: पिथौरागढ़) is a city with a Municipal Board in the Pithoragarh district

Pithoragarh District

Pithoragarh district is the easternmost Himalayan district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. It is naturally landscaped with high Himalayan mountains, snow capped peaks, passes, valleys, alpine meadows, forests, waterfalls, perennial rivers, glaciers and springs. The flora and fauna of this area...

 in the Indian state

States and territories of India

India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...

 of Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand , formerly Uttaranchal, is a state in the northern part of India. It is often referred to as the Land of Gods due to the many holy Hindu temples and cities found throughout the state, some of which are among Hinduism's most spiritual and auspicious places of pilgrimage and worship...

, was carved out of district of Almora in 1962.

Geography

Pithoragarh is located at 29.58°N 80.22°E. It has an average elevation of 1,514 metre

Metre

The metre , symbol m, is the base unit of length in the International System of Units . Originally intended to be one ten-millionth of the distance from the Earth's equator to the North Pole , its definition has been periodically refined to reflect growing knowledge of metrology...

s (4,967 feet).

Overview

Pithoragarh is a small town, which gives its name to the district. It lies in the centre of the western half of the Soar Valley

Soar Valley

The Soar Valley in Leicestershire, England is the basin of the River Soar, which rises south of Leicester and flows north through Charnwood before meeting the River Trent at Trent Lock on the Nottinghamshire border....

 which resembles the Kashmir valley on a miniature scale. It is prettily dotted with villages, generally placed on eminences. The view from some of the higher altitudes in Pithoragarh captures the snow-capped peaks of Panch Chulhi, Nanda Devi and Nanda Kot.

The town is set in a valley popularly known as "Soar" (root meaning is Cool) and lies in the centre of four hills Chandak, Dhwaj, Kumdar and Thal Kedar, and stretches in the southern flank to Jhulaghat demarcated by the Kali river

Kali River

The Kali river or River Sharda originates from the Greater Himalayas at Kalapaani at an altitude of 3600 m, in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand, India. The river is named after the Goddess Kālī whose temple is situated in Kalapaani near the Lipu-Lekh pass at the border between India and...

 adjoining the barren peaks of Nepal

Nepal

Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...

 Hills. It is snuggled in the folds of four kots Bhatkot, Dungerkot, Udaikot and Unchakot.

Pithoragarh, is known as the gateway to the Himalayas from the north, as pilgrims trek through this town to the Kailash

Mount Kailash

Mount Kailash is a peak in the Gangdisê Mountains, which are part of the Himalayas in Tibet...

, Lake Manasarovar

Lake Manasarovar

Lake Manasarovar, Mapam Yumco , or Manasa Sarovar/Lake Manas , is a fresh-water lake in Tibet Autonomous Region of China approximately from Lhasa. To the west of Lake Manasa Sarovar is Lake Rakshastal and towards the north is Mount Kailash...

, and Om Parvat

Om Parvat

Om Parvat is a mountain in the Himalayan mountain range, lying in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand, India, near Sinla pass. It is considered sacred by Hindus and its snow deposition pattern is said to resemble the Hindu sacred syllable 'AUM'...

.

History

In 1841 Pilgrim (Barron), while passing through Pithoragarh, wrote :
"... The first view of Pithoragarh is striking, in one instant, when you reach the top of the pass (Chandak) which overlooks it, a wide valley bursts on the view, with the small neat military cantonment, fort and scattecyan villages, and meandering streams, which distribute fertility to thousands of well cultivated fields.... I was apprehensive, too, that the beauties of Nainital had exhausted the store, and found that I was never in my life more mistaken."

After its conquest by the Rajwar of Uku

Uku, Nepal

Uku is a village development committee in Darchula District in the Mahakali Zone of western Nepal right bank of Kali river. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 3931. It is a Historical place being an ancient kingdom of kings of Pal dynasty.-External links:*...

  Bhartpal in the year 1364, Pithoragarh was for the whole of the remaining 14th century ruled by three generations of Pals. The kingdom extended from Pithoragarh to Askot

Askot

Askot or Askote is a small Himalayan town in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand in India. It is the part of Kanalichhina development Block and Didihat Tehsil....

