Pithoragarh Tourism, Uttarakhand India
Pithoragarh Tourism, Tourist places in Pithoragarh, Sightseeing, Pithoragarh Travel Guide, Holiday Packages, weekend getaways, places near Pithoragarh, reviews, map and trips
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Pithoragarh Fast Facts
- State: Uttarakhand
- District: Pithoragarh
- Famous for/as: Scenic , Pilgrimage
- Area: 6.47 sq km
- Altitude: 1514 m
- Language: Kumaoni, Hindi
- Best Season: Mar - Jun, Sep - Dec
- Weather: Summer 15-30°C, Winter 0-24°C
- Clothing: Tropical
- Local Transport:
- Pincode: 208016
- STDCode: 05964
Pithoragarh Info
Tourism Centres:
Central Reservation Centre, C/O Parvat Tours,
Near Rickshaw stand,
Tallital, Nainital.
Tel: (05942) 231436, 236956.
Fax: (05942) 236374.
Pithoragarh, India Overview
The easternmost hill district of Uttarakhand, Pithoragarh and its surroundings are known for their abundant natural beauty. Nestling in a small valley, barely 5 km long and 2 km wide, the town was an important landmark during the reign of the Chand Rajas of Kumaon.
Pithoragarh is the district headquarters and its government buildings are housed in the hill fort of Pithoragarh at a distance of 7 km from the main town. From the Chandak hill located here, one gets a panoramic view of snowy ranges extending from the Trishul-Nanda Devi, Panchchuli Group to Mount Appi of Nepal.
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Must See Places in Pithoragarh, India
Pithoragarh, India 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 Bhartpal in 1364, Pithoragarh was for the whole of the remaining 14th century ruled by three generations of Pals. The kingdom extended from Pithoragarh to Askot. 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 1790, on the hill where the present Girls Inter College is situated. Subsequently, under the British rule, Pithoragarh remained a Tehsil under Almora district until it was elevated to a district in 1960.
The present king of Kumaon is Mahendra Chand of Lamakhet (Pithoragarh), he is married to Gita Chand of Rina and has three children (Aakanksha Chand, Mallika Chand, Aryan Chand).
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, one Piru, also called Prithvi Gosain, built a fort here and named it Prithvigarh which in, in course of time, got changed into Pithoragarh."