Pithoragarh

Pithoragarh is a city in Uttarakhand. It is close to the China, Nepal and Tibet border.

The town was named after a fort built in it, and the district was named after the town. There are two local legends for who built and named the fort: either Piru a.k.a. Prithvi Gosain, during the Chand dynasty, naming it "Prithvigarh", which over time became "Pithoragarh", or a Gurkha raja named Pithora.

Pithoragarh city and its surrounding areas were part of the Manaskhand region, which extended from the Kailash Mountain in the north to Bhabar & Terai in the south, as mentioned in the Hindu Skanda Purana.

The Kuninda Kings of the region may have become the feudatories of the Kushana kings, who held sway over the region in the last quarter of the 1st century AD. The region subsequently came under the Kurmanchal kingdom, which had its capital first at Jyotirmath and then at Karikeyapura (Modern day Baijnath) in the Katyur Valley. The Group of Temples at Kasni village (3 km from city centre) were built in the 11th century during the rule of Katyuri kings. Upon the disintegration of the Katyuris and fall of the kingdom in the 13th century, Pithoragarh came under the rule of Bam kings of Saur. The Bam kings were vassals to the Raikas of Doti.

In the fifteenth century, King Bharti Chand of Champawat amassed a huge army, and started plundering and killing in the regions ruled by the Doti Kings. This resulted in a war, which lasted for 12 years, and ended with a victory for the Chands. After the death of Bharti Chand in 1462, Nagmalla, the king of Doti attacked his son, Ratna Chand, who was successful in defending himself. Nagmalla was killed in the war and the Bams became feudatories of the Chands. The Pargana of Saur came under direct control of the Kingdom of Kumaon in the sixteenth century during the rule of King Balo Kalyan Chand

The Non-cooperation movement was started in the region in 1921, and defining its location in India's Independence Movement.

Pithoragarh has a monsoon-influenced climate. The summer season from April to mid-June is moderately warm with occasional thunderstorms, whilst the monsoon season from mid-June to mid-September is humid with heavy showers almost daily. This gives way to a warm and sunny autumn season. The winter season brings pleasant afternoons, very cold mornings, and spells of frontal rain accompanied by sparse snowfall.

Pithoragarh can be accessed by bus and taxi. The buses are available from New Delhi at ISBT Anand Vihar which are of category general to luxury:

1. New Delhi to Haldwani to Pithoragarh
2. New Delhi to Tanakpur to Pithoragarh
3. New Delhi-Bazpur-Kaladungi-Nainital-Almora-Pithoragarh.

If you come by the first option then you have to get down at Haldwani and from there you will get a shared taxi to Pithoragarh, in this option the buses available from Delhi are of both categories (i.e., A/C, non A/C), but if you come by the second option then you will get a direct bus from there, but the condition of the roads is not good, so it is advised to come by the first option.

The third option is the best if you have your own vehicle. The travel time is 10½ hrs from Delhi, if you are experienced in hill driving; if not, then 12 hours. This time includes numerous stoppages for photography. The road is very good and the distance by road is 490 km.

There is a new riverside road project in line, that will reduce the journey time by a huge factor.

• 29.59245880.2417751 Naini–Saini Airport (NNS  ^IATA).  (updated Jun 2026)

The National Highway 9 passes through Pithoragarh. Landslides and cloudbursts, caused by heavy rains that fall during the summer monsoon, often interrupt transportation networks.

