Tucked inside the folds of Almora’s hills, Babalia (बाबालिया) is one of these locations that quietly holds on to its roots. It’s now not on any tourist map. There are no resorts or cafés here. Just people, mountains, and the rhythm of everyday life.
Babalia sits inside the Bhikiyasain tehsil, underneath the Syaldey block of the Almora district. According to the 2011 census, around 303 people live here in sixty families. It covers approximately 123 hectares of land, a small patch of green and stone that the locals call home.
The village pin code is 263659, and if you’re attempting to find it on the map, it’s roughly 60 km from Almora metropolis.
Life in Babalia is slow, steady, and shaped by the land. Most families are farmers. They grow what they consume: grains, veggies, and seasonal fruits. Out of the 152 people working, 53 are cultivators who own or co-own their land.
What stands out here is the girl-majority population. For each 1000 men, there are around 1405 girls. That’s uncommon, even for Uttarakhand. It says something approximately the energy of ladies inside the hills, handling farms, households, and the whole thing in between.
The literacy rate in Babalia is ready seventy %, which is a good sign for a small rural network. Kids stroll to the authorities' number one college inside the village, whilst center and secondary colleges are around 5 to 10 km away in nearby areas like Patharkhola and Deghat.
There’s no rush here. Mornings begin with the sound of cows, birds, and metallic pots being stuffed on the village faucet. Fields come alive because the sun hits the terraces. Afternoons are quiet. By night, you’ll locate humans sitting outdoors, talking about vegetation, rain, and lifestyles.
Babalia doesn’t have a hospital within the village, but basic health facilities, a community health centre, and a dispensary are within a few kilometres. Roads are narrow, but people make do. That’s hill life, a mix of challenge and calm.
Here’s what really stands out:
There’s also a quiet pride in how people live, self-sufficient, grounded, and closely tied to nature.
Babalia may be small, but its people have the same desires as anywhere else: better roads, extra jobs, consistent earnings, and top schools for his or her youngsters. With most people counting on seasonal farming, balance remains a challenge.
And yet, there’s something hopeful about the place. Maybe it’s the clean air, maybe the way neighbors help each other, or maybe it’s just that steady mountain resilience, पहाड़ की ज़िंदगी, as people call it.
Babalia doesn’t try to impress anyone. It just exists, honestly and quietly, in the heart of the hills.
Uttarakhand is not simply another country. People here name it Devbhoomi (देवभूमि), the Land of the Gods. And it feels that way. Rivers begin right here. Old temples sit on mountain tops. Morning dayl...