Shitlakhet hill station of Almora: The popular hill station in Uttarakhand is situated on the high mountains of the huge Himalaya Mountains. There are many such hill stations that provide a serene atmosphere, picturesque views, and pleasant weather.
There are many hill stations in Uttarakhand where you can roam if you want. But today we are going to tell you about Shitlakhet Hill Station where you can enjoy the beauty of the hill station by traveling with your family or friends.
Shitlakhet hill station of Almora Uttarakhand
In the beautiful hill stations of the Kumaon division of Uttarakhand, tourists keep visiting Kausani, Mussoorie, Chakrata, etc. hill stations every year. If you want to see the new hill stations in Uttarakhand, then Shitlakhet Hill Station is one of them. Shitlakhet Hill Station is not very popular as a tourist destination but it is a favorite place for tourists who want to get spiritual happiness by being one with nature.
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Shitlakhet is situated at a distance of 32 kms from Almora district headquarter in the southwest direction. Shitlakhet Hill Station is famous for its natural beauty and panoramic view of the Himalayan peaks. A very wide range of Himalayas is visible from here. Surrounded by about 1800 hectares of forest area from all sides, this town is a tok of Gram Panchayat Salla Rautela. Shitlakhet is one of those places in Kumaon where a very dense forest exists.
The settlement of the population started from the beginning of the twentieth century in Shitlakhet, full of natural beauty. Shiromani Pathak’s son Nardev Pathak, a resident of Salla Rautela, initially came from his village and was among the first family members to settle at this delightful place on the side of the Khairna-Karnprayag walking tour route.
Road traffic did not have good access to the hilly areas in those days. At that time, a halt was made at Shitlakhet by foot pilgrims traveling to Chardham. Around the year 1930, Shri Ram Bajpai of ‘Balchar Seva Sansthan,’ later known as ‘Bharat Scout Guide’, arrived at this place and took land from Shiromani Pathak by him here as ‘Uttar Pradesh Bharat Scout and The foundation of the guide’s summer training center was laid.
Tourist places near Shitlakhet Hill Station
Shitlakhet is known for its natural beauty. Nestled in the lap of nature, this hill station attracts tourists. Shitlakhet is a small hill station. But it is very calm and pleasant. Here you can see the beautiful peaks of the Himalayas.
Where greenery everywhere gives an experience of peace. On the other hand, the ancient temples here connect with our history and faith. People who are bored with urban life often like to go to places with a quiet environment. This place is no less than a paradise for those people.
Shitlakhet is also a place of great importance from the religious point of view. This place has also been the penance place of famous saints Haidkhandi Maharaj and Somwar Giri Maharaj. Siddhashram has also been established in Shitlakhet by Haidkhandi Maharaj. This beautiful Shitlakhet hill station of Almora is located at a distance of 1 to 3 hours from tourist places like Ranikhet, Kausani, Binsar, Jageshwar, Nainital, etc. There are hotels, campsites, and homestay facilities for the tourists to stay here.
Syahi Devi Temple
There is a temple of “Maa Syahi Devi” situated at a distance of about 3 km from Sheetlakhet. Every year Bhandara is organized here on the occasion of the New Year. The chief priest of the temple, Kailash Nath Goswami, told that the temple is built in the 11th century and the idol of Lord Ganesha has also been established in 1254, whoever reaches the court of the mother with a true heart, his wishes are fulfilled.
Devotees come not only from Uttarakhand but also from outside states in the court of Mother and Goddess Ink Devi Mata’s grace remains in the entire area. This temple is situated at the highest point of 360 degrees around the Almora region. The peaks from Himachal Pradesh to Uttarakhand can be seen on clear weather days. The people here keep the temple complex clean and well maintained. Must visit if you are near Sitalkhet.
Also Read: Famous religious places in Uttarakhand
Bhalu Dam
Bhalu Dam is a small lake situated at a distance of 3 km below the Chaubatia orchards. From this place, one can have excellent views of the snow-capped mountains of the alluring Himalayan ranges. One can relax in the gardens located in the vicinity of this beautiful dam. This dam was developed by the British Government in 1903. Being open to tourists throughout the year, this place is an ideal place for camping.
Dhokane/Dhokaney Waterfall
Going from Nainital to Almora, at a distance of about 50 km, about 18 km before Almora, there is a road inside 2 km which also goes towards Ramgarh. This beautiful waterfall is present at the same place, which is operated by Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam.
Things to do in sitlakhet Hill station
The mesmerizing view of the sun-kissed hills, the rich flora and the calm breeze carrying away the scent of pink rhododendrons makes Shitlakhet Hill Station a perfect retreat.
This naturally heavy place offers adventurous hiking and camping amidst the magnificence of nature. Boasting supernatural natural beauty, Shitlakhet is also famous for picnics, trekking, hiking, camping and photography.
How to reach Shitlakhet?
If you are looking for a unique holiday spot away from the hustle and bustle of the cities, then Sitalakhet is the place for you. Adorned in the Almora district, Sheetalkhet is a lesser known tourist destination located about 24 km from the meadows ‘Ranikhet’. Kaleidoscope “Syahi Devi Temple” Proudly situated at a height of 1900 meters on the hills, Sitalkhet is one of the best places to visit in Kumaon Himalayas. One can enjoy a panoramic view of the Chaukhamba peaks from this off-beat destination.
Reach Shitlakhet By Air-
The nearest airport to this Shitlakhet hill station in Almora district is Pantnagar of Udham Singh Nagar, which is about 162 kilometers away. Pantnagar Airport via Almora is a domestic airport serving the city of Pantnagar in the north Indian state of Uttarakhand operated by the Airports Authority of India. If you want to go to Shitlakhet via Dehradun-Haridwar, then the nearest Jolly Grant will be located in Dehradun.
Reach Shitlakhet By Road-
It is well connected by road to Ranikhet, Almora and Haldwani. Hence, it is easy to reach Sitalakhet by road and enjoy its beauty as well. The fare for a private taxi or cab from Kathgodam to Shitlakhet ranges between Rs 1500 – 2000 for one way. Dehradun is situated at a distance of 412 km, Nainital 7 km, Almora 20 km and Delhi 482 km from Sitalakhet.
Reach Shitlakhet By Train-
The nearest railway station is Kathgodam 125 kms. Via Almora (35 kms). Kathgodam railway station is a railhead of North Eastern Railway. The railway station serves the hill station of Nainital situated at a distance of 35 km. Kathgodam Railway Station is well connected to Delhi, Howrah, Lucknow and other important places of the country.