Places to Visit in Almora: Best Tourist Attractions & Sightseeing Places

Almora is one of those Kumaon hill towns that rewards travelers who slow down. Built along a ridge with the Himalayas rising behind it, it mixes old temples, quiet viewpoints, pine-covered slopes and a relaxed market-town rhythm. If you are searching for places to visit in Almora, this guide covers the tourist places actually worth your time , what you will see at each one, who each attraction suits, and how to group them sensibly during a sightseeing day.

You will not find a padded list here. The places below are the ones travelers genuinely plan Almora sightseeing around, from the famous temples to the viewpoints that draw photographers back year after year.

Almora Tourist Places at a Glance

Kasar Devi Temple & Crank's Ridge

Kasar Devi is the single most talked-about sightseeing stop around Almora, and for good reason. The temple here is old , the district tourism record dates the structure to around the 2nd century CE , and the setting on a broad ridge top gives you open, layered mountain views that few other spots in the area match. The place also carries a genuinely interesting past: Swami Vivekananda visited in the 1890s, and decades later the ridge just outside the village, called Crank's Ridge, became a favourite stop for travellers during the 1960s–70s counterculture years, attracting seekers like Lama Anagarika Govinda and the Danish-born Sunyata Baba (Alfred Sorensen).

What travelers actually do here is walk. The temple itself is a short visit, but people linger on the ridge, sit at the small cafés along the approach road, and watch the light move across the hills. Because it sits above the Almora ridgeline, it is roughly 8–10 km from the town depending on whether you drive or follow the walking trail , the drive is around half an hour.

Visitor note: carry comfortable footwear if you plan to walk along the ridge, and keep an eye on the weather; the road is fine in dry conditions but can feel slow in heavy rain. Most visitors combine Kasar Devi with Chitai on the same loop, since both lie on the same side of town.

Chitai Golu Devta Temple

About 8 km from Almora stands one of the most unusual temples in Uttarakhand: the Chitai temple of Golu Devta (Golu Ji), worshipped in Kumaon as an incarnation of Lord Shiva in the form of Gaur Bhairav and regarded as the God of Justice. What makes the temple instantly recognisable is the sheer number of copper bells , of every size , hung across its premises. Travellers and devotees bring bells to Golu Ji when a wish is granted or justice is delivered, which is a long-standing local belief here rather than a tourist tradition.

For visitors, the temple is worth seeing for the atmosphere as much as the faith: the tinkling of hundreds of bells in the breeze, the incense, and the steady stream of families arriving with offerings. It is one of the more accessible Almora tourist places , an easy short drive from the town, with room for vehicles near the temple. A visit usually takes under an hour unless you are there on a busy festival day, when you should expect crowds.

Bright End Corner

If you want the classic Almora experience, walk to Bright End Corner at the end of the town's ridge for sunset. From here the high peaks come into view at the right hour , Nanda Devi and Nandakot among them , and the town stretches below as the light fades. In recent years the viewpoint has also been referred to as Vivekananda Point by some local and tourism sources, so you may hear both names.

It is a genuinely easy outing: close to the town centre, reachable on foot or by a very short drive, and suitable for all ages. Sunrise draws the photographers, while sunset tends to be busier and more social. There is a small food-stall scene nearby, so many travelers end their day here. There is no entry arrangement to worry about, and you need only factor in walking time from wherever you are staying in town.

Nanda Devi Temple

In the older part of Almora town, the Nanda Devi Temple stands as the town's most important shrine. Built during the rule of the Chand Rajas, the temple houses the goddess's idol within the antechamber of a Shiva temple, and locals hold it in deep reverence. The single best reason to time your Almora sightseeing around it is the Nanda Devi Mela, held every September: a five-day fair that has been an integral part of the temple for more than 400 years and briefly turns the town into one of the liveliest places in Kumaon.

Outside fair season, the temple is a quick, calm stop , useful as the cultural anchor of a town-walking morning along with the nearby bazaars. Dress respectfully, remove footwear before entering, and give yourself about 30–45 minutes including a slow walk around the courtyard.

Katarmal Sun Temple

Roughly 17 km from Almora, at 2,116 m above sea level, stands the Katarmal Sun Temple , also called Bara Aditya , which holds the distinction of being the only Sun temple in Kumaon. Unlike the crowded temples in town, Katarmal sits on a quiet hillside above the Kosi river side, and part of its appeal is the approach: vehicles park below and the final stretch is on foot, with a track of roughly 1.5 km from Kosi (some itineraries begin the walk nearer Hawalbagh and Matela). Travellers commonly suggest keeping 2–3 hours for the round trip from Almora.

The temple is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India, entry is free, and it is generally open from around sunrise to sunset , though timings can shift, so it is worth confirming locally before making the drive. Most visitors recommend going in the morning or late afternoon rather than midday. It is an excellent pick for travelers who enjoy old stone architecture, quiet surroundings and photography.

Deer Park (Mrig Vihar)

When travelling with children, a short drive from Almora town brings you to Deer Park , also known as Mrig Vihar , set in an area called Narayan Tiwari Dewai. Figures for the distance vary by source (roughly 4–6 km depending on the route you take), but nobody describes it as a long trip. The park sits among pine and oak trees and works well as a relaxed half-hour to hour-long outing: you see deer in an enclosure setting, kids can move around freely, and the green surroundings are a change of pace from temples and viewpoints. Think of it as a pleasant filler for families rather than a full-day attraction.

