Almora Totally Explained

Everything about Almora totally explained

Almora (Hindi: अल्मोड़ा) is a cantonment town in Almora district in the state of Uttarakhand, India, founded in 1568 .
Almora is located at an altitude of 1638 meters (5,500 feet), on a ridge at the southern edge of the Kumaon Hills of the Himalaya range. In the shape of a horse saddle shaped hillock it's surrounded by thick forests of pine and fur trees, flowing alongside the city are rivers of Koshi(Kaushiki) and Suyal(salmale) and to top it all are the snow capped Himalayas in the background.
It is a town bustling with activity, and has a rich cultural heritage and history. It is considered the cultural heart of the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand.

Demographics

According to the 2001 India census, Almora town had a population of 30,613. Males number 16, 443 and constitute roughly 53.7% of the population and females number 14,170 or roughly 46.3%. Almora has an average literacy rate of 84.09%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 86.39% of the males and 81.43% of females literate. Nearly 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Quotes

"In these hills, nature's hospitality eclipses all men can ever do. The enchanting beauties of the Himalayas, their bracing climate and the soothing green that envelopes you leaves nothing more to be desired. I wonder whether the scenery of these hills and the climate are to be surpassed, if equalled, by any of the beauty spots of the world. After having been nearly three weeks in Almora Hills, I'm more than ever amazed why our people need go in Europe in search of health." - Mahatama M.K. Gandhi "These mountains are associated with the best memories of our race: Here, therefore, must be one of centers, not merely of activity, but more of calmness of meditation, and of peace and I hope some one to realize it." - Swami Vivekananda (replying to the address given to him by the people of Almora

Temples

Almora has many famous temples. Kasar Devi, Banari Devi, Chitai, Jageshwar, Rudreshwar Mahadev Temple(near Sanara Ganiya), Binsar Mahadev, Garhnath, Baijnath, are some of the few notable ones. Rudreshwar Mahadev Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and it's situated on the bank of the river Ram Ganga. A sun temple (only the second in the world) is located at Katarmal a short distance from the town.

District Administration

Presently District administration is headed by District Magistrate who is also the head of the Civil Service in the entire district. However the District Magistrate is subservient to the District Judge. The District Magistrate is empowered to decide on issues relating to public law and order and general administration. Under the District Magistrate are Additional District Magistrate and Sub-divisional Magistrates. The number of sub-divisional magistrates vary from district to district. Presently there are nine sub-divisions in Almora district.

Interesting Facts

Almora was the capital of the Chand Dynasty Kings of Kumaon for four centuries, and was the administrative centre of Kumaon during the British Raj.
The first British Nobel Laureate (in medicine), Sir Ronald Ross was born in Almora in 1857.
Pt.Govind Ballabh Pant was born in Khoont village on the Shyahi Devi hill of Almora.
Doyen of Indian bureaucrats Bhairab Dutt Pande ICS, Padma Vibhushan, was born in Almora.
Swami Vivekananda, who established 'Adwaita Ashrama' near Almora which is also known as Mayawati. Sister Nivedita and many disciples of Swamiji came here for spiritual salvation.
A few miles away from Almora lies Mirtola, where an ashram was established in the 1929, by a Vaishnav saint 'Yashoda Ma', and later run by her disciples Sri Krishna Prem and after him by Sri Madhav Ashish .
Uday Shankar founded his famous dance school here in 1938 in a place called "Pine Lodge", which was later shifted to Kolkata after the World War II. His younger brother Sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar and the great Hindi film maker Guru Dutt studied in this school, while Ustad Alauddin Khan Sahib, or Baba of Maihar and Zohra Sehgal taught there.
The mystic-scientist Boshi Sen, a disciple of Swami Sadananda of the Ramkrishna order and of Sir JC Bose, set up an agricultural research lab here and lived in Almora for the rest of his life with his wife Gertrude Emersen.
Barechhina, a village 8 km from Almora, famous for pre-historic rock shelters, with coloured paintings.
Franco-Australian Bollywood star Almora Davie was named after this hill station (Almora).
Another popular film star, Uma Thurman, also resided in the same hill station, as a child.
Several leading figures of Hindi literature like Sumitranandan Pant, Manohar Shyam Joshi and Shivani are all natives of Almora.
Shooting of a 2006 Hindi film, Vivah took place in Almora
On the outskirts of the town, approaching Kasar Devi temple, is the famous Crank's Ridge, which has hosted various artists and writer's since at least the 1930's.
Indian Cricket Team Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is a native of Almora. His paternal village Lvali is located in the Lamgarha block of Almora District.

Further Information

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