The district of Almora holds a very special place in the history of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand. From being the spiritual and cultural center of Uttarakhand to being a major seat of power during the early British and late Chand Dynasty Rule, Almora has grown into a much-loved tourist attraction. Located on the southern ridge of the Kumaon region, Almora offers stunning views of the snowcapped Himalayas from all sides. It is truly a one-of-a-kind place in India that is a treat to visit any time of the year. There are many different places to explore and activities to indulge in Almora which makes it a wholesome experience for everyone.
With the advent of tourism in Almora, people have become increasingly dependent on it for their livelihood which used to be primarily agriculture and it still is for many. The government of Uttarakhand has developed roadways, railways and many different ways of easing the travel burden for tourists from different corners of the world.
Wondering what is the best way of getting to Almora? Here are some ways to choose from:
By Car/Bus/Bike
Almora is located at a comfortable distance from some of the major cities and metros of India like Delhi, Chandigarh, Punjab, and Haryana and UP. If traveling from Delhi by a bus then you can book one at RedBus or get yourself a ticket from Anand Vihar bus station to Almora or Kathgodam. Remember that on reaching Nainital you will be transferred to a shared cab that will drop you off at your destination in Almora, this is a government rule that does not allow big buses beyond a certain point on the hills in order to preserve the fragile hills from any potential dangers. The bus journey from Delhi to Almora will take around 10 to 12 hours to cover, depending on the road conditions and traffic. If traveling by car then you will have to follow NH 87 and NH87E. Road tripping to Almora from nearby towns for a quick weekend getaway still remains one of the best ways of spending an extended holiday with your buddies, family and loved ones.
By Flight
Not a lot of people decide to go to Almora by flight because the flight accessibility is not that great here. However, if you wish to travel in luxury and style, where money is not a concern for you and you want to travel quickly then a flight trip to Almora is just the thing for you. Pantnagar is the nearest airport for Almora and it caters to flights from Delhi and other nearby big cities. It is just about 120 kms away from the main city of Almora and takes 4 to 5 hours to cover. There are plenty of cabs and taxis available to get you to your accommodation in Almora. You can even get to Almora by bus which will cost you a lot less and will get you to your destination.
By Train
Reaching Almora by train is the most budget-friendly, comfortable and smooth way of getting to Almora. Without causing a dent in your pocket, you can reach Almora more quickly via train journey than a bus journey. The nearest railway station to Almora, if you are travelling from Delhi, is Kathgodam railway station and is less than 100 kms away from the main city. It is directly connected to Delhi, Lucknow, UP, Dehradun and Kolkata. You can get a ticket to Kathgodam Sampark Kranti Express, Ranikhet express, Bagh Express, Kathgodam New Delhi Shatabdi Express, Kathgodam Dehradun Express and others.
A weekly train called Garib Rath has been introduced between Jammu Tawi, Kathgodam and Kanpur. The train starts from Jammu Tawi on Sunday, reaches Kathgodam on Monday and on the same day after a couple of more hours of train journey it reaches Kanpur and back to Kathgodam on Tuesday. On Tuesday evening it gets back to Jammu Tawi. Tourists traveling by train can take a taxi or a bus service from Kathgodam or Haldwani also keep in mind that most buses start from the Haldwani roadways bus stand. From Kathgodam local transport, private taxis and cabs are run by local private operators while the buses are run by government operators.
Distance from Almora to other cities
Here are is a distance chart of Almora to other cities:
- Almora to Haridwar – 299 km
- Almora to Haldwani – 89 km
- Almora to Roorkee – 318 km
- Almora to Kashipur – 154 km
- Almora to Rishikesh – 336 km
- Almora to Ramnagar – 128 km
- Almora to Pithoragarh – 116 km
- Almora to Jaspur – 168 km
- Almora to Nainital – 66 km
Getting to Almora is not a big deal. Just the right planning, learning your routes and the perfect day to travel is the way of getting to Almora easily.
