A forested wildlife sanctuary above Almora with a wide view of the Himalayan snow peaks.
Lesser-knownWildlifeTrekHill-stationPilgrimage
Binsar is a quiet oak and rhododendron forest in Kumaon, protected as a wildlife sanctuary, with a short walk to Zero Point for a long line of peaks including Nanda Devi, Trishul and Kedarnath. It suits walkers, birdwatchers and people who want a few slow days away from crowds. Facilities inside the forest are basic, so it is less suited to travellers who want shops, nightlife or constant power.
Trip planner
.jpg)
Photos from Wikimedia Commons. Select a photo for its author and licence.
| When | What to expect |
|---|---|
| April to June | Summer. Days are mild, with highs of about 30 C and lows of about 15 C. A good time for walks and day trips. |
| July to September | Monsoon. The forest is very green, but rain can cause landslides on hill roads and clouds often hide the peaks. |
| October to February | Clear skies and the best mountain views in October and November. Winter is cold, between about 0 C and 24 C, and is liked by birdwatchers. |
The highest viewpoint in the sanctuary, reached by a forest walk of about 2 km. On a clear day it gives a full-circle view of peaks such as Kedarnath, Shivling, Trishul and Nanda Devi.
About 45 sq km of oak, pine and rhododendron forest between roughly 900 m and 2,500 m. More than 200 bird species are recorded, along with barking deer, langur, leopard and Himalayan bear.
A 16th-century Shiva temple built in the time of Raja Kalyan Chand. It sits in the forest on the road up through the sanctuary.
A small display on the wildlife, plants and history of the sanctuary.
A heritage property that was once the home of Sir Henry Ramsay and now runs as a hotel. It is known for its old bungalow and forest setting.
A hilltop temple on the ridge between Almora and Binsar, with several hotels and cafes around it.
One of the well-known temples of Kumaon, dedicated to Golu Devta, who is worshipped as the god of justice.
An old cave shrine of Shiva. A fair is held here at Kartik Purnima.
Worth a stop on the drive from Kathgodam, the last stretch whether you arrive by train, bus or air. Stopping needs a taxi or your own vehicle; buses do not wait. Distances are by road.
Hanuman temple and ashram founded by Neem Karoli Baba in the 1960s, beside a stream on the Bhowali to Almora road. Very crowded around 15 June, its foundation day.
Old Kumaon town on a ridge, with stone-paved lanes in Lala Bazaar and the Nanda Devi temple. Known for bal mithai; a good break for a meal.
Places people usually visit on the same trip, and how long it takes to get between them.
Add this place and any others to a trip of your own. It is kept on this device.
Organised trips to Binsar do run. The government-run KMVN lists a multi-stop Kumaon circuit that includes Binsar, and private operators offer hotel packages from Delhi (train to Kathgodam, then road) and guided treks through Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary to Jageshwar starting from Kathgodam. Treks run most of the year except the monsoon (about mid-June to mid-September); prices found ranged from about Rs 5,500 for a 2-day trek from Kathgodam to about Rs 22,000 for longer trips.
| Operator | Trip | From | Length | Price from | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) Government-run | Package tour of Kumaon: Mukteshwar, Abbott Mount, Chaukori, Baijnath, Binsar and Nainital | Not stated on the page | Not stated on the page | ₹22,000 per person Price shown against the package on KMVN's packages page on 2026-10-04. The page does not say whether it is per person or what sharing basis applies. | Guide and travel (as stated on the page). Stay and meals are not spelled out on the listing. |
| eUttaranchal Private operator | Package tour to Binsar by train and road | Delhi | 3 days / 2 nights | ₹9,500 per person Per person, as listed on the operator's site on 2026-10-04. | Hotel stay, breakfast and dinner. The itinerary is by train from Delhi to Kathgodam and back, with road transfers to Binsar and sightseeing at Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, Zero Point and Kasar Devi (as stated on the page). |
| Adventure Nation Private operator | Guided trek with transport: Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary to Jageshwar | Kathgodam | 2 days | ₹5,500 per person Per person, Kathgodam to Kathgodam, as listed on the operator's site on 2026-10-04. | Transport from Kathgodam to Binsar and back, camping stay, vegetarian meals on the trek, permits, tents and sleeping bags, trek leader and support staff (as stated on the page). |
| Outdoers India Private operator | Guided village-to-village trek with transport: Binsar to Jageshwar | Kathgodam | 5 days / 4 nights | ₹16,500 per person Lowest price shown is for children below 10 years; adults pay Rs 21,900. Both plus 5% GST, Kathgodam to Kathgodam, as listed on the operator's site on 2026-10-04. | Road transport between Kathgodam and Binsar/Jageshwar, 4 nights in village homestays or guesthouses, all meals from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 5, guide, porterage of one bag up to 12 kg (as stated on the page). Group size up to 12; not run from mid-June to mid-September. |
Checked online on 2026-10-04. A listing here is not a recommendation; we have no tie-up with these operators. Before you pay, check that the operator and its website are genuine, and confirm dates, price and what is included.
| Budget level | Type | Price per night |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | Simple hotels and guesthouses around Kasar Devi | ₹1,500 to ₹2,500 |
| Mid-range | Small resorts and hotels on the Kasar Devi to Binsar ridge | ₹3,000 to ₹5,000 |
| Luxury | Jungle resorts and heritage estates in or near the sanctuary | ₹7,800 to ₹33,500 |
There are very few restaurants in Binsar, so most people eat where they stay. The KMVN rest house sells rooms with breakfast and dinner included. Almora has many more eateries with North Indian, South Indian and Chinese food, though true Kumaoni dishes can be hard to find in restaurants.
Vegetarian food is the norm. The KMVN rest house does not allow non-vegetarian food because it is inside the sanctuary.
| Budget level | Stay per room | Food per person | Local transport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | ₹1,600 | ₹500 | ₹1,000 per vehicle |
| Mid-range | ₹4,000 | ₹1,000 | ₹2,000 per vehicle |
| Luxury | ₹9,000 | ₹2,500 | ₹3,500 per vehicle |
Per day. Travel to and from your city is added in the planner above.
No special permit was found to be needed. Pay the sanctuary entry fee at the forest gate (about 40 rupees per person and 50 per car) and carry a photo ID for hotel check-in. The gate is open only during the day, so arrive before it closes.
Coverage maps: Jio · Airtel · Vi · BSNL. Report a problem
Unless a sight is described as accessible, assume it is not step-free.
Nearby
Distance by road.
FamousAlmora, Uttarakhand
A quiet army cantonment hill station in Kumaon with pine forests, orchards and Himalayan views.
Full guide
FamousBageshwar, Uttarakhand
A quiet Kumaon hill town known for a wide view of snow peaks, tea gardens and Gandhi's ashram.
Full guide
FamousNainital, Uttarakhand
A quiet Kumaon hill town with an old Shiva temple, cliff views and fruit orchards.
Full guide
FamousNainital, Uttarakhand
A Kumaon hill town built around the crescent-shaped Naini Lake, ringed by forested peaks.
Full guide