Pithoragarh

Pithoragarh, The Mini Kashmir

An idyllic hill-station, Pithoragarh is a dream destination for those looking for a trip away from the crowd. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, specially the Panchachuli Peaks which overlook lush green Saur valley criss-crossed by meandering rivers and waterfalls cutting across forests, the town of Pithoragarh is a nature-lover's paradise. Perched at a height of 1,645 m above sea level, Pithoragarh serves as the headquarters of its eponymous district.

Pellentesque Mother Nature has been rather generous in the distribution of a very rich hydrographic features of irresistible beauty to district Pithoragarh traditionally held to be the chosen abode of the divine deities, cascading waterfalls, the splendid glaciers, natural reservoirs enclosed by fantastic variety of vegetation, serene lakes and noisy flamboyant rivers are all a part of the rugged charm that the district possesses to such a stupendous degree.

Once the bastion of the Chand rulers, Pithoragarh town is littered with temples and forts belonging to that era. The town is set in a valley popularly known as 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 adjoining the barren peaks of Nepal Hills. It is snuggled in the folds of four kots Bhatkot, Dungerkot, Udaikot and Unchakot.

The third-largest city of the Kumaon region, Pithoragarh is popular as being the starting point for treks to the Milam Glacier and the Darma Valley. Being a border town, Pithoragarh is also an important base of the Indian Army. Historically, the town was a major centre of power during the reign of the Chand Kings in Kumaon and even today some remnants of that time exist.