Kasar Devi Temple, Almora — the ridge village above the town
temple · 17 min from Almora
Day planFirst visitTemples & heritagerelaxed
One day in Almora — the old town, Kasar Devi and Chitai Golu Devta
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.
A relaxed day that stays within 20 minutes of Almora: the old town and its Nanda Devi Temple in the morning, then Kasar Devi, the ridge village in the pines, and in the afternoon Chitai Golu Devta, the temple of the Kumaoni god of justice. The two-day plan adds the Katarmal Sun Temple and the Jageshwar temples. See also when to visit and how to reach Almora.
Photos: Sachinbauriyan (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Alexkom000 (CC BY 4.0) · Kanishkapant98 (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
Who this is for
Anyone with one day in Almora, or a night's stop on the way between Nainital and Kausani.
Day by day
Day 1
Nanda Devi Temple, Kasar Devi and Chitai Golu Devta
The town's own temple, a ridge village with a view, and the temple of the Kumaoni god of justice, none more than 20 minutes from the centre.
- 09:00Nanda Devi TempleThe temple to the goddess Nanda Devi in the old town of Almora, a short walk or drive from the centre; little is published about it, so go to look and to see the bazaar around it.
- ↓ 13 min by road · 6 km10:30Kasar Devi TempleThe ridge village above the town, where Swami Vivekananda is recorded as meditating in the 1890s; time for the temple, the lanes and the view.
- ↓ 18 min by road · 9 km13:30Golu Devta Temple, ChitaiThe best-known temple of Golu Devta, the Kumaoni god of justice, with bells at the entrance and petitions inside.
Getting there
Almora is reached from Kathgodam by car or bus, about 88 km and 175 minutes by road, and from Delhi it is about 365 km. See the hub guide for the full arrival table.
Where to stay
Almora is the base for the day; Kasar Devi village also has places to stay if you would rather sleep on the ridge.
Know before you go
- Start with the town in the morning and keep Chitai for the afternoon, so you drive out of town only once.
- We found no published opening times or entry fees for any of the three stops, so ask locally before you set out.
- Dress modestly at all three, which are working temples, and ask before photographing worshippers.
Places on this route
Other ways to do it
All Almora itineraries →
Questions people ask
Can you see Almora, Kasar Devi and Chitai in one day?
Yes. Kasar Devi is 17 minutes and Chitai 19 minutes from the centre by our routing, so the driving is short. A relaxed day gives the old town in the morning, a long stop on the Kasar Devi ridge, and the Chitai temple in the afternoon, with time left for lunch in the town.
What is Golu Devta?
A Kumaoni deity worshipped as the god of justice, regarded as an incarnation of Gaur Bhairav. Devotees believe he dispenses quick justice, and the Chitai temple is the best known of his shrines. Bells hang at its entrance and written petitions are left inside.
Is this plan good for a first visit to Kumaon?
It suits a first visit because everything is close, and none of it needs a long walk. If you have a second day, the Katarmal Sun Temple and the Jageshwar valley are the stronger outings, but each needs a longer drive of 44 and 77 minutes respectively.