. According to a tamrapatra (brass plate inscription) dating back to 1420, the Pal dynasty was uprooted by the Vijay Brahm of Brahma (Bum) dynasty of Nepal but subsequently, following the death of Gyan Chand in a conflict with Kshetra Pal, the supremacy of Pal dynasty was restored.

It is believed that Bhartichand, an ancestor of Gyan Chand, had replaced Pals, the ruler of Pithoragarh, after defeating them in 1445. In the 16th century, the Chand dynasty again took control over Pithoragarh town and built a new fort, in the year 1790, on the hill where the present Girls Inter College is situated. Subsequently, under the British rule, Pithoragarh remained a Tehsil

Tehsil

A Tehsil or Tahsil/Tahasil , also known as Taluk and Mandal, is an administrative division of some country/countries of South Asia....

 under Almora district until it was elevated to a district in the year 1962.

While the above narration cannot be authenticated, the fact is that "the district is named after its headquarters town, Pithoragarh. Tradition has it that during the reign of the Chand Rajas of Kumaon

Kumaon Division

For Kumaoni/Kumauni People see Kumauni PeopleKumaon or Kumaun is one of the two regions and administrative divisions of Uttarakhand, a mountainous state of northern India, the other being Garhwal. It includes the districts of Almora, Bageshwar, Champawat, Nainital, Pithoragarh, and Udham Singh Nagar...

, one Piru, also called Prithvi Gosain, built a fort here and named it Prithvigarh which in, in course of time, got changed into Pithoragarh."

Places of interest

Once the bastion of the Chand rulers, Pithoragarh town is littered with temples and forts belonging to that era.

The town had two forts one of which has been demolished, its place being taken by the Government Girls’ Intermediate College building. The building of the other fort houses the treasury and the tahsil.

Other places of interest in Pithoragarh are Patal Bhuvaneshwar (Gangolihat), Chandak, Dewalthal

Dewalthal

Dewalthal is a sub-tehsil of Pithoragarh District in Uttarakhand state in northern India. It has a population of 5,000 and has a treasury, bank, post office, government, private school, rest house...

, Dharchula

Dharchula

Dharchula is a town and a nagar panchayat in Pithoragarh district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. Dharchula is a remote town surrounded by mountains. An ancient trading town for the trans-Himalayan trade routes, it is covered by high mountains and is situated on the banks of the river Kali...

, Munsiyari

Munsiyari

Munsyari is the name of a town and a tehsil in the Pithoragarh District in the hill-state of Uttarakhand, India.It lies at the base of the great Himalayan mountain range, at an elevation of about , and is a starting point of various treks into the interior of the range.- Overview :Its name refers...

 and Kali Mandir of Gangolihat

Gangolihat

Gangolihat is a small Himalayan hill town in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand, India. It is tehsil and sub divisional headquarter of the district. Gangolihat is famous for its Shakti Peethas of Hat Kalika of goddess Kali. Nearby at 'Patal Bhubneshwar', underground caves are major tourist...

. Kumaon University College is the main educational institution in the district for higher studies.

About 5 km. from the place there is a small and beautiful place named Chandag which houses an asylum for lepers. It is said that a goddess killed two devils, Chand and Mund, at this place. The episode gave the place the name Chandghat, Chandag appearing to be its corruption.

Pithoragarh Fort: It is set atop a hill on the outskirts of the town. The fort was built by the Gorkhas in 1789.

Kapileshwar Mahadev (3 km): The cave temple dedicated to Lord Shiva affords fine view of the Soar valley and lofty Himalayan peaks.

Around Pithoragarh

• Ashur chulaa:

The scenic sanctuary 20 km from Pithoragarh nestles at a height of 5412 ft.

• Chandak (8 km):

The beautiful hill affords a fine view of the Himalayas. The Manu Temple here is highly revered by the locales.

• Dhwaj Temple:

This famous shrine is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Maa Jayanti and is 10 km by road and 4 km on foot from Pithoragarh. It also commands a breath taking view of the snow capped peaks.It is a safe haven for snow leopards, Himalayan black bears.

