the little pretty township of Berinag and driving on for another 15 kms to a small place called “Guptari” the road to Gangolihat has to be abandoned and the 7 km long side road taken to Patal Bhubaneshwar.
Himalayas are full of natural wonders. One such wonder is the caves of Patal Bhuwaneshwar which from time immemorial have been considered the work of the divine creator. Inside the cave there are several figures representing the forms of gods and goddesses. The figures are worshipped as Shesh nag, Garur Raj Jatayu, Airawat Elephant, Shivling and many more.