Almora is a municipal board, a cantonment town in the Almora district
in the state of Uttarakhand, India. Almora was founded in 1568. It is also
the district headquarters of Almora district.
It is considered the cultural heart of the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand.
Nearest Railway Station - Kathgodam 82 km(via Bhimtal) , 86 km(via NH 87 ).
Nearest Airport - Pantnagar Airport 113 km
Administration Municipal board Almora established in
1864 Cantonment Board Almora established in
1815 Census Town Khatyari, Almora
Geography Almora is located at 29.62°N 79.67°E﻿ /
29.62; 79.67. It has an average elevation of 1,861 metres. It is located
on a ridge at the southern edge of the Kumaon Hills of the Himalaya range. In
the shape of a horse saddle shaped hillock, it is surrounded by thick
forests of pine and fir trees. Flowing alongside the city are rivers of Koshi,,
and Suyal. The snow-capped Himalayas can be seen in the background. Almora got
its name from "Kilmora" a short plant found nearby region., which was used for
washing the utensils of Katarmal Temple. The people bringing Kilmora were called
Kilmori and later "Almori"and the place came to be known as "Almora".
Destinations New Delhi - 365 km
Indira Gandhi International Airport Delhi - 379 km
Bareilly - 185 km Lukhnow - 446 km
Chandigarh - 565 km Dehradun -415 km
Kathgodam Railway station - 81 km Moradabad - 212 km
corbett national park - 120 km Kausani - 50 km
Ranikhet - 44 Km Bageshwar - 72 km
Nainital - 63 km Haldwani - 87 km
Pithoragarh - 119 km Mussourie - 445 km
Noida - 340 km Rudrapur - 120 km
Haridwar - 365 km Demography
As of 2001 India census, Almora had a population of 30,613. Males number
16,443 and constitute roughly 53.7% of the population and females number 14,170
or roughly 46.3%. Almora has an average literacy rate of 84.09%, higher than the
national average of 59.5%; with 86.39% of the males and 81.43% of females
literate. Nearly 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Quotes These mountains are associated with the
best memories of our race: Here, therefore, must be one of centres, not
merely of activity, but more of calmness of meditation, and of peace and I hope
some one to realize it. Temples
Almora has many noted temples, including Kasar Devi, Nanda Devi, Doli Daana,
Shyayi Devi, Khakmara, Asht Bhairav, Jakhandevi, Katarmal, Pataal Devi,
Raghunath Mandir, Badreshwar, Banari Devi, Chitai, Jageshwar, Binsar Mahadev,
Garhnath and Baijnath. Kasar Devi temple was visited by Swami Vivekananda and
this area also has a Chabad House. Rudreshwar Mahadev Temple, near Sanara
Ganiya, is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is situated beside the river Ram Ganga.
A sun temple is located at Katarmal within a short distance from the town.
The famous temple of Manila Devi, Devi Maa, the family goddess of the Katyuri
clan, lies around 85 km from Ranikhet. Udaipur a famous temple of Golu devta is
situated 5 km. from Binta near Dwarahat. Dunagiri has the highly revered temple
of Shakti or Mother Goddess. Dunagiri is also known as the birthplace of modern
day Kriya Yoga.There is also a very famous and notable temple in Almora
district which is situated in the village of Chaura near Bhaisor Gaun,
Someshwar. This temple is dedicated to lord Golu who is considered as a lord of
justice in Uttarakhand. This temple is about 40 km from Almora town. Another
very famous temple of Almora district is Airdau which is located in Someshwar.
Someshwar is a small town of Almora which is very rich in agricultural way.
Pandu Kholi is another famous and ancient temple in Almora district.
