Resplendent in natural beauty and steeped in colonial charm, the horse-shoe shaped quaint hill station of Almora is perched on a steep ridge, deep inside the state of Uttarakhand. Nestled within the snow-capped Kumaon Himalayas and encircled by the Kaushiki (Koshi) and Shalmali (Suyal) rivers, Almora was the summer capital of the Chand rajas, the royals of the Kumaon region, in 1560.

With a mixture of colonial-era buildings and traditionally painted wooden shops, Almora may be a charming getaway that holds its heritage on the brink of its heart. this is often reflected within the forts, royal courts and historical monuments which will be seen here. Kumaon was home to many forts built by dynasties like Chands and Katyuris. Among these, the Malla Mahal, at Almora, stands offering a bird’s eye view of the Almora Bazaar.
The site of the 6th century Ram Shila Temple, which has exquisite sculptures, the fort was built by King Rudra Chand within the 16th century. The stone fortress was subsequently the seat of power of the Gurkhas and therefore the British.
Surrounded by dense forests and mountains, Almora has several interesting spots nearby, including the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, famous for sightings of leopard, musk deer, Himalayan goral, Felis chaus , and chital. Another unique stopover is Lakhudiyar, which has prehistoric rock paintings that highlight Almora’s ancient roots. it’s said Almora flourished and have become an influence centre during the reign of mighty Katuris (800AD-100AD) and later under the Chand dynasty (700 AD -1790 AD).

Almora is usually mentioned because the cultural capital of Kumaon. Kumaoni people are very pleased with their traditional ethnic music , and therefore the town is home to the favored Uday Shankar Academy of Music and Dance. Tourists also can sample the delectable bal mithai and singauri that are culinary favourites here.