Kumaon is a beautiful region (part of proposed Uttaranchal State) of Uttar Pradesh (India) consisting of Six Districts Almora, Nainital, PithoraGarh, Udhamsingh Nagar, Champawat and Bageshwar. The area is in the lap of the Central Himalayas. Kumaon offers the best snowscape panoramas of the Greater Himalayan peaks in the north. God Vishnu's Kurmavatar was taken here in Kurmu hill and due to the reason the area is known as Kurmanchal and later on it became Kumaon. The region is full of natural beauty provided by God. Wild life reserve, fruit orchards, religious sites and a beauteous landscape are the different beauties of the area.

The Lake District Nainital is full of beautiful lakes. Its name is upon beautiful Naini Lake named after Goddess Naini.

Almora, My native District, is a beautiful hill district and is very nice for exploring beauty of hills. Almora is the old city with a series of temples all over the District. Ranikhet, Kausani, Bageshwar etc. are other famous places to view in the district.

Ranikhet is known for its tremendous panoramic delights of the high Himalayas. The Famous Baba Hedakhan Temple is also here near Ranikhet.

Kausani unrivalled for its location is the native place of famous Hindi poet Sumitra Nandan Pant.

Dwarahat, place near to Ranikhet is famous for its sequence of tamples. It is believed that all Gods decided to stay in this area and ordered Ramganga river to flow from this place. The tree of a "SEMAL" (name of a tree) was ordered to tell the way to the river but the tree slept before arrival of the river and was not able to tell the way to the river. So river went on different route. Due to the reason the Gods were not able to stay in Dwarahat. The temples are very old and according to some people they are made by 'Pandavas' during there exile. The area of king VIRAT is also here where 'Pandawas stayed during there last year of exile named as 'Ajyatwaas'. There is one place in the area, which is known as bed of Bhima (One of the Pandawas). At this place if you hit on the ground it will sound very nice (like DHUM-DHUM). The area is full of memories of Pandawa's. The old capitol of Kumaon 'PALI' (after Champawat) is also in the same area and known as 'SARAKAARI PALI' is still having signs of Gorakha attacks and their stay in Kumaon. After Independence it was a 'Tahseel' (subpart of a district) but now it has been shifted to Ranikhet and now known as Tahseel Pali-Ranikhet. In the area a beautiful place Dunagiri (Formally known as Dron-Giri) is there and is famous for Yoga and natural medicines. It is believed that when God Hanumaan was flying towards Lanka after taking Sanjeevani Bootee one part of the hill broke and fell here and this is the place which is now known as Dunagiri. Many famous people came here for Yoga and Samaadhi.

The people of the Kumaon are very peace loving and patriotic. There are lot persons in Indian Army from the region. Who do not know about Capt. Somnath Sharma, The first person who got the highest Indian army award Param Veer Chakra, was also from Kumaon Regiment.

The hills are the best place to spent holidays and for enjoying life.

For coming to Kumaon one can come from Delhi to Kathgodam by train (Broad gauge). If one wishes to come by plane than he can come to PantNagar which is around 22 Km. from Kathgodam. If one is coming by Narrow gauge train route then he has to come till Lalkuan (18 Km. from Haldwani) and from here one can get buses and taxies to all over Kumaon or he can come to Haldwani. Buses are available for all over the Kumaon from Delhi. But bus journey is not so easy so one has to avoid it till Haldwani/Kathgodam because after that Buses are the only means of transportation. Taxies are also available from Green City, Haldwani to all the main places of Kumaon. From Haldwani distance of Nainital is around 40 Km. only while Almora and Ranikhet are 105 Km. On the way one can enjoy the natural beauty of the hills.

• TREKKING KUMAON