Culture of Almora

Almora’s chequered past can be witnessed in its monuments – the buildings are a confused amalgam of European and local styles of architecture. You can see indigenous cottages with European-style trimmings, as well as British bungalows, half-Indianised with great slabs of stone for roofs.

The main Clock Tower provides a perfect example of the melange – erected in 1886, by an Indian but built by a British engineer, it shows a strange discordance of styles.

The stone-flagged bazaars of Almora overflow with milling crowds in the evenings. The architecture here is a blend of the traditional and the modern. The older structures characterized by wooden doorways and window frames present an attractive sight. Travel to the most noted building in the area is the Khazanchi Mohalla – a historical building which once belonged to the state’s treasurers.

Religious Places of Almora

• Bhadrishwar Temple
• Hanuman Temple
  
• Ulka Devi Temple
  
• Jama Masjid
  
• Ratneshwar Temple
  
• Bhairav Temple
  
• Murli Manohar Temple
  
• Church
  
• Raghunath Temple
  
• Nanda Devi Temple
  
• Khagmara Temple
  
• Deoli Danda Temple
  

Kumoun

The name of the sociocultural region of Kumaun is believed to have been derived from "Kurmanchal", meaning Land of the Kurmavtar (the tortoise incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Preserver of Hindu Trinity). Extending from the northern end of the Ganga plains right upto Tibet, Kumaun's endless panorama of scenic wonders is nothing short of a romance with pristine and soul-lifting nature itself.

The Katyuri and Chand dynasties glorified the region by constructing some fine temples - now renowned throughout the country. Though largely a Shaivite region, the presiding deity, Nanda Devi, is amongst the most exalted in Kumaun. Sojourning in the beautiful Kumaun region of Uttaranchal with its majestic, snow clad mountains, lakes and rich plethora of flora and fauna, not only enables one to constantly think about the Himalayas but to behold their pristine magnificence time and again.

Thus purifying one's soul aptly enough, setting the tone for which the options are as many as they are delightful, catering to the multifaceted interests of grown-ups and youngsters alike. Presently a revenue division, Kumaun, consists of the district of Nainital, Udham Singh Nagar, Almora, Bageshwer, Pithoragarh and Champawat.

Township of Almora

The ancient town of Almora, before it's establishment was under the possession of Katyuri king Baichaldeo. He donated major part of this land to a Gujrati Brahmin Sri Chand Tiwari. Later on when Chand kingdom was founded in Baramandal, the town of Almora was founded at this centrally located place in 1560 by Kalyan Chand. The mountain on which the Almora is located is described in the famous Hindu epic Manaskhand as follows :-

Kaushiki Shalmali Madhyey Punyah Kashaya Parwatah'
'Tasy Paschim Bhagam Kshetra Vishnyo Pratishthtam'

In the days of the Chand Kings it was called Rajapur. The name 'Rajpur' is also mentioned over a number of ancient copper plates. The town of Almora is situated over a horse saddle shaped ridge of a mountain. The eastern portion of the ridge is known as Talifat and the western one is known as Selifat. The market is at the top of the ridge where these two, Talifat and Selifat jointly terminate.

The main Mohalla (wards) of Almora are as follow

Selifat: Joshikhola, Shelakhola, Dyodhipokhar, Thapalia, Kholta, Champanaula, Gururanikhola, Chaunsar, Galli, Karadiyakhola, Kapina, Paniudiyar, Ranidhara, Chaudharikhola, Pokharkhal, Jhijad and Kasoon.

Talifat: Chinakhan, Makedi, Dharanaula, Chandani Chowk, Vishtakuda, Tyunara, danya, Bansbida, Upretikhola, Khasiya-khola, Badekhola, Dubkiya, Nayalkhola, Tiruvakhola, Dugalkhola and Tamtyuda etc.

Market: Lala Bazar, Karkhana Bazar, Khajanchi Mohalla, Jauhari Mohalla, Malli Bazar and Thana Bazar.

The market is 1.25 miles long and is covered with stone slabs. The place of the present cantonment was formerly known as Lalmandi. Presently where the collectorate exists, the 'Malla Mahal' (Upper Court) of Chanda kings was located. The site of present District Hospital used to be 'Talla Mahal' (Lower Court) of Chand rulers.

Fair & Festivals

Nanda Devi Fair

The fairs and festivals of Almora are not only an expression of the religious social and the cultural urges of the people but have also sustained the folk culture and have been central to the economic activities of the people. Also at remotely located places of hilly terrain, especially where communication is difficult and the land is cut up by mountain or water, the need is felt for periodical meetings at convenient centers, where exchange and sale of commodities may take place. A district like Almora holds many valleys which are absolutely dependent on such meetings for their supply of common necessaries, and consequently fairs or periodical markets are numerous. There are two kind of these. The weekly assemblages, corresponding to "market-day" in an English provincial town, are called "Penth". They are of an ordinary kind, and have no religious associations. The great annual fairs are known by the name of "Mela", and are always connected with religious ideas and customs. They very often center round some famous local shrine, which reaps an extensive harvest at the annual festival. Business, pleasure and religion are cheerfully combined in these junketing, which are doubtless the chief oases in the monotonous lives.

Famous historical "Nanda Devi Fair" is held in September and Famous "Sawan Mela" Jageshwar is held in July and August. The famous and most attractive "Dushera Mela" is held in October at the time of "Durga Puja". The beautiful and magnificiant EFIGIES of Ravana family are made by almora's artists, which are taken in a Procession throughout the main streets of the town alone with its Traditional folk dancers & instrument players and are burnt by worth seeing fire works. The best known fair of this region, held in the month of September at Almora town, is organized since the Chand kings ruled this place. It is believed that 'Nanda' used to be the family Goddess of Chanda dynasty. The word meaning of the word 'Nanda' is prosperity. The temple of 'Nanda' in Almora was built by Dyot Chanda in seventeenth century, the then ruler of this place. Presently this temple remains the core of the festival. The duration of the festival is five days and approximately twenty five thousand people tourist come to attend this festival.

