HimLocal
Sign in
HimLocal
A long line of snow peaks above layers of blue hills and cloud, framed by bare branches, seen from Binsar
1 / 3
Photo: Kcsr.ntl · CC BY-SA 4.0
Day plannature lovers and birdwatchersforest and mountain viewsrelaxed

A day at Binsar from Almora — Zero Point at sunrise, the oak forest, and Kasar Devi on the way back

A one-day plan from Almora to Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary: Zero Point at sunrise for the snow range, the oak forest and its birds, and Kasar Devi on the way back.
Planning to go?Add your dates — we’ll count down, and tell you when stays or batches open for them.

A slow forest day from Almora. Go up early to Zero Point in the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary for the snow range from Kedarnath to Panchachuli, walk and watch birds in the oak forest, and stop at Kasar Devi on the way home.

Photos: Kcsr.ntl (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Shyamal (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Alexkom000 (CC BY 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.

Who this is for

Early risers, walkers and birdwatchers who want quiet forest and a big mountain view.

Day by day

Day 1

Peaks at dawn, the goddess at dusk

2 stops · 38 min on the road

Leave Almora before first light, walk up to Zero Point for the view, spend the morning in the forest, and stop at Kasar Devi on the way home.

  1. 06:30
    Zero Point, Binsar
    viewpoint · 50 min from Almora · about 2 h there
    About 50 minutes to the road end, then on foot through oak and rhododendron to the sanctuary's highest point; we have no measured walking time.
  2. ↓ 38 min by road · 18 km
    13:30
    Kasar Devi Temple
    temple · 17 min from Almora · about 1 h there
    About 38 minutes back towards Almora: the goddess's hilltop temple on its ridge.

Getting there

See how to reach Almora, the best time to visit and things to do in Almora.

Where to stay

Stay in Almora. We have no verified lodging, prices or booking rules inside the sanctuary.

Know before you go

  • We have no verified entry rules, hours or fees for the sanctuary; ask at the gate.
  • Carry water and a warm layer; Zero Point is high and cold at dawn.
  • Keep to the paths and keep quiet; the birds are the reason to linger.

Places on this route

Kasar Devi Temple, Almora — the ridge village above the town
Kasar Devi Temple, Almora — the ridge village above the town
temple · 17 min from Almora
Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary and Zero Point — oak forest and the snow range above Almora
Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary and Zero Point — oak forest and the snow range above Almora
viewpoint · 50 min from Almora

Going together

No one has started a group going on this plan yet. Start one and other travellers can ask to come along.

Start a groupHow groups work

Other ways to do it

All Almora itineraries →
One day in Almora — the old town, Kasar Devi and Chitai Golu Devta
One day in Almora — the old town, Kasar Devi and Chitai Golu Devta
Day plan · First visit · Temples & heritage
A one-day Almora plan: the Nanda Devi Temple in the old town, the ridge village of Kasar Devi and the Chitai Golu Devta Temple, all within 20 minutes.
Best Mar–Apr · Oct–Nov
See the plan →
Two days in Almora — Katarmal, Kasar Devi and the Jageshwar temples
Two days in Almora — Katarmal, Kasar Devi and the Jageshwar temples
1 night · 2 days · First visit · Temples & heritage
A two-day Almora plan: the Katarmal Sun Temple and Kasar Devi on day one, then the ancient Jageshwar and Dandeshwar temples on day two. Free copyable plan.
Best Mar–Apr · Oct–Nov
See the plan →

More places nearby

All of Almora →
Katarmal Sun (Surya) Temple, Almora — Bara Aditya and its 44 shrines
Katarmal Sun (Surya) Temple, Almora — Bara Aditya and its 44 shrines
temple · 4.6 km away
Chitai Golu Devta Temple, Almora — the temple of the god of justice
Chitai Golu Devta Temple, Almora — the temple of the god of justice
temple · 4.7 km away
Jageshwar Temples, Almora — a deodar valley of old stone shrines
Jageshwar Temples, Almora — a deodar valley of old stone shrines
temple · 12 km away
Kainchi Dham, Nainital
Kainchi Dham, Nainital
temple · 28 km away

Nearby destinations

All destinations →
Rocky crags of Chauli Ki Jali in the foreground with ridge after ridge of blue hills fading into haze beyond
Mukteshwar
13 km away · 2 itineraries · 3 places
A wide panorama of forested ridges below a long line of snow-capped Himalayan peaks seen from Ranikhet
Ranikhet
22 km away · 2 itineraries · 3 places
A long line of snow-capped Himalayan peaks rising above layered blue ridges and green hills seen from Kausani
Kausani
28 km away · 2 itineraries · 2 places
Rows of boats with red cushioned seats moored on Nainital Lake, with forested hills across the water
Nainital
28 km away · 4 itineraries · 5 places
Been here?Help the next traveller — our team checks every contribution.

Questions people ask

Can you visit Binsar as a day trip from Almora?

Yes. The road end below Zero Point is about 25 km and 50 minutes from Almora on our routing, so you can be there for the morning view and back by evening. The last stretch is a walk through the forest; we have no measured time for it, so allow a couple of hours.

When is the best time to see the peaks from Binsar?

Clear autumn and winter mornings, after the monsoon has washed the air. Cloud usually rises from the valleys by midday, so arrive soon after sunrise. In March and April the view is hazier, but the rhododendrons flower ruby red through the forest.

Is Kasar Devi on the way back from Binsar?

It is a short detour: about 38 minutes from the Binsar road end on our routing, on the ridge above Almora. The goddess's hilltop temple makes a calm last stop before you return to town, and its ridge has its own long view over the hills.