Almora
Ancient Katyuri temple enclaves, sacred geomagnetic ridges, and colonial cantonments
All Destinations
Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary & Zero Point
Perched atop the Jhandi Dhar hills 30 km north of Almora, Binsar was the historic summer capital of the Chand kings of Kumaon. Today a protected sanctuary spanning 47 square kilometers of dense oak, rhododendron, and pine forests, Binsar is a world-class birdwatching reserve with over 200 avian species. The short forest hike to Zero Point commands an intimate 300-km panoramic vista of Kedarnath, Shivling, Trishul, and Nanda Devi.
Jageshwar Dham Temple Complex
Nestled in a serene, narrow mountain valley shaded by colossal deodar trees 36 km northeast of Almora, Jageshwar Dham is a cluster of over 124 stone temples dating from the 7th to 14th centuries (Katyuri and Chand dynasties). Believed to be the site of the first of the twelve Jyotirlingas (Nagesh Jyotirlinga), it is one of the most venerable Shaivite pilgrimage sites in the Himalayas.
Ranikhet Chaubatia Pine Meadows
The 'Queen's Meadow', Ranikhet is a colonial hill station and headquarters of the Indian Army's Kumaon Regiment, set amongst dense pine, oak, and deodar forests in Almora district. It features the sprawling Chaubatia apple and peach orchards, the 9-hole Upat Golf Course (one of India's highest), and sweeping views of western Himalayan peaks.
Kasar Devi Ridge & Magnetosphere
Perched on a craggy ridge 8 km north of Almora, Kasar Devi is an ancient 2nd-century rock shrine celebrated for an extraordinary geomagnetic anomaly. Situated under the Van Allen radiation belt (a rare electromagnetic field shared with Stonehenge and Machu Picchu), Kasar Devi has been a spiritual and bohemian magnet, attracting Swami Vivekananda, Timothy Leary, Bob Dylan, and DH Lawrence to what became famous as 'Crank's Ridge'.