Banri Devi Temple

For travelers who have extra time and want an offbeat place near Almora, Banri Devi Temple sits around 26 km from town on the Almora–Lamgarha road, as listed in the district tourism records. It is primarily a place of local worship rather than a developed tourist stop, so facilities are basic , the appeal is seeing a functioning village shrine in the Kumaoni hills and the drive through the countryside. It suits travelers on their own vehicles. If your time is limited, this is the easiest one to skip.

Best Places to Visit in Almora for Nature Lovers & Photography

Kasar Devi and Crank's Ridge give you the widest, most open views around Almora, which is why photographers keep returning. For sunrises and sunsets the two obvious spots are Bright End Corner in town and Zero Point inside Binsar if you can manage the drive out. Around the sanctuary edges, the forested stretches of Binsar reward birdwatchers and walkers (see the nearby section below). Katarmal Sun Temple photographs beautifully in the soft light of late afternoon.

Almora Sights That Work Well with Family

Families tend to get the most out of the easy, low-walking stops: Bright End Corner for the views, the Nanda Devi Temple as a cultural walk in town, Deer Park for the children, and Chitai Golu Temple as a short drive with something unusual to look at (those bells). Binsar is also family-friendly if you have a vehicle, as the drive itself is part of the experience.

Famous Religious Places in Almora

The religious sites are the backbone of Almora sightseeing: the Nanda Devi Temple in town, Chitai Golu Devta Temple about 8 km out, Katarmal Sun Temple on the Kosi side, and , for dedicated travellers , Jageshwar Dham beyond that, with the largest cluster of old temples in the area.

If You Have Limited Time: What Not to Miss?

If you only have one day in Almora, prioritise the stops that define the town: Bright End Corner for sunset, the Nanda Devi Temple for the town's cultural core, and a drive out to Kasar Devi for the best views. Between them you will have seen what makes Almora different from other hill towns.

With one extra day, add Chitai Golu Temple and Katarmal Sun Temple on a single loop, and keep the second full day for either Binsar or Jageshwar , trying to do both in a day makes the day long and mostly driving.

Places to Visit Near Almora

These are genuine day-excursion destinations, not Almora town attractions , worth knowing about because they dominate "places near Almora" searches, but plan them as separate outings.

Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary & Zero Point

About 30 km from Almora, the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary covers roughly 47 sq km of oak and rhododendron forest, and the drive out passes through Kasar Devi and Kafarkhan before reaching the sanctuary gate. The main draw is Zero Point, the sanctuary's high viewpoint, offering a wide 360° panorama of the Himalayan peaks , Nanda Devi and Trishul among the most recognizable. Binsar works as a full-day trip from Almora: the drive, a walk inside the sanctuary, and the viewpoint stop. It is the best option in this list for nature lovers and birdwatchers.

Jageshwar Dham

Roughly 35–40 km from Almora, Jageshwar Dham is a group of about 124 temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, set against a backdrop of dense deodar forest with the Jata Ganga stream running alongside. The district tourism record describes it as one of the finest examples of architecture in Uttarakhand, with the group dating to the post-Gupta and pre-medieval era , ASI sources place the site around 2,500 years old. Stone lingams, carved altars and the forest stillness make it an entirely different experience from the town temples. Give it at least half a day, and note that it functions as a working pilgrimage centre.

Gana Nath Temple

For travelers going further out, Gana Nath Temple is around 47 km from Almora, known for its caves and a Shiva temple, with a notable Kartik Purnima fair each year. It is a niche stop for those already heading in that direction rather than a must-see, and road conditions mean it suits travelers with their own vehicle and flexible time.

Conclusion

Almora's sightseeing is not about packed days and long lists , it is a town where the best places to visit in Almora are a handful of genuinely distinct experiences: an old Devi temple on an open ridge, a temple roofed in bells, a sunset lookout at the end of the town, a thousand-year-old Sun temple, and two serious day-trip destinations in Binsar and Jageshwar. Decide which kind of traveler you are, pick the tier that fits your time, and Almora will feel like the quiet, characterful Kumaon town it is.

Also Read:

Places to Visit in Nainital

Places to Visit in Jim Corbett

Places to Visit in Mukhteshwar

Places to Visit in Bhimtal

FAQs

What are the best places to visit in Almora? 

The essentials are Kasar Devi Temple with Crank's Ridge, Chitai Golu Devta Temple, Bright End Corner, the Nanda Devi Temple, Katarmal Sun Temple and the Deer Park. For a full day out, Binsar or Jageshwar are the top picks near Almora.

How many days are enough for Almora sightseeing? 

A workable rule of thumb: one full day covers the town circuit (Bright End Corner, Nanda Devi Temple, Chitai, Kasar Devi), and a second day is needed for Katarmal plus either Binsar or Jageshwar. Most travelers find 2 nights in the area comfortable.

Which places in Almora are best with family? 

Bright End Corner, the Nanda Devi Temple, Deer Park and Chitai Golu Temple are the easiest family stops; Binsar is family-friendly if you have a vehicle.

Which Almora places are best for photography? 

Kasar Devi and Crank's Ridge for wide views, Bright End Corner for sunrise and sunset, Katarmal Sun Temple in late-afternoon light, and Zero Point in Binsar for the Himalayan panorama.

Which religious places can be visited in Almora? 

The Nanda Devi Temple, Chitai Golu Devta Temple, Katarmal Sun Temple, and , near Almora , Jageshwar Dham and Gana Nath Temple.

Which places can be visited near Almora? 

Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary (Zero Point) and Jageshwar Dham are the two most worthwhile day trips from Almora; Gana Nath is an option for travelers heading further out.