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Almora is a district in the Kumaon Division of Uttarakhand state, India. The headquarters is at Almora. It is 1,638 meters above sea level. The neighbouring regions are Pithoragarh district to the east, Chamoli district to the west, Bageshwar district to the north and Nainital district to the south.
Almora town was the administrative headquarters of the Kumaun district; which was formed in 1815 following the defeat of Gorkha army in the Anglo-Gorkha war and the 1816 Treaty of Sugauli. The Kumaun district then consisted of the complete Kumaon Division excluding the Terai district with its headquarters at Kashipur. In 1837, Garhwal was made a separate district with its headquarters at Pauri. The Nainital district was carved out of the Kumaun District in 1891, and the Kumaon District was then renamed Almora District after its headquarter. In 1921 the population of the district was recorded as 530,338.
In the 1960s Bageshwar district, Pithoragarh district and Champawat district had not yet been formed and were part of Almora district. Times World Atlas, 1967 Edition, Plate 30. Pithoragarh district was carved out of Almora on 24 February 1960 and Bageshwar district on 15 September 1997. In 2011, Ranikhet District was proposed to be carved out of the Almora District and has yet to come into existence.
The market is long and is covered with stone slabs. The place of the present cantonment was formerly known as Lalmandi. Presently where the collectorate exists, the 'Malla Mahal' (Upper Court) of Chanda kings was located. The site of present District Hospital used to be 'Talla Mahal' (Lower Court) of Chand rulers.
Simalkhet is a village situated on the border of Almora and Chamoli. People of this village can speak both Kumauni and Garhwali languages. On the top of a hill there is a temple called Bhairav Gadi.
There is also a village known as Shitlakhet that sits in the south quadrant. This village is a hill station.
Gori River flows through Almora District.
Its Assembly constituencies are Dwarahat, Salt, Ranikhet, Someshwar (SC), Almora, and Jageshwar.
Upon the creation of Kumaon district in May 1815, seven tehsils were set up in the district at Almora, Champawat, Dwarahat, Kota, Pithoragarh, Phaldakot and Ramnagar. taking the total number of tehsils to nine.
| + Parganas of Kumaon district after re-organisation in 1823 | |
"In these hills, Nature’s hospitality eclipses all that man can ever do. The enchanting beauty of the Himalayas, their bracing climate and the soothing green that envelops you, leave nothing more to be desired. I wonder whether the scenery of these hills and the climate are to be surpassed, if equalled, by any of the beauty spots of the world. After having been for nearly three weeks in the Almora hills, I am more than ever amazed why our people need to go to Europe in search of health.", p. 254 - Mahatma Gandhi
"These mountains are associated with the best memories of our race: Here, therefore, must be one of centers, not merely of activity, but more of calmness of meditation, and of peace and I hope some one to realize it." - Swami Vivekananda (replying to the address given to him by the people of Almora)
The nearest railway station is at Kathgodam, 90 km, from where direct trains are available for Delhi, Lucknow and Agra. Some of the major trains from Kathgodam are:
Almora is well connected by road to important centres in the region. NH 87 passes through to almora is known as karnaprayag national highway. Some distances:
In 2001, Hindus were 621,203, Muslims 7,283 (1.15%), Christians 959. Most of the population lives near the main market of Almora that forms nearly 45% of the population.
The major first language of the district is Kumaoni language, spoken by over 90% of the population.
| Bengali language | 555 | 0.1% | |
| Dogri language | 737 | 0.1% | |
| Bhojpuri | 885 | 0.1% | |
| Garhwali | 17,939 | 2.9% | |
| Hindi | 33,198 | 5.3% | |
| Kumauni language | 561,642 | 90.2% | |
| Nepali language | 2,604 | 0.4% | |
| Punjabi language | 536 | 0.1% | |
| Urdu language | 1,408 | 0.2% | |
| – | Others| align=right 3,002 | 0.5% | |
| Total | 622,506 | 100.0% | |
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