.Uttarakkand , 115
wealth for this awful defensive strategy. Most of the present
forest was planted by the Britishers.
Almora Bazar is perhaps unique in the sense that it has stone
flooring over solid rock, although its length with a row of exqui-
sitely carved out houses and right in the centre of the Bazar over
the Almora hill top is located the ancient fort, the last defenders
of which were Gurkhas in 1815, when the place was captured by
the Britishers. Today, this fort houses the District Magistrate's
office and the civil courts.
Almora Bazar is unique and picturesque in many ways, parti-
cularly because of the excellently carved wooden fronts of the
houses, the lower storey of which forms a shop or an open
•verandah supported on small pillars. The oldest houses of Bazar
are located in Khajanchi Mohalla which was built by Narayaa
,Sah, the businessman, steward and treasurer of the Chands who
.are known today as Thulgaria Shah's.
The Ramsay College
Further down the Bazar, we come to an assemblage of public
buildings, including the tehsil, hospital and Ramsay College. The
Ramsay College building is of historical importance because it
was built as far back as 1871. It has played pivotal role in the
•upliftment of Kumaon. I had my early education in this school,
Almora has played vital role as seat of learning for entire
Uttarakhand.
The temples of Almora
Almora abounds with temples. In the true tradition of ancient
-capitals, it has Navdurga (nine goddesses) and Ashtabhairauv
(eight Bhairauv) temples, located at strategic point, the most
famous being the temple of Nanda Devi which was built by
Raja Baj Bahadur Chand, Tularameshwar by late Tularam Shah
Thulgharia and Murli Manohar temple. There are temples of
many other Gods and Goddesses out of which the Golla Devta
temple (Bhairauv) at Chitai and Kasar Devi at Kashaya Parvat
are most famous. The temple of Chitai is most acknowledged
as the dispenser of justice.