Kumaon in five days — Nainital's lake, Almora's old temples, and the Kausani ridge
Five days across the Kumaon hills. The first is at Nainital, for the lake and the Naina Devi Temple. Then two from Almora, for the Katarmal Sun Temple, Kasar Devi and the stone temples of Jageshwar; and two from Kausani, for the snow view from the ridge and the temples of Baijnath and Bageshwar.
Photos: Praveen Singh Bisht (CC BY 2.0) · rrdarvesh (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Itsmalay~commonswiki (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Yann (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
Who this is for
First-time visitors to Kumaon who want its lakes, its old temples and its great Himalayan view in one unhurried trip.
Day by day
Day 1Nainital
2 stops · 3 min on the road
Nainital
The lake and the goddess's temple on its shore.
- 10:00Nainital LakeA boat or a walk round the lake that gives the town its name.
- ↓ a short walk12:30Naina Devi TempleThe temple of the goddess on the northern shore of the lake.
Day 2On to Almora
2 stops · 49 min on the road
On to Almora
Over the hills to Almora, about 125 minutes from Nainital on our routing, with the sun temple and Kasar Devi in the afternoon.
- 13:00Surya Temple, KatarmalThe old sun temple on the hill near Almora, a tall stone tower among small shrines.
- ↓ 49 min by road · 23 km15:30Kasar Devi TempleThe goddess's temple on the ridge above Almora, with the long view north.
Day 3Jageshwar
1 stop
Jageshwar
A day among the old stone temples in the deodar forest.
- 10:00Jageshwar temple complexThe great cluster of stone shrines of Shiva among deodar trees, east of Almora.
Day 4Up to Kausani, and Baijnath
2 stops · 48 min on the road
Up to Kausani, and Baijnath
The road to Kausani, about 101 minutes from Almora on our routing, then Baijnath's temples in the afternoon.
- 11:00KausaniThe pine ridge where, on a clear day, the snow peaks of Trisul, Nanda Devi and Panchchuli stand along the horizon.
- ↓ 48 min by road · 20 km14:30Baijnath Temple ComplexThe cluster of old stone temples by the Gomati, below Kausani.
Day 5Bageshwar, then home
1 stop
Bageshwar, then home
The Bagnath temple at Bageshwar, then the long road back to the plains.
- 10:00Bagnath Temple ComplexThe temple of Shiva at Bageshwar, where the Saryu and the Gomati meet.
Getting there
Start from Kathgodam, the railhead below Nainital, and end the trip there or at Kathgodam again. See how to reach Nainital.
Where to stay
One night in Nainital, two in Almora, one in Kausani and the last near Bageshwar or on the road home. We have no verified lodging or prices.
Know before you go
- The snow view from Kausani needs a clear sky; look at first light, before the cloud builds.
- The temples are places of worship: dress modestly and remove shoes where asked.
- Hill roads in Kumaon are slow in the monsoon; keep a spare day in July and August.
Places on this route
Going together
No one has started a group going on this plan yet. Start one and other travellers can ask to come along.
Other ways to do it
All Nainital itineraries →
More places nearby
All of Nainital →
Nearby destinations
All destinations →
Questions people ask
What is the best Kumaon itinerary for five days?
A day in Nainital for the lake and the Naina Devi Temple, two days around Almora for the Katarmal Sun Temple, Kasar Devi and the stone temples of Jageshwar, and two around Kausani for the snow view, Baijnath and Bageshwar. Each move between towns takes about two hours on our routing.
How far is Almora from Nainital?
About 64 km and 125 minutes by road on our routing, and Kausani is a little under two hours beyond Almora. Mukteshwar, another possible stop, is about 49 km and 108 minutes from Nainital. These are hill roads, slower than the distance suggests.
When is the best time for a Kumaon trip?
Spring, from March to May, and autumn, October and November, are the pleasant seasons; autumn usually brings the clearest views of the snow peaks from Kausani and Almora. In the monsoon the roads are slow and the mountains often hidden, and winter nights are cold.