Places to Visit in Almora

Almora was once termed as the Switzerland of India by Mahatma Gandhi.It is70 kms from Nainital and happens to be a very old town. This could ideally be the second  stoppage of your journey in the Kumaon region. The mountains here provide clean air and good health.Some of the places in and around Almoa are as follows:

1. Kainchi Temple - On the way to Almora,you'll come across the Kainchi temple which is dedicated to The great Neemkarauli baba (one of the greatest saints of our times).

2. Almora Town - Is quite an old city and you can hang around the place (only in the day time). Avoid going around the city in the night as most of the people you'll find will be drunk :)

3. Chitai Temple- The famous Chitai temple, which was erected in the honour of Lord Goljyu who dispenses quick justice to whoever comes to his court.A must visit.

4.  Jageshwar Temple - It is around 35 kms ahead of Chitai and is one of the Jyothirlingas.An ancient temple admist syullivian surroundings.

5. Hawalbagh Farm - The state rural development has a guest house here and it hosts the village life of Almora.The Kosi river flows near by. Avoid going out at night as Leopards and Jackals are present in this area.

6. The Binsar Valley and Kausani - These places are further north to Almora and are home to the picturesque Himalayan beauty.An ideal place to find peace and serenity.Kausani has the famous Mahatama Gandhi Asharam my Grand-mother(maternal) who was from Kausani, had served in this Asharam.

Places to Visit in Nainital

Nainital is the southernmost part of the Kumaon region. The present Nainital valley was established by the British around 1829. Earlier the region was famous because of the Naina Devi temple which was destroyed during a landslide.The present Naini temple which is around a century old was established by the lake later.Nainital has quite a few spots to explore:

a) Boating in the Naini lake - Not to be missed, site for some awesome pics,The Nainital nagar-nigam must be credited in maintaining the cleanliness of the lake. Poly thin is banned across Uttarakhand.You may ihre the boats either from tllital or from mallital after visiting the naina devi temple.Boating charges are fixed INR 210.(May 2014 rates)

b) The Tibetan market - Here you will find anything and everything. Items are custom free and you may bargain.Candles are special attraction here.

c)Walk down the Bara Bazaar and Mall road by the lake.

d) The Cave garden is home to a couple of naturally formed caves which would definitely add a pinch of excitement and adventure to your trip.

e)Trolley ride to snow point.

f) Drive to Kilbury - Once in a life time experience. The forest department has a guest house here for night stay

g) Hanuman Garhi - Is at the entrance of Nainital. It is the place where the Great Neem karauli baba had done his sadhana.

How to reach?

From Delhi to Nainital

1. Trains travel till Kathgodam railway station, Nainital is just 32 kms from here.

2. Many taxis are available outside the railway station and ideally charge INR 100 per seat.This would be the cheapest fares for Alto which has 5 seats including the driver. So you can book the entire Alto in INR 500, you will have to give a toll of INR 50 while entering Nainital.

3. Per day fares during season time for Alto would be INR 1700.

4. If you book a taxi from Delhi the overall travel would be cheaper.

5. Taking your own vehicle to the Kumaon mountains is not ad visible.The mountains are mystic and local knowledge is a must while exploring them.

From Lucknow/U.P. to Nainital.

The route is via the Grant trunk road Lucknow -Bareily-Haldwani, avoid travelling in the night


Another route to enter the fabled Kumaon Hills would be via Nanak Mattha -Pilibhit-Tanakpur....>Champawat.

Story of Lord Goljyu

Lord Goljyu is famous for delivering quick justice to anyone who comes to him.It is a common belief that if someone has forgotten his way in the mountains of Uttaranchal, Lord Goljyu appears and helps and guides them to their destination.The person shouldn't forget saying to say thank-you to him.

Chitai Temple at Almora

The present article is about the story of Goljyu and is as follows:

The Katyri King Jhalrav had once gone hunting in Champawat (area around the Kali river). He decided to take a break and rest in the nearby village of Duba-Chaura. In the village he saw two bulls fighting,he tried but couldn't separate the fighting bulls. Meanwhile he ordered his servant to get some water  to quench his thirst.

The servant found water in an Ashram where he saw a young ascetic woman deep in meditation. 
Her meditation broke (due to servant's requests for water for the King) and she told the him that the servant of a King who cannot separate two fighting bulls is of no use.He was astonished to know that the young ascetic woman knew about the fighting bulls and requested her to come to the King.

On reaching the place where the King was resting the young ascetic woman separated the two fighting bulls by their horns, much to everyone's surprise. The King fell in love with beautiful ascetic woman and expressed her desire to marry her. She introduced herself as Princess Kali (daughter of the King (possibly King of Nepal as Kali river flows between Champawat and Nepal).She introduced the king to her Uncle who was an Albino.The King ,after serving the Albino asked Princess Kali's hand for marriage and the proposal was accepted by her Uncle. 

In time, Princess Kali conceived. The King was very excited about the same. On the day of the delivery he ordered her other queens to ring a bell, when the baby is delivered so that he could come inside.The other queens had been very jealous of Kali and rung the bell before the baby was actually delivered.The King came inside and when he saw that the delivery is not complete, he went for the inspection of his town and decided to come in some time. Meanwhile the baby was delivered by Princess Kali, the Queens decided to kill the baby by keeping the newly born in a cage filled with salt. But dramatically, all the salt was converted into sugar and  the baby fed on the same.When the Queens saw that they decided to throw away the cage into the river and the King was told that Princess Kali has given birth to a Pumpkin.

The Baby in the cage survived and grew up in a fisherman's home.As a young boy he was once riding  wooden horse by the riverside. The Same queens had come to the same place to fill in their  pitchers.The young boy insisted that his horse has to drink water,he broke their pitchers and upon being asked said "If a queen can give birth to a pumpkin, a wooden horse can drink water too"

When the King heard about the same he was able to join the dots and accepted the young boy as his son.Since the Iron cage was thrown in "Gori-Ganga" he came to be known as Gorilla or Gwalla.

Choliya Dance

I visited the famous Chitai temple on 11th May 2011. The Choliya dance was being performed by the artists in the temple premises, as it was the marriage season and many marriages were also being conducted there.I managed to record a brief clipping of the same.