According to Hindu mythology Pandvas spent some time here to escape from
Dhuryodhana. The distance of this temple from Almora is about 80 km. Another very
ancient and holy Shiva temple, also situated in Someshwar town, is known as
Khakeshwar Mahadev temple. This temple is situated in the area of village
Bhaisor Gaun on the bank of a river. District administration
Presently, district administration is headed by the District Magistrate, who
is also the head of the Civil Service in the entire district. The District
Magistrate is empowered to decide on issues relating to public law and order
and general administration. Under the District Magistrate are Additional
District Magistrate and Sub-divisional Magistrates. The number of
sub-divisional magistrates varies from district to district. Presently, there
are nine sub-divisions in Almora district. In Someshwar, Ranikhet and
many other small areas exists tehsil as well.
= List of District Magistrates= Shri Chanar Ram
Shri Rajeev Chandra Smt. Nidhi Mani Tripathi
Shri Suvardhan DS Garbyal
Akshat Gupta Shri Vinod Kumar Suman
List of Taluks in Almora Daulaghat
Gobindpur Media and communications
All India Radio has a local station in Almora which transmits various programs
of mass interest. Notable people
Swami Vivekananda Swamiji spent some days in Almora in course of his
Himalayan sojourn. He expressed great eagerness in making an Ashrama in the
bosom of Himalayas for the practice of pure Advaita Vedanta.
Swami Satyananda Saraswati of Bihar School of Yoga and Rikhiapeeth was born
in Almora on 25 December 1923 in Zamindari Family of Bhikiyasen and Gaja.
Govind Ballabh Pant, noted freedom fighter & first Chief minister of Uttar
Pradesh, was born in Almora. Sumitranandan Pant, one of the most
famous modern Hindi poets, was born at Kausani village of Bageshwar, in the
hills of Kumaon. Bhairab Dutt Pande Former Cabinet
Secretary of India and Governor of West Bengal, Punjab is a resident of Almora.
Sir Ronald Ross, winner of Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for his path
breaking discovery in Malaria parasite, was born here.
American actress Uma Thurman spent large parts of her childhood at Crank's Ridge,
near Almora. Her parents stayed briefly here.
The lyricist Prasoon Joshi, the artist Uday Shankar, Mohan Upreti, and many
other artistic gems have their roots in Almora.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Indian cricketer, has his roots here. Dhoni's father had a
farm here before he settled in Ranchi in 1964.
Begum Ra'ana Liaquat Ali Khan, was born in a Kumauni Hindu-turned-Christian
family at Almora. She was the wife of Pakistan's first prime minister Liaquat
Ali Khan. P.C. Joshi, the first chairman of the
Communist Party of India, was born in Almora
B.C. Joshi, General Bhuwan Chandra Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, ADC was the Chief of
Army Staff of the Indian Army belongs to Almora district.
Murli Manohar Joshi, the Union Human Resources Development minister of
Indiain the NDA government Ananda Shankar, musician
Prasoon Joshi, Writer Poet-Lyrcist Adguru
Devendra Kumar Joshi is the current chief of Navy Staff, Admiral D. K.
Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, ADC, YSM in Almora Ekta Bisht is an Indian cricket player.
She is a left-handed batswoman and slow left-arm orthodox bowler. She is the
first International woman cricketer from Uttarakhand.
Baba Hari Dass, a silent master yogi, founder of several teaching projects in
US, Canada, and India, builder of temples and the autor of scriptural
commentaries. Nilamber Pant, former vice chairman of
ISRO and a Padma Shri winner Roop Durgapal, Actress
Further reading Rivett-Carnac, J. H.. Archaeological
notes on ancient sculpturings on rocks in Kumaon, India. Calcutta : G.H. Rouse.
Upreti, Ganga Dutt. Proverbs & folklore of Kumaun and Garhwal. Lodiana Mission
Press. Oakley, E Sherman. Holy Himalaya; the
religion, traditions, and scenery of Himalayan province. Oliphant Anderson &
Ferrier, London. of Kumaon, Raja Rudradeva;. Syanika
sastra: or A Book on Hawking. Asiatic Society, Calcutta.
References "Almora town". The Imperial Gazetteer of
India, Vol. 5. Oxford at Clarendon Press. 1909. p. 252.
External links Official Website of Almora district