Pithoragarh -Serene & Spiritual

Pithoragarh is in the inner Himalayas at a height of 1,851 meters in a spectacular valley situated in the northern state of Uttaranchal. The town lay on the old trade route to Tibet and is still en route the sacred trail to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar.This not so popular
part of Kumaon is very picturesque and is often referred to as ‘Mini Kashmir’.

Before 1960, Pithoragarh was a part of district of Almora and became a separate district in the same year.

Serene & Calm - Pithoragarh

Pithoragarh is rich in natural beauty and it offers best view of the Himalayan peaks. Some of the peaks like Nanda Devi ,Panchchuli ,Trishul , Nandakhat falls in this district. District pithoragarh has some finest glacires in the world such as Milam Glacier,Sunder Dhunga Glacier, Ralam Glacier, Namik Glacier.Pithoragarh has a cool climate which makes it comfortable all year round.

Lakes of Pithoragarh

There are a number of lakes in and around Pithoragarh. Two of them, Jolingkong and Anchherital are situated at a height of 4,634 meters and 3,658 meters, respectively.

Temples of Pithoragarh

Some beautiful old temples are also scattered around the district. A visit to the shrine at Purnagiri, 20 kilometers from Tanakpur, is believed to lead to fulfillment of one' s desires. There is also a Sikh shrine near Lohaghat called Ritha Sahib, associated with the visit of Guru Nanak. It is believed that the bitter ritha turned sweet after the touch of the Guru.

Champawat

76 kms from Pithoragarh at an altitude of 1615 mts is Champawat, the erstwhile capital of the Chand Rajas of Kumaon. The ancient fort now houses the Tehsil offices. The site of several shrines, the principal temple here is the Nagnath temple. A tourist bungalow is available for
accomodation.

Devidhura

45 kms from Lohaghat lies Devidhura at a height of 2500 mts. It is the site of the famous temple of Barahi Devi, and also the venue of a grand fair on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan.

Kali Temple(Gangolihat)

Gangolihat, an important religious site, lies 77 kms from Pithoragarh. At the ancient Kali temple, a colourful fair is held during Navratris. The famous Patal Bhuvneshwari caves are located 14 kms away. PWD and Zila Parishad Dak Bungalows are available for accomodation.
Chaukori

112 kms from Pithoragarh is picturesque Chaukori which boasts a splendid view of the Himalayas. Tourist rest house is available.

Punyagiri Temple

Punyagiri temple is one of the most renowned temples in the Kumaon region. Lakhs of pilgrims visit the shrine during April to June. The site is around 20 kms from Tanakpur, out of which 6 kms is to be trekked. A tourist bungalow and dharamsalas are available for accomodation.It is held in great reverence.

Jaul Jibi

68 kms from Pithoragarh, Jaul Jibi is the venue of a grand fair, held every year at the confluence of the rivers Gori and Kali, in the month of November, which attracts people from neighbouring Nepal too. Ritha-Saheb: A major Sikh pilgrimage site, Ritha-Saheb lies 62 ks from Lohaghat. Accomodation facilities are provided by the Gurudwara authorities.
Rameshwar

36 kms from Pithoragarh is Rameshwar, located at the confluence of the Ram Ganga (East) and Saryu rivers. It is the site of a Shiva temple, where a huge fair is held every year on Makarsankranti (January).

Glaciers of Pithoragarh
Milam Glacier

This majestic glacier lies 208 kms from Pithoragrah. From Munsiyari one has to trek for 54 kms. Rest Houses are available enroute.
Munsiyari

Munsiyari lies 154 kms from Pithoragarh enroute to Milam Glacier. Perched at an altitude of 7000 feet, Munsiyari commands a fascinating view of the Panchchuli Range and Gori river. It also forms the base for treks to Milam, Namik and Ralam glaciers. Munsiyari is also the
venue of numerous fairs during August and September. Tourist rest house is available for accomodation.

Shyamla Tal

132 kms from Pithoragarh is Shyamla Tal, a beautiful natural lake at the bank of which is located Swami Vivekananda Ashram where accomodation facilities are available on request.
Chhota Kailash

Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Route: The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is conducted by the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam. The road journey for this Yatra concludes at Tawaghat near Dharchula. From this point pilgrims have to trek through the valley of Kali (Sharda river). Campsites are
centred arond Narayanswamy Ashram, Sirkha, Budi, Gunji, Navedhang and Kalapani. From Gunji (3500 mts) there is a diversion to Kuti valley which leads to Chhota Kailash through the village of Kuti. Nearby Places to Pithoragarh Baleshwar

This is 76 kilometers from Pithoragarh on the Tanakpur road. Its temples are the best examples of hill architecture. They were constructed by the early Chand rajas in the 8th century. At Gangolihat, 77 kilometers from Pithoragarh, is a Shakti peeth established by Adi Shankaracharya. The temple stands amidst a dense deodar forest. Two kilometers away is another temple that of Chamunda Devi. It is believed that the evil forces conquered by the Goddess still dwell in the adjoining caves. Patal Bhubaneshwar, a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is 14 kilometers from Gangolihat. The way to the temple is through a tunnel. Chemical reactions in the cave have given rocks the appearance of various Gods and Goddesses.

Chandak

It is 7 km from Pithoragarh, is a beautiful location, commanding a panoramic view of the Pithoragarh valley. It is 1.830 meters in altitude. An important fair is held at the Mostmanu temple in August. Thal Kedar, 16 km, from Pithoragarh is an important religious center and also noted for its natural beauty. A large fair is held on Shivratri. Dhwaj, 28 km from Pithoragarh, commands a wide view of the majestic snow-peaks of the north. It is also important for temples
devoted to Lord Shiva and Maa Jayanti.
Champawat

It is 76 km from Pithoragarh, was once the capital of Chand Rajas, whose fort now houses a government office, the town has many architecturally beautiful temples. Of these, Baleshwar and Nagnath temples are noteworthy. Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam maintains a tourist bungalow at Champawat. At 2,500 meters above sea level, Devidhura is known for its scenic beauty and temple of Devi, site of an important fair. 14 km from Gangolihat is Patal Bhuvaneshwar, an important archaeological and religious site.

Askot Wildlife Sanctuary

Askot Sanctuary, established in 1986, is located in the pastoral surroundings of Indo-Nepal border, in Pithoragarh.

The best time to visit this heaven like hill station is from April to
June & September to October.