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Almora

Almora is a wonderful place to conveniently enjoy the spectacular snowscape of the central Himalayas. Most of the days in Almora are flawless. Almost everyday the tourist can see almost every peak. Almora allows you to enjoy the mighty Himalayas together with ridge after ridge of hills.The terraced fields, the stone slatted barrack-like village houses have so far put up a valiant fight against the encroachments of urban expansion and unplanned development.

Almora also has some beautiful health resorts. The most famous among them is Ranikhet (1,820 meters from sea level). Ranikhet depicts queen' s field. It is said that a Rani while spending some time here once gave this name to the city. During the days of the British Raj, Ranikhet was a British cantonment.

ALMORA - A Famous GETAWAY
Almora was founded in 1568.There are lots of attractions at Almora.Swami Vivekananda gave famous lectures here and included it in his itinerary at the turn of this century. From Almora To Colombo record that he was stirred as much by the stark beauty of the mountains here as by the ocean at Kanyakumari. The headquarters of the Ramakrishna Mission, was located at Mayawati Ashram then in Almora. Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore spent a summer to get over the personal grief after the loss of a beloved child.A little later followed the great dancer Udaya Shankar. Ravi Shankar, Zohra Sehgal, Simki and the youngster Guru Dutt have all been here. Others have followed in their footsteps.Pundit Nehru had served a term of imprisonment in the Jail at Almora and has left behind an evocative account of the pleasures of solitude and the changing moods of nature in his various letters written from this place which acted as inspirational guide for the Indians.

AROUND ALMORA
Almora, is surrounded by many sightseeing places. Binsar hill, locally known as Jhandi Dhar, rises to a height of 2,412 meters and offers a panoramic view of Almora town,Binsar, is an hour' s motor drive from Almora,the Kumaon hills and the Greater Himalayas. The region around in alpine flora, ferns, hanging moss and innumerable species of wild flowers. The brow is reached by an unpaved ridge lined by prosperous private estate. A walk through the woods comprising mostly oak and rhododendron forest, leads to a vantage point at the summit, which offers an unclUttared view of the Himalayan ranges and the surrounding valley. Hindi poet Ajneya treated it as a famous summer spot.

In 1929, Mahatma Gandhi spent three fruitful weeks at this charming spot called Kausani (51 kilometers from Almora) and described it as India' s Switzerland. Quaint villages, orchards laden with fruit and hill slopes covered with pine trees are responsible for the outstanding beauty of Kausani. The snow mantled peaks glitter in the sun and the breeze carries with it much of the cool freshness of the snows.

The mountains around Kausani seem to change in shape and color all through the day. The Anakshakti Ashram on the top of a hill where the Mahatma stayed commands one of the most magnificent views of the mountain ranges around Kausani. The vast sweep of the mountain view , which encompasses a remarkable 350 kilometers at Kausani, is the central point of attraction in this little hill station.

There are shady paths carpeted with pine needles and in the air is the wonderful, inimitable fragrance of pine. Terraced fields add a distinctive touch to the pastoral picture around kausani.

VISITING ALMORA
By Road: Almora is well connected with all-important cities of India by road.
By Air: The nearest airport is a Pant Nagar (Nainital). During the summer regular flights are operational.
By Rail: The nearest raiway station near Almora is Kathgodam.


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Nainital

The Nainital tourist district is the pride of the Kumaon region in Uttaranchal. While there are many other places equally beautiful, Nainital is certainly the most popular tourist destination in Kumaon. It's a pleasant hill station. For tourists looking for hustle and bustle the best time to go is the summer months when a lot of traffic ascends from Delhi and the plains.

The town gets equally crowded during the September/ October season which coincides with the Diwali and Puja holidays. However, like most hill resorts, it has its quite periods too. During the winter, Nainital is quite another beautiful experience when it reverts back to the local population and the crowds are absent. Peaceful, open, and invigorating.

In Indian mythology, Nainital is regarded as one of the 64 'Shakti Peeths'. Legend has it that a grief stricken Lord Shiva was carrying Sati's body and one of her eyes fell here. The Nainital Lake is shaped like an eye and the town derived its name from the combination of Nain (eye) and Tal (lake). The Naina Devi temple is located at one end of the lake.

The place lay undisturbed till an English businessman chanced upon the location while hunting. The businessman, Mr. Barron, a sugar trader got enamoured of the place and decided to start a settlement on the side of the pristine lake. The British had occupied the area in 1815 and the first recorded reference to the township can be found in a journal entry in 1841 in 'Englishman Calcutta' which mentions a lake being discovered in the area. The English settlement soon had lovely cottages on the hillsides around the lake. Sometime later, a number of wealthy Indian families from the old town of Almora shifted to Nainital and the town flourished. Nainital was, at one time, the summer capital of Uttar Pradesh.


