Discover Almora: Temples, festivals and trails

Thousands of bells of different sizes hang on the grounds of the Gairad Golu Dev Temple. In Almora, such religious traditions sit alongside festivals, distinctive temples and trekking routes of varying lengths. When planning your trip, you can therefore decide whether a festival date, temple history or a longer walk should be the focus of your visit.

Temples, traditions and festivals

A religious tradition is associated with the Gairad Golu Dev Temple: Golu Devata is believed to be an incarnation of Gaur Bhairav, a form of Shiva. The Chitai Golu Temple also stands out for its many copper bells. The Nanda Devi Mandir in Almora was built by the Chand Rajas and is the venue for the Nanda Devi Mela. Held there every September, it has been an integral part of the temple’s tradition for more than 400 years.

Other temples in Almora district represent a range of cultural interests. The Katarmal Temple is considered the only Sun Temple in Kumaon. The structure of the Kasar Devi Temple dates back to the 2nd century AD. The Banri Devi Temple houses an ancient four-armed statue of Vishnu in the Sheshnag pose. The Gana Nath Temple is known for its caves and a Shiva temple. A festival with rhythmic hymns and impressive folk songs is held there on Kartik Purnima.

Crank’s Ridge, outside the village of Kasar Devi, also has historical significance: during the hippie movement of the 1960s and 1970s, it was a popular destination. It continues to attract trekkers and visitors from India and abroad. Bal Mithai is considered a local specialty of the district. When planning your trip, you can therefore choose to focus on temples, a distinctive landscape experience or local cuisine.

Planning trekking routes and travel

Access routes to the temples vary considerably. A trekking route of almost three kilometres leads to the Katarmal Temple via Hawalbagh and Matela, near the Kosi River. The temple is located at an altitude of 2,116 metres. The 26-kilometre route from Almora to the Banri Devi Temple includes almost ten kilometres of trekking, making the temple difficult to reach. These details give you a practical guide for planning your route without treating the two approaches as equivalent.

Another route is the approximately five-kilometre stretch from Takula to Gana Nath. If you plan to combine this route with a visit to the Gana Nath Temple, factor the approximate distance into your day’s itinerary. If you are planning to attend the Mela at Nanda Devi Mandir, it is worth checking the exact festival dates for your travel year. The Gairad Temple and the Nanda Devi Temple in Almora are both well connected by road.

The nearest airport to Almora is Pantnagar, about 127 kilometres away. Make a note of the destinations that matter for your trip and check the connections that suit your specific plans. This lets you tailor your hotel search to your itinerary without trying to combine different routes or festival dates into a single outing.

Discover more destinations: Almora, Ranikhet, Almora Range, Chaubattia, Ghaglori, Shitlakhet, Ghweri, Simyal Gaon, Someshwar Range.

Back to the regional travel overview: Uttarakhand.