Route library · Weekend · Mountains
Delhi to Almora
Almora is one of Kumaon's oldest hill towns — a long ridge at about 1,650 m with stone-paved bazaar lanes, a famous brown fudge called bal mithai, and a ring of temples around it. Just outside town, the Kasar Devi ridge and the 9th-century Katarmal Sun Temple give it more depth than the usual hill-station weekend.
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At a glance
- Round trip
- About 720–780 km
- Riding time
- About 8–9 hours each way
- Nights
- Two nights is comfortable — Kainchi Dham, Kasar Devi and Katarmal each deserve their own slot
- Start point
- Delhi (via Kathgodam, Bhowali and Kainchi Dham)
- Highest point
- About 2,100 m along the Kasar Devi ridge
- Difficulty
- Moderate. Good hill roads; the last 90 km from Kathgodam is a steady climb and descent.
- Surface
- Sealed road all the way
- Best season
- October to June. Clear post-monsoon skies in October–November; spring brings rhododendron on the higher slopes; the monsoon slows the road.
The ride
Delhi → Kathgodam → Bhowali → Kainchi Dham → Almora. Kainchi Dham, the roadside ashram associated with Neem Karoli Baba, is a natural first stop on the way up and draws big crowds on its annual fair day in June.
In Almora, walk the old bazaar for bal mithai and the carved wooden facades, then ride out to the Kasar Devi ridge for the long mountain view and the Katarmal Sun Temple, a ninth-century Katyuri-era temple set on a quiet slope above the valley.
Day by day
Delhi to Almora
Delhi → Kathgodam → Bhowali → Kainchi Dham → Almora (8–9 hours). Stop at Kainchi Dham if the light and the crowd allow, then settle in.
Kasar Devi and Katarmal
Ride to the Kasar Devi ridge early for the view, then on to Katarmal Sun Temple. Back in Almora, spend the afternoon in the bazaar.
Almora to Delhi
Down through Kainchi Dham and Bhowali to Kathgodam and the plains. Leave early — this is a long day.
Fuel & services
- Fuel is easy on the plains highway; fill up at Kathgodam or Bhowali before the Almora road.
- Almora has pumps in town, and small ones at some Kumaon crossroads — but do not count on them late in the evening.
- Almora and the Kasar Devi ridge have homestays and guesthouses across budgets; the ridge ones book out in the peak months.
Road & conditions
Sealed throughout. The plains stretch to Kathgodam is fast but truck-heavy; from Bhowali the road to Kainchi Dham and on to Almora is a good hill road with steady bends. Kainchi Dham gets very busy on weekends and on its June fair day, when the road can crawl. Rain can cause small slips in July–September.
Bike, fuel & getting help
- Suggested bike
- Fine on a well-maintained 150–200cc commuter.
- Fuel gap
- Longest dry stretch is short — a normal tank covers it with margin.
- Spare fuel
- None needed for this route.
- Emergency & logistics
- District hospitals within an hour or so; full mobile coverage; mechanics in every town. A short, low-stakes ride.
Best time to ride
October to June is generally good. October–November gives the clearest mountain view; March–April brings rhododendron and mild days. Winter is cold and can bring snow to the higher ridge. The monsoon slows the road and hides the view.
What to add to your kit
Beyond the standard ride kit: a warm layer for the ridge evenings, shoes for the short walks at Katarmal and Kasar Devi, and a camera for the panorama.
Ride this with a group
Want to ride Almora with a briefed group? Send an enquiry, or check the rides page for the next outing.