Best places to visit in Almora

Kasar Devi Temple is an ancient 2nd-century hilltop shrine near Almora — a powerfully energetic spiritual site in the Kumaon Himalayas that attracted luminaries including Swami Vivekananda, Timothy Leary, Bob Dylan, Cat Stevens, and Steve Jobs. Scientists have identified a rare Van Allen Belt energy zone here. The hilltop offers spectacular Himalayan sunrise views and is the centre of Almora's famous hippie trail and yoga-meditation community. A top offbeat Uttarakhand spiritual destination.

Bright End Corner is Almora's most beautiful sunset viewpoint — a hilltop at the western end of the Almora ridge offering panoramic 180-degree views of the Kumaon Himalayan range including Nanda Devi, Trishul, and Panchachuli peaks. The name derives from the last point on the ridge where the sun's rays fall at dusk. A top Almora photography destination, especially spectacular in winter when the snow peaks glow pink and gold at sunset. Short pleasant walk from Almora bazaar.

Nanda Devi Temple in Almora is the most important temple in Kumaon — a 15th-century shrine dedicated to Nanda Devi, the presiding goddess of the Kumaon and Garhwal Himalayas and the divine consort of Lord Shiva. The spectacular Nanda Devi Mahotsava (held every 12 years, last in 2023) is one of Uttarakhand's grandest religious festivals. The temple's stone carvings and annual fairs are richly cultural. A top Almora pilgrimage and heritage sightseeing destination.

Katarmal Sun Temple, 12 km from Almora, is India's second most important sun temple after Konark — a magnificent 9th-century Katauri dynasty temple dedicated to Vriddhaditya (the Ancient Sun God). Its 45 subsidiary shrines, intricate stone carvings of Shiva, Vishnu, and Lakshmi, and remarkable woodwork panels (now in Delhi's National Museum) make it a top Kumaon heritage attraction. An ASI-protected monument surrounded by dense oak forest with stunning Himalayan valley views.

Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, 33 km from Almora at 2,420 m, is Kumaon's finest forest reserve and Uttarakhand's top birdwatching destination — home to leopards, goral, yellow-throated martens, and over 200 Himalayan bird species including khalij pheasant, koklass, and cheer pheasant. The Zero Point viewpoint within the sanctuary offers the most expansive panorama of over 300 km of Himalayan peaks. One of Uttarakhand's most beautiful and least-crowded eco-tourism destinations.

Jageshwar Dham, 34 km from Almora, is a sacred complex of 124 ancient Hindu temples nestled in a dense deodar forest along the Jataganga stream — one of the most atmospheric and archaeologically significant temple complexes in Uttarakhand. Dating from the 7th to 12th centuries, the temples are built in Nagara and Maru-Gurjara styles. A significant Jyotirlinga site (Nagesh Jyotirlinga) and an ASI-protected heritage monument. One of Kumaon's most beautiful and sacred pilgrimages.

Almora Deer Park (Himalayan Zoological Park) in the forested hills above Almora houses Himalayan spotted deer, barking deer, and various high-altitude bird species in a naturalistic forested setting. A pleasant family attraction offering pleasant forest walks and wildlife viewing. Set adjacent to the Shyahi Devi Temple, it combines a nature walk with a hilltop temple visit and views of the Almora ridge. A top Almora family-friendly sightseeing destination in the Kumaon hills.

Lala Bazaar is Almora's most vibrant and historically significant marketplace — a horseshoe-shaped bazaar of 400-year-old copper-fronted shops famous for Almora's most iconic products: bal mithai (chocolate-fudge sweet), singori (leaf-wrapped milk candy), handcrafted copper utensils, and Kumaoni woollen shawls. One of Uttarakhand's most photogenic and authentically traditional hill town bazaars. A top Almora shopping and food experience showcasing the finest Kumaoni handicraft and culinary traditions.