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Pithoragarh

The Mini Kashmir The easternmost hill district of Uttar Pradesh, Pithoragarh is often referred to as ?Miniature Kashmir?. Nestling in a small valley, barely 5 km long and 2 km wide, the town also known as Sore Valley was an important landmark of the Chand Rajas of Kumaon. It is situated at an altitude of 1,650 m above sea level and has the facility of three spoken languages, namely Hindi, Kumaoni and English.
Pithoragarh is the district headquarters and its government buildings are housed in the hill fort of Pithoragarh at a distance of 7 kms. from the main town. From the Chandak Hill located at around 2000 metres, one gets a panoramic view of snow range extending from Trishul, Nanda Devi, Panchchuli group and mount Appi of Nepal.

Askot Wildlife Sanctuary
Askot Sanctuary, established in 1986, is located in the pastoral surroundings of Indo-Nepal border, in Pithoragarh.

Excursions from Pithoragarh

Munsiyari
Located at an altitude of 2135 mtrs, Munsyari is situated at a distance of 66 kms from Jauljibi and 127 kms from Pithoragarh via Thal.

Champawat
Situated 1,615 m above sea level, Champawat was originally the capital of Chand Raja of Kumaon. Located 76 kms. from Pithoragarh, it was at Champawat that lord Vishnu is said to have incarnated as Kurmavatar, hence Kumaon came to be known as Kurmanchal.

Chaukori
The charming and picturesque town of Chaukori is situated in the heart of Pithoragarh District (112 kms).

Jauljibi Mela
Jauljibi & Thal Fairs are held every year on Makar Sankranti at Jauljibi, 68 km. from Pithoragarh, at the confluence of the rivers Kali & Gori.

Punyagiri Fair
Punyagiri Shakti Peeth (20 km. from Tanakpur) situated on the top of a mountain on the right bank of the river Kali is the site for many fairs.

How To Reach There
By Air : Nearest airport is Naini Saini (Pithoragarh), 5 kms.
By Rail : Nearest railhead is at Tanakpur 151 kms.
By Road : Well connected by a motorable road.


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Mukteshwar

Nestled in the Kumaon hills of Uttaranchal, Mukteshwar commands a dramatic view of the Himalayas. This little town of red-roofs, wooden window frames and picket fences takes one back to the days of the Raj. Relax with a steaming cup of tea and drink in the majesty of the Annapurna peak.

Prime Attractions of Mukteshwar
Mukteshwar Temple
Approached by winding, steep stone stairs to an altitude of 2315 km. Devoted to Shiva, it has a white marble lingam with a copper yoni. There are six idols of Bramha, Vishnu, Parvati, Hanuman, Ganesh and Nandi surrounding the lingam.

Chauli ka Jali
Adjacent to the temple is natural lattice-work around the rock. Legend states that barren women who came and touched the lattice were blessed with a baby. Also there are faint outlines of a sword, a shield and a trunk of an elephant which bears testament of a battle fought here between a demon and a goddess.

Indian Veterinary Research Institute
Permission is needed to enter the Institute. The campus has a museum, library and departments for research, animal nutrition, genetics and bacteriology. There are wonderful, quiet walks within the sprawling campus.

How To Get There - Mukteshwar
By Road
Get to Haldwani from Delhi (215 kms) and then to Mukteshwar via Bhowali.

By Rail
Nearest rail station is Kathgodam (35 kms south). From here it is about 3 hours by road. The Ranikhet Express departs from Delhi at 11 pm and arrives in Kathgodam at 6.10 am. It departs from Kathgodam at 10.45 pm and arrives in Delhi at 4.45 am.


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Ramgarh

Location : Ramgarh is a serene hill station perched at an altitude of 1789 m above the sea level on Bhowali-Mukteshwar Road. It is located at a distance of 26 km from Nainital in Kumaon Division of Uttaranchal.
Sight Seeing: Ramgarh is an idyllic place for leisurely holidays in peace and tranquility with pleasant weather conditions. You can have the unobstructed view of the snow-capped ranges of the Himalayas from this hill station. Ramgarh is perfect place for the nature lovers, as you can gaze at the star-lit sky, marvel at the sunrise and sunset, admire the beauty of the mighty Himalayas and taste the Himalayan fruits. It is known for orchards of a variety of Himalayan fruits like apples, apricots, and peaches. The place was once the cantonment of the English army. All India Research Center for Animal Treatment is also situated here. The famous poets Rabindra Nath Tagore and Narain Swami had established their ashrams over here. Mahadevi Verma also visited the hill station of Ramgarh. Rabindra Nath Tagore had composed some of his compositions at Ramgarh. From Ramgarh, you can go on excursion tours to Nainital, Mukteshwar, Bhimtal, Ranikhet and Almora

How To Reach There:---

By Air: The nearest airport is at Pantnagar.

