16

THE HOME TOWN—ALMORA

Almora is my home town, hence the thought about it as
janani janmabhumisch swargayapi gariyasi —the motherland is
not only like heaven but even better than what a heaven can
be—so is Almora for me. I am reminded of my childhood days
in Almora with nostalgia.
Historic town
Nestling amongst the lower spurs of the great Himalayas and
surrounded by range upon range of higher mountains, fading into
blue distance, is the town of Almora which has been described in
Skandpurana as kaushiki salnial maddhey punnayak kashagah
parwateh.
Almora was founded in 1560 by one of the Chand Rajas of
Kumaon, named Kalyan Singh (Chand). The Raja was hunting
in the forest and while chasing a hare he saw that in the midst of
forest it turned into a tiger. It was considered a good omen.
The advisers of Raja advised that this place should be turned into
a capital. Consequently, a crowbar was driven in the earth which
went deep and when withdrawn it came out blood stained.
The name of Almora is said to be a variant or corruption of
Kiimora, the native word for the red sorrel, which grows afeond*