Around Almora/Hindu Temples

If you have an extra few days, take a side trip from Ranikhet to see several important temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. Many are old, dating from the Katyuri (8th-14th centuries) and Chand (15th-18th centuries) dynasties. The most significant temples northeast of Ranikhet are at Baijanth, Bhageshwar, and Jageshwar. Unlike temples on the North Indian plains, these are built from rough-hewn stone, and their alpine locations—such as the cedar forest in Jageshwar—give these temples a totally different feel. The hill at Binsar has both a nature sanctuary and some ruins of the Chand dynasty's capital.