Uttraini Festival Bageshwer

One of the largest fair of Kumaun region, the Uttraini festival of Bageshwer, is organized in the month of January for a period of one week and is frequented by Almora traders, on barter or money lending intent, and by the Bhotiyas from the snows, as well as by a great multitude of people from the surrounding villages. The town of Bageshwer, 90 km from Almora town, is a junction of two rivers, namely Saryu and Gomti. At the junction of these rivers stands a large temple with it's conical tower. Here is the shrine of Bageswar or Vyagreswar, the, "Tiger Lord", an epithet of Lord Siva. This temple was erected by the Kumaun king, Laxmi Chand, about 1450 A.D., but there is an interesting Sanskrit inscription there of a far earlier date. The chief articles of merchandise are : ponies, goats, sheep, furs, yak tails, musk pods, borax, salt horns, books, shoes, fruit dried and fresh. The Bhotiyas bring down excellent ponies, which breed in a wild or semi-wild state over the Tibetan border.

Jageshwar Moonsoon Festival

The festival of great religious and historical importance, Jageshwer Monsoon Festival is organized from 15 July to 15 August. The temple of Lord Jagnath , erected somewhere in 8th - 9th century is one among the twelve 'Jyotirlinga' of Lord Shiva in India. Having it's archeological importance the group of temples of Jageshwer consists of 125 small and big temples of ancient times. This festival is of great religious importance for Kumauni society. The daily inflow of the number of tourists in this month long festival remains one thousand approximately.

Dushara Festival Almora

The famous festival of Hindus, Dushara, in October, commemorates the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana, the monstrous ten-headed king of Lanka or Ceylon, as described in Ramayana, is celebrated in a very unique way in Almora town. Approximately five to six thousand tourists from the outskirts come to attend the festival in Almora town. Showing the symbolic victory of the truth the effigies of devils are prepared in a very artistic manner in almost all the 'Mohallas' (wards) of the town. Finally in a social gathering all these effigies are burnt. The festival is generally celebrated in the month of October.

Other Festivals

In addition to these, various other local festivals are organized in this region, which are religiously or otherwise associated with the heritage, art and culture of this region. Out of these very famous are

• Srikrishna Janmasthami Festival, Ranikhet
  
• Nanda Devi Festival of Nainital and Ranikhet
  
• Autumn Festival Nainital and Ranikhet
  
• Syaldey - Bikhauti Mela, Dwarahat
  
• Somnath Mela, Masi
  
• Mahashivratri Festivals of Binsar Mahadev, Sauni, Hedakhan, Chiliyanaula, Bhikiyasain
  
• Punyagiri Navratri Maila
  
• Devidhura Raksha Bandhan Mela
  
• Doonagiri Mela
  
• Mustamanu Fair
  
• Kapileshwar Fair
  
• Krishnajanmashtami Fair of Kalapani Gunji
  
• Kanardevi fair at Baram at Gori Valley
  
• Honkara Devi Fair at Birthi
  
• Dhanlekh Fair at Askot Laccher
  
• Fair of Naini Patal

Shopping in Almora

Almora has plenty of shopping centers with a 1.25 mile stretch of covered bazaars, including the near 200-year-old Lala Bazaar. There is also a factory for Kumaon Woolens which produces tweed in the Harris Tweed Style. This is worth a visiting place in Almora. For all you tourists who are planning a tour to Almora must not forget about shopping in Almora. There are different shopping areas or markets in Almora which are quite popular. They are the Lala Bazar, Karkhana Bazar, Khajanchi Mohalla, Jauhari Mohalla, Malli Bazar and Thana Bazar. There are different shopping areas or markets in Almora which are quite popular. They are the Lala Bazar, Karkhana Bazar, Khajanchi Mohalla, Jauhari Mohalla, Malli Bazar and Thana Bazar. For shopping in Almora you can visit a few of these shopping areas in Almora.

If you are shopping for woolens in Almora then drop into the Showroom Mall Road, for copper works visit the Tamta Mohalla and for exquisite local handicrafts of Almora drop in to the weekly markets of Almora. Almora has a beautiful mall which is the storehouse different materials from quaint looking souvenirs to the intricately designed craftwork of the artisans. Some of the interesting local products are Angora cloth and tamta (copper) vessels. The bazaar, extends from Paltan Bazaar to Narayan Tiwari Dewal, that runs almost parallel to the motor road, and is full of lanes and by-lanes. The Almora's Tamta artisans still use the traditional methods to work with brass and copper.

Almora Market

Mostly the wards have been named after the communities that inhabited them. Lala Bazar, Karkhana Bazar, Khajanchi Mohalla, Jauhari Mohalla, Malli Bazar and Thana Bazar. The market is 1.25 miles long and is covered with stone slabs. The place of the present cantonment was formerly known as Lalmandi. Presently where the collectorate exists, the 'Malla Mahal' (Upper Court) of Chanda kings was located. The site of present District Hospital used to be 'Talla Mahal' (Lower Court) of Chand rulers.

Local Handi craft

Almora is a famous for its Woolens Tweed and Woolens Shawels Thulma , Pankhi etc. The Copper - Brass Water Filters and show pieces are also famous. The "Bal-Mithai" is also famous sweet Mithai of Almora.