Almora is believed to have gotten its name from Kilmora, a kind of sorrel, a short plant commonly found here, which was said to have been used for washing the utensils of the sun temple at Katarmal. Situated on a 5-km-long ridge at the southern edge of the Kashyap hills in the shape of a horse saddle, Almora is a picturesque town set against the backdrop of the snow-capped Himalayas. Once the capital of the Chand dynasty rulers, Almora is known for its rich cultural heritage, unique handicrafts, and delicious cuisine.

Almora has attracted several eminent people through the ages, including Swami Vivekananda and Rabindranath Tagore. Uday Shankar and his troupe, including Guru Dutt and Zohra Sehgal, came here for a performance, while Ravi Shankar contributed to the cultural enrichment of the town. Govind Ballabh Pant, noted freedom fighter, first Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, and later Home Minister of India, was born in Almora. Sir Ronald Ross, who received the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for his path-breaking discovery of the malaria parasite, was born here in 1857. The town also serves as the starting point for many treks like Jageshwar, Pindari, Mornaula, Mukteshwar, Binsar, and Ranikhet, among others.

Lakhudiyar
Literally meaning one lakh caves, this is one of the most important prehistoric sites in the Himalayas. Fascinating prehistoric rock paintings have been discovered within the caves. It is located about 20 km from Almora town.

Kasar Devi Temple
Kasar Devi is a small village around 25 km from Almora and is known for the Kasar Devi temple, dating back to the 2nd century CE. It is said that Swami Vivekananda visited Kasar Devi in the 1890s, and numerous thinkers from the world over including Sunyata Baba Alfred Sorensen and Lama Anagarika Govinda, also came here. Crank’s Ridge, just outside the village, known for mysterious/unique powers, continues to attract trekkers and tourists, both domestic and foreign.

Katarmal
The Katarmal Surya Temple is a 9th-century temple built by Katarmalla, a Katyuri King, exhibiting the architectural style of the ancient artisans. This Hindu temple is perched at an elevation of 2,116 meters above sea level and is situated at a distance of 19 kms from Almora. This Surya Mandir (Sun Temple) is also known as Badaditya (Baraditya) Temple.