By Rail: The nearest railway station is at Kathgodam, which is 35 km from Nainital.

By Road: Ramgarh is well connected by surface network with all the major cities and towns like Nainital, Ranikhet, Almora, Haldwani, Pithoragarh, Moradabad, Delhi, Bareilly, Dehradun, Haridwar and Agra.


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Ranikhet

RANIKHET, as hill station, is idyllic in its charm, and draws holiday-makers almost all the year round with its salubrious climate and balmy breeze. Against the backdrop of snow-capped Himalayan peaks, Ranikhet means “Queen’s Field”.
Ranikhet hills offers the tourists a panoramic view of the mighty Himalayan peaks. The environs of Ranikhet are sylvan, peaceful and attractive. Ranikhet is a cantonment town and is known for its ancient temples.

An unusual name, a quaint legend and the sheer beauty of its envions make this Kumaon hill station a wonderful holiday resort

RANIKHET -(Location)
Ranikhet is situated in the northern part of the state of Uttaranchal, in the northern region of India. It is situated in the Kumaon hills and is located on an altitude of 1824 m above sea level. Ranikhet is 59 km from Nainital and 50 km from Almora. The weather in Ranikhet is alpine. Summers (April-June) are mild and winters are cold (November-February). It experiences southwestern monsoon rains in July-September and experiences snowfall in winters.

Ranikhet (Climate)
All the four seasons have something special to offer at Ranikhet. Therefore, it can be visited at any time of the year. Winters are cold and the entire region experiences snowfalls during the months of December and January.

RANIKHET - (History)
According to popular belief, Ranikhet got its name when Rani Padmini, queen of Raja Sukherdev, the local ruler, saw this place and was struck by its beauty. She was so captivated by the place that she decided to stay there, and the place came to be known as Ranikhet (literally, queen' s field). The region around Ranikhet was ruled by local Kumaoni rulers and later came under British rule. The British developed Ranikhet as a hill station for their troops and established a cantonment in 1869. Ranikhet is still a cantonment town and is the Kumaon Regimental Center.

RANIKHET - TOURIST SPOTS

Nanda Devi Mela
Nanda Devi Mela is a fair of great religious and cultural significance. It is held at Nanda Devi Temple in September to commemorate the memory of goddesses, Nanda and Sunanda. It is said to have started in Kumaon, during the reign of Raja Kalyan Chand in the 16th century. Nanda means prosperity and well being. Nanda Devi Mela is held as a symbol of prosperity, both material and spiritual, of the hill regions. The Nanda Devi Mela is held at Almora, Nainital, Nauti, Dandidhara, Munsyari & Ranikhet, of which the Almora and Roopkund fairs are the most famous.

Upat and Kalika
With one of the best 9 hole golf links in the country, Upat is a boon to the enthusiast. With the added attraction of private orchards, it is 5.6 km away. Just one kilometre from Upat is Kalika with its famous temple to the Goddess Kali. It also has good forest nursery. A beautiful snowcapped mountain peak is available on the other side of the golf link at Upat.

Chaubatia
As the name implies, these are four, fruit gardens, with a Government Fruit Research Centre, complete with a fruit sales depot and cafeteria. It is 10 kilometres from Ranikhet.

Majhkhali
On the Ranikhet - Almora road, 13 km, is a spot of entrancing, celestial beauty. Here is an awe-inspiring view of the majesty of the snoy peaks. The U.P. Government Agriculture Farm is situated here.

Bhalu Dam
Main Source of the town's water supply comes from the Bhalu Dam, 3.2 kilometres from Chaubatia. It is famous for its fishing.

RANIKHET -(Excursion)
Almora
Almora is 50 km from Ranikhet, is famous for its health resorts and panoramic views of the Himalayan ranges.

Dwarahat
Dwarahat, 38 km away, was once the principal seat of the Katyuri Rajas. It is full of ancient sculptures.

Sitalakhet
Sitalakhet (35 km), Tarikhet (8 km) and Khairna (22 km) are some of the places that one can visit from Ranikhet.

RANIKHET -(When to Visit)
Ranikhet can be visited throughout the year. But the best season to visit Ranikhet would be in the summer months (March-June) or September-November as the climate is fairly pleasant then.

RANIKHET - HOW TO REACH

Air: The nearest airport is Pantnagar 119 Km away.

Rail: The nearest railway station Kathgodam 80 km, is directly connected by rail to Lucknow, Bareilly and Agra.

Road: Ranikhet is connected by road to many places.

Road Distances (Some important distances are: Kathgodam 80 km)
Nainital 54 km
Almora 49 km
Bareilly 181 km
Delhi 340 km
Karnaprayag 136 km.

Facts & Figures
Languages : Kumaoni, Hindi, and English
Best Time to Visit : Around the year
STD : 05966

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