Pithoragarh

This article is about the municipality in Uttarakhand, India. For its namesake district, see Pithoragarh district.
Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, India
पिथौरागढ़
city

Himalyan view from Pithoragarh
Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, India
Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, India

Location in Uttarakhand, India

Coordinates: 29°35′N 80°13′E / 29.58°N 80.22°E / 29.58; 80.22Coordinates: 29°35′N 80°13′E / 29.58°N 80.22°E / 29.58; 80.22
Country  India
State Uttarakhand
District Pithoragarh
Elevation 1,514 m (4,967 ft)
Population (2011)[1]
  Total 56,044
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 262501
Telephone code 915964
Vehicle registration UK
Website pithoragarh.nic.in

Pithoragarh is a city with a Municipal Board in the Pithoragarh district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, was carved out of the district of Almora in 1960.

Geography

Pithoragarh is located at 29°35′N 80°13′E / 29.58°N 80.22°E / 29.58; 80.22.[2] It has an average elevation of 1,514 metres (4,967 feet).[3][4]

History

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 the course of time, got changed into Pithoragarh."[3]

Places of interest

A Panoramic View of Pithoragarh

Sharadotsav

Pithorgarh is known for its unique culture. Saradotsav has played a significant role in conserving and sharing this culture. It is an important event that draws a huge crowds and showcases local culture through music and dance, often featuring performances in the Kumaoni language. Schools from the different part of district performed folk dances and songs. Various competitions are also held.

In popular culture

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

How to reach Pithoragarh

Pithoragarh is connected to the outside world by road although it has a seldom-used air strip. Haldwani and Tanakpur are two entry points for entering Pithoragarh from plains. Both these places are connected by railway services. Regular state bus transport services along with private taxi services are available at both places.

References

External links

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Pithoragarh.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pithoragarh.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 12/5/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.