Binsar
The Kumaon Kings' Forest Panorama
Overview
Binsar is a forested ridge and wildlife sanctuary in Uttarakhand's Kumaon Himalaya, rising to about 2,400 m near Almora. Once the summer capital of the Chand dynasty that ruled Kumaon, it was declared the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary in 1988 to protect its oak, rhododendron, and pine forests, which shelter leopards, barking deer, and a wealth of Himalayan birds. Its Zero Point offers one of the widest high-Himalayan panoramas in Kumaon, Kedarnath, Chaukhamba, Trishul, Nanda Devi, and Panchachuli in a single sweep. Vehicles pay an entry fee at the sanctuary gate. MyTripMyTravel operates Binsar as a chauffeured forest-and-view sanctuary retreat.
Binsar is a mountain kept deliberately quiet. A wooded ridge above Almora that once served as the summer capital of the Chand kings of Kumaon, it was gazetted as a wildlife sanctuary in 1988, which froze development and preserved a dense canopy of banj oak, rhododendron, and pine. There is no town here, only forest, a scatter of eco-lodges, birdsong, and the occasional glimpse of a leopard's territory in the leaf litter.
The reward for the climb is the view. From Zero Point, a short forest walk near the ridge crest, the high Himalaya opens in an unbroken arc, Kedarnath and Chaukhamba to the west, then Trishul, the great Nanda Devi massif, Nanda Kot, and the five peaks of Panchachuli to the east. It is among the most complete high-peak panoramas accessible in Kumaon, and on a clear post-monsoon morning it is difficult to better anywhere in the state.
MyTripMyTravel runs Binsar as a forest sanctuary retreat, not a sightseeing stop. Vehicles enter through the sanctuary gate on a single road and pay the forest fee; inside, the day is walks under the oaks, birding at dawn, and the Zero Point panorama timed for clear light. We place guests in the small permitted lodges within or on the fringe, arrange naturalist-led walks, and handle the gate formalities and mountain drive from Almora.
At a glance
Binsar in brief
When to visit
March to June, September to November
March to June is pleasant and, in spring, brilliant with rhododendron bloom under the oaks, though views can haze in the afternoons. September to November after the monsoon gives the clearest and most reliable Zero Point panorama, when the full arc from Chaukhamba to Panchachuli is visible. Winter, December to February, is cold and can bring snow, with sharp, luminous peaks for those who come prepared. The monsoon (July to mid-September) is lush and alive with birds but cloud usually hides the high peaks and forest tracks turn slick, so we plan drives with care. Because it is a sanctuary, options inside are limited and best booked well ahead.
Things to do
Experiences in Binsar
Zero Point panorama
A short forest walk to the ridge viewpoint for the wide arc of high peaks from Kedarnath and Chaukhamba to Nanda Devi and Panchachuli.
Oak-forest nature walks
Guided walks under the banj oak and rhododendron canopy with a naturalist, reading tracks, plants, and the forest's quiet.
Himalayan birding
The sanctuary's forests are rich in birds, laughingthrushes, forktails, woodpeckers, and the Himalayan monal, best at dawn.
Bineshwar Mahadev temple
An old Shiva temple within the sanctuary, quiet under the trees, tied to the ridge's Chand-era past.
Sunrise and stargazing
With no town lights, Binsar offers exceptional dawns over the peaks and dark, star-filled night skies from lodge terraces.
Getting there
How to reach Binsar
Pantnagar Airport (PGH) is the nearest, about 120 km, with limited flights; Dehradun (DED) is the wider alternative, and we manage the fleet handover.
Kathgodam is the closest railhead, about 110 km, linked to Delhi by the Shatabdi and other trains; we handle the onward hill transfer.
Binsar is roughly 33 km from Almora; the final stretch runs through the sanctuary gate on a single forest road where a vehicle entry fee applies.
Our GPS-tracked, orthopedic-grade vehicles handle the mountain drive and gate formalities; inside, most exploring is on foot with a naturalist.
Where to stay
The small number of permitted lodges and estate stays within the sanctuary, off-grid in feel, with peak-facing decks and naturalists.
Comfortable resorts just outside the gate on the Almora road, blending easier access with forest calm.
Restored Kumaoni estate bungalows on the ridge for a quiet, characterful base close to the walks.
Where to eat
Dining is at your lodge, home-style Kumaoni and multi-cuisine meals, often from estate-grown produce, as there are no restaurants in the sanctuary.
Regional plates of bhatt ki churkani, aloo ke gutke, and madua roti, cooked fresh at the lodges.
Simple, warming food served on lodge terraces timed for sunrise and sunset over the high Himalaya.
Good to know
Binsar, your questions
What is special about Binsar's Zero Point?
Zero Point is a short forest walk to a ridge viewpoint offering one of Kumaon's widest high-Himalayan panoramas, from Kedarnath and Chaukhamba through Trishul, Nanda Devi, and Nanda Kot to Panchachuli. Post-monsoon autumn mornings give the clearest arc.
Is Binsar a wildlife safari destination like Corbett?
No. It is a quiet forest sanctuary for walking and birding, not jeep safaris. Leopards and deer are present but rarely seen; the draw is the oak-and-rhododendron forest, the birds, and the panorama, explored on foot with a naturalist.
Do I need to pay to enter Binsar?
Yes. Binsar is a protected wildlife sanctuary, and vehicles pay an entry fee at the forest gate on the single access road. We handle the formalities as part of the transfer.
Where do I stay in Binsar?
Inside the sanctuary there are only a limited number of permitted eco-lodges and estate stays, with more resorts just outside the gate. Because options are few, we book well ahead, especially for the clear-view autumn season.
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