Almora district is located in the Kumaon division which is in the east of Uttarakhand in north India. It is a picturesque district and summons tourists worldwide to its alluring opulence of natural beauty.
Almora district offers a panoramic view of Himalaya Mountain and it is famous for its rich cultural heritage, unique handicrafts, splendid cuisine and magnificent wildlife. With an easy accessibility Almora District promises its tourists a visit full of fun and unforgettable moments.
Location of Almora District
The district of Almora is located in the state of Uttarakhand in India. In east lies the district of Pithoragarh bordering Tibet and in its west lie the district of Garhwal and in North lies the newly created district of Bageshwar and in the South there is the district Nainital.
History of Almora District
Almora District came into existence in independent India. The ancient town of Almora was under the possession of Katyuri king Baichaldeo. He donated major part of this land to a Gujarati Brahmin, Sri Chand Tiwari and began its development by establishing the temples and the monasteries.
Geography of Almora District
Almora District is geographically located on the foothills of Himalayan mountain range along with a ridge known as Talifat and Selifat. The landscape beauty of Almora District attracts huge amount of tourists each year for its views of the Himalayas.
Demography of Almora District
According to the Population census in the year 2011, Almora District has a total population of about 621,927. The literacy rate of Almora District is about 81.06 percent.
Culture of Almora District
Almora district is rich in folk lore and the folk tales of Ajua-Bafaul, Narsingh and Ghana, Purukh Pant and the tales of chivalry of Gangnath, and the mythical tales of Haru-Sem, Golu, Bin-bhat, Ganwara, Kalsem, Churmal Airi, Pari and Jhorra Folk Dance. Many of these tales in the form of ballads are sung in diverse melodies and Nyoli, Bhagnaula, Chapeli, Jhorra, Chanchari etc belong to this group. The folk songs of this region make a poetic description of the glory of the Himalayan Region, the inherent charm of Nanda devi, Panchhchuli, Trishul and Chiplakot and the beauty of various aspects of nature including the luxuriant vegetation and the dense forest. The folk songs on nature are one of the prime cultural consciousnesses in this region.
The fairs and festivals of Almora District are not only an expression of the religious, social and cultural urges of the people but have also sustained the folk culture and have been central to the economic activities of the people. The great annual fairs are known by the name of "Mela", and are always connected with religious ideas and customs. They very often centre round some famous local shrine, which reaps an extensive harvest at the annual festival.
The main festivals of Almora district are the Nanda Devi Festival and the Dusshera Festival. In addition to these, various other local festivals are organised in this region, which are religiously or otherwise associated with the heritage, art and culture of this region.
Handicrafts are an inseparable part of the culture of the people of Almora district. With the available resources and constraints of nature, man learnt the art of living which resulted in the unique traditional technologies of their own, of different socio cultural regions.
Administration of Almora District
The administration of Almora District is classified into 9 tehsils like Almora, Bhikiyasain, Chaukhutiya, Dwarahat, Jainti, Ranikhet, Someshwar, and Sult. The district is administered by the District Collector and the assembly constituencies are administered by the MLA and MP. Dwarahat, Salt, Ranikhet, Someshwar (SC), Almora, and Jageshwar are the assembly constituencies of Almora District.
Tourism in Almora District
There are several places of tourist interest in Almora District. One can have a panoramic view of the snowy peaks of Himalayas on any clear day and in addition a glimpse of the township with its tiled roofed houses and paved streets. Near by places like Ranikhet, Kausani, Dwarahat, Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary and Bageshwar are worth visiting. This region is immensely rich with four thousand species of plants, having remarkable diversity in its natural vegetation by virtue of its being at a great range of elevation. Trekking and skiing are the chief attractions of adventure tourism in Almora district. Pilgrimage tourism is also an inseparable part of the place.