• Thal Kedar (16 km):

This Shaivite pilgrim site is also known for its scenic splendour. During the annual fair of Shivratri large number of devotees flock to Thal Kedar. You can enjoy a trek from Pithoragarh City or Aincholi or Nakuleshwara temple.

• Nakuleshwara (10 km):

It is believed that Nakuleshwara Temple was built by Nakul and Sahdev (two brothers of Pandavas). The place is located at Athgaon Shilling area.

• Askot Sanctuary:

The scenic sanctuary 54 km from Pithoragarh nestles at a height of 5412 ft. in Kumaon Himalayas and is popular among wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers. It is a safe haven for snow leopards, Himalayan black bears, musk deers, snow cocks, tahra, bharals, mona/s, chirs, koklas, pheasants and chukors. The lush sanctuary area dotted with temples is also a fine place to view the beauty of the Himalayas.

• Chaukori:

The small hill town affords balmy weather and great views of snowclad peaks. The entire area teems with tea gardens and orchards. It is 112 km from Pithoragarh via Gangolihat and Berinag.
Chaukori Trekking Routes. Following are the three popular trekking routes.
1. Chaukori - Berinag - Patal Bhuwaneshwar - Gangolihat (3 days).
2. Chaukori - Kotbaniya - Dharmghar - Gangolihat (3 days).
3. Chaukori - That - Pithoragarh (2 days)

• Gangolihat:

The sacred site is famous for the Hatkalika Fair held on the ashtami of Chaitra month at the Kalika temple. Devotees visit the shrine during this time with drums and flags to pay homage to Goddess Kalika.

• Jhulaghat:

This small town on the Indo-Nepal border is named after a hanging bridge on the Kali river. One can enter Nepal through this bridge. The small market here deals in Nepali goods and other electronic items.

• Narayan Ashram:

The ashram was established by Narayan Swami in 1936, about 136 km north of Pithoragarh and 14 km from Tawaghat. This spiritual cum-socio educational centre is set at an altitude of 2734 metres amidst scenic surroundings. It has a school for local children's and imparts training to local youth. There is also a library, meditation room and samadhi sthal.

• Dharchula:

A quaint little town on the banks of river Kali, it is a stopover point enroute the famous Mansarovar Yatra. A rope bridge connects India and Nepal. Local residents from both countries frequently cross over. As a result, the localites are well conversant in Nepali. Currency from both countries is easily accepted here.

• Patal Bhuvaneshwar:

Patal Bhubaneshwar, literally means the sub-terranean shrine of Lord Shiva. The cave temple is 91 km from Pithoragarh and 14 km north of Gangolihat. The way to the temple is through a tunnel which leads into the cavern through a narrow dark passage of water. The electrified sanctum sanctorum is deep inside the cave. The main passage also leads to several small caves where water oozing from limestone rocks have created various shapes arid figures. Some of them resemble various gods and goddesses of Hindu pantheon. In fact cave temple complex is said to be the abode of thousands of deities and people believe that these deities were consecrated by Adi Shankracharya. Large number of pilgrims visit the shrine during the fair of Maha Shivratri.

• Munshyari:

Munshyari a small Himalayan township about 127 km north of Pithoragarh and 66 km from Jauljibi. It nestles at an elevation of 2135 metres and the entire region is known as Johar valley. Munshyari is a base for treks to Milam and Namik glaciers. The trek from Munshyari to Milam Glacier, the source for Goriganga river is fascinating. Around Munshyari are alpine lakes of Maheshwari Kund and Thamri Kund. Munshyari Bugyal, an alpine meadow full of wild flowers is enchanting. Khalia Top and Betulidhar are suited for skiing.

In popular culture

The small town has been extensively described in a novel by American author Bradley Swift titled, 'From Pithoragarh to Udaynagar.

External links

• New Cave Limelighted in Pithoragarh
• Pithoragarh, Official website
• Pithoragarh at wikimapia
  Wikimapia
  WikiMapia is a privately owned, online map and satellite imaging resource that combines Google Maps with a wiki system, allowing users to add information, in the form of a note, to any location on Earth. Users may currently use this information for free...
  
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• Pithoragarh Online