• 29.7658280.336631 Askot (Askote). It is the place which was built by Chand Rajas, here you can find good forts.  
• Walthi, Munsyari. It's in the mountains and a really nice place to see the sunset and sunrise. You can jog to this place in the morning or can take a walk. The view is panoramic from this place. 
• Chandhag (Chandak). This is 7 km from the town and you can see the panoramic view of the city from this hilltop. A temple dedicated to 'Manu' is located here. 
• Dekatya temple (It is 3 km from Pithoragarh and with Neda Village. It is very beautiful little mountain. There is mulpa mata temple with different types of fruits such as dadim (anardana), anar, guava, plum, apple, hissaloo, kafal. The view of Himalaya Parvat (Panchachuli) and Ashurchula Parvat is very beautiful.).  
• 29.8473480.536912 Dharchula. It's another town in Pithoragarh district which is very close to Nepal, you just need to cross a river and you will be in another nation.  
• 29.659180.289273 Dhwaj. It is some 30-40 km from the city, shared taxis and call taxis are available at the stations. It is the pilgrimage for all in the city, once you reach Dhwaj by car you need to travel almost 10 km in a hill, and it will be nice trekking.  
• 29.800780.246074 Didihat. It is the place where you can see the Himalayas very close to you.  
• The Hilltop Buddha Monastery. It is also in the city premises near the city stadium. 
• 29.57180.3755 Jhulaghat. The town is 35 km on the banks of river Kali. This river which separates India and Nepal. A suspension bridge connects both the countries and you can got to see the stuff on the other side of the bridge, i.e., Nepal.  
• Local Temples. There are a number of local temples in the city which can be accessed easily, and most of them are in hill tops so it will be a good trekking. 
• 30.0715280.237346 Munsyari. It is the place famous for rajma (an Indian vegetarian dish), and close to the Himalayas. It's the base point for Milam Glacier trek.  
• Thalkedar Temple. It's a small trek to a hill top. The route and the view from the top is beyond compare. 
• 29.65577180.0388287 Gangolihat. Gangolihat is one of the biggest Himalayan hill stations in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand, India. It is a place where Adi Guru Shankaracharya worshipped Devi Haat Kalika to get the moksha from human body and is also the sub divisional headquarters of the Indian army.  (updated May 2022)
• Nainital. Nainital is a Himalayan resort town in the Kumaon region of India’s Uttarakhand state, at an elevation of roughly 2,000m. it’s set around Nainital Lake, a popular boating site with Naina Devi Hindu Temple on its north shore. A cable car runs to Snow View observation point (at 2,270m), with vistas over the town and mountains including Nanda Devi, Uttarakhand’s highest peak. (updated May 2022)

• Chaitol This festival is celebrated during the Hindu month of Chaitra, the first month of the Hindu calendar. This festival is celebrated in multiple places for different local deities. It involves jagar and then the deity goes to different villages and temples, accompanied by large crowds. This festival usually takes place for two days and two nights.
• Pithoragarh Mahotsav has played a significant role in conserving and sharing Pithoragarh's unique culture. It showcases local culture through music and dance, often featuring performances in the Kumaoni language.
• Kandali Festival A flower called Kandali (Strobilanthes wallichii) blooms once every twelve years in the Chaudans region of the Pithoragarh district, and the people celebrate the Kandali festival between August and October. Local people, known as Shaukars or Rangs, take part in the week-long festival in various villages throughout the region. The festival begins with the worship of a Shiva linga made of a flour mixture of barley and buckwheat. During this festival, local liquor is traditionally consumed. It is performed in a decorated corner of the courtyard by each household. People pray for good fortune. The individual Poojas are followed by a community feast.
• Hilljatra is a pastoralists' and agriculturalists' festival, which is celebrated in some parts of the Pithoragarh district. The Aathon (the eighth day of bhado) and Gawra Visarjan became part of Hilljatra during the development process. The festival, which originated in West Nepal's Sorar (Mahakali) region, was first introduced to the valley in Kumor village, Pithoragarh.

• The rajma of munshyari (vegetarian dish - red beans in a spice laden gravy)
• The fruits like kinnnu (kinnow-mandarins), kivi
• Handcrafted items.
• The local sweets called baal mithai and khainchwa
• Thulma/Chutka (a type of woolen blanket/quilt) from Munsyari.
• Woolen Carpets (locally called dun) from Dharchula District.

There are a lot of eateries available from low budget to high budget some of the famous ones are:

• Gupta Samosa, Takana Road.  
• Jyonaar, Gandhi Chowk.  
• Kumars.  
• Meghna Sweets and Restaurant.  
• Pavan Sweets.  
• The Pine Resort, Aincholi.  
• Satkaar Sweets and Restaurant.  
• The Treat (Punetha Inn), M G Road.  
• Zara Residency.  

There are many good bars and cafes around the town.

• 29.60113980.1957221 Cafe on the Rocks, Chandak.  (updated Nov 2018)
• New Bar, Khari bazar near KMOU bus stand.  
• Royal bar, Siltham.  

Decent hotels are available which are not very costly but these are the recommended ones.

• Hotel Shivam.  
• Hotel Uttaranchal Deep.  
• Hotel Meghna, Simalgair Bazaar.  
• The Pine Resort, Aincholi (Situated 2 km from Pithoragarh. The view from this hotel of the valley is tremendeous.).  
• Punetha Inn, M G Road.  
• Raja Hotel.  
• Samrat Hotel.  
• Tourist Guest House. KMVN (Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam). 
• Ulka Priyadarshani.  
• Zara Residency.  

• Askot - rivers, lakes and the famous Askot Sanctuary (protected area for snow leopards, Himalayan black bears, musk deer and many other animals.
• Darchula - Kali River. Stop over to Mansarovar Yatra.
• Gangolihat - famous for the Hatkalika Fair at the Kalika temple.
• Patal Bhuvaneshwar - Subterranean shrine of Lord Shiva. The cave temple is 91 km from Pithoragarh.
• Munsyari

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