Almora

Almora
Almora is a municipal board, a cantonment town in the Almora district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. Almora was founded in 1568.[1]
It is a town bustling with activity and a rich cultural heritage and history. It is considered the cultural heart of the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand.

Geography
Almora is located on a ridge at the southern edge of the Kumaon Hills of the Himalaya range. In the shape of a horse saddle shaped hillock, it is surrounded by thick forests of pine and fir trees. Flowing alongside the city are rivers of Koshi, (Kaushiki), and Suyal (Salmale). The snow capped Himalayas can be seen in the background.

Almora personalities
Swami Vivekananda Swamiji spent some days in Almora in course of his Himalayan sojourn.He expressed great eagerness in making an Ashrama in the bosom of Himalayas for the practice of pure Advaita Vedanta. Mr. and Mrs. Savier's sincere hard work made the Divine dream come true.
Govind Ballabh Pant (August 30, 1887 - March 7, 1961),noted freedom fighter & first Chief minister of Uttar Pradresh, was born in Almora.
Sumitranandan Pant,(May 20, 1900 – December 28, 1977) one of the most famous modern Hindi poets, was born at Kausani village of Bageshwar, in the hills of Kumaon.
Sir Ronald Ross, the famous Malaria scientist and Noble laureate, was born here.

American Actress Uma Thurman spent large parts of her childhood at Crank's Ridge, near Almora. The lyricist Prasoon Joshi, the artist Uday Shankar, Mohan Upreti, and many other artistic gems have their roots in Almora.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the famous Indian cricketer, has his roots here. Dhoni's father had a farm here before he settled in Ranchi in 1964.
Begum Ra'ana Liaquat Ali Khan, (1905 - June 13, 1990) was born in a Kumauni Brahmin family at Almora in the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh.She is a wife of Pakistan's first prime minister Liaquat Ali Khan.

P.C. Joshi, the first chairman of the Communist Party of India (CPI), was born in Almora. S.D.Upadhyayay, Member Parliament[1952-1970] also was born in Almora district.
B.C. Joshi,General Bipin Chandra Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, ADC (Born: 1935, Died: November 19, 1994) was the Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) of the Indian Army belongs to Almora district (Talladaniya).

Murli Manohar Joshi,the Union Human Resources Development minister of India (Born:January 5, 1934)in the NDA government. Joshi is a leading member of the Bharatiya Janata Party.