Pithoragarh

From where some of the world’s most fascinating mountain peaks are visible; from where some of the world’s most amazing glaciers can be accessed; where lush green forests of oak, sal, chir and coniferous are in abundance and where nerve-chilling adventure awaits the daredevils, Pithoragarh is indeed the pride of Uttarakhand state in North India. The must visit places at Pithoragarh, a popular hill town in Pithoragarh District, include majestic forts, ancient temples, holy caves, vintage points and picnic areas. No matter whether you have honeymoon, adventure, pilgrimage, family tourism wildlife, culture of glorious Indian history in mind, the following city guide offers information on how to entertain your holiday mood in Pithoragarh.

Because of the comparison of Pithoragarh’s natural beauty with that of Kashmir, it is popularly called ‘Little Kashmir’ or ‘Miniature Kashmir’. Along with its namesake district, the town is also called Soar (Cold) Valley. While summers here are extremely pleasurable, winters bring snowfall and can be extremely cold. Monsoons are accompanied with moderate to heavy rainfall. Also called the Gateway to Himalayas, the town is close to the international boundary that India shares with Tibet, Nepal and China and it lies on the holy pilgrimage treks to Kailash, Lake Mansarovar, Om Parvat and other places. Trekking trails to the glaciers like Milam, Sunder Dhunga, Namik and Ralam bring many adventurers from all over.

March to June and September to December

Cuisines of Indian, Chinese and Continental origins can be enjoyed at various hotels with in-house restaurants. Jyonaar and The Treat are among the recommended places to eat at. There are sweets and snacks shops where the North Indian delicacies like baal mithai (a local sweet) and khainchwa are included in the menus. There is no dearth of street-side stalls that sell tasty foods.

Like many other hill resorts in the North India, Pithoragarh is also popular for selling fresh fruits like kiwi and kinnu. Woollen carpets, shawls, quilts and blankets of top quality can be purchased at the local markets. Handicrafts like jewellery items, baskets, brassware and clay idols are also available at many shops.

Buses, taxis and private vehicles are the best options to reach Pithoragarh because of its good road connectivity with many towns and cities of North India. The air strip of Naini Saini (about 5 km. away) is connected to Delhi by flights, though the nearest domestic airport is at Pantnagar (about 244 km. away). Tanakpur Railway Station (about 149 km. away) is the closest railhead to access the town. Taxi, cab and tourist guide can be hired with the help of the hotel staff. However, many attractions of Pithoragarh are accessible only on foot.

Other worthwhile places include Hilltop Buddha Monastery, Nakuleshwara Temple, Ashur Chulaa, Dekatya Temple, Maharajke Park and Kapileshwar Mahadev Cave Temple. Apart from sightseeing in Pithoragarh, there are activities like hand gliding, paragliding, canoeing, fishing, river rafting and skiing that can be enjoyed in and around the town. In fact, the region has some of the best skiing slopes of the world. Trekking of course is a popular activity with Pithoragarh serving as the base camp. The outstanding opportunity of viewing snow-capped Himalayan peaks like Panchchuli, Trishul, Nanda Devi and Rajrambha has nothing in its parallel.

Askote (about 53 km.): The town is popular for its Musk Deer Conservation Sanctuary and a number of rivers and lakes nearby. Mount Abbott (about 58 km.): The tiny hamlet is popular for its pristine surroundings and beautiful cottages Jauljibi (about 65 km.): Located near the Indo-Nepal border, it is famous for its annual fair attended by people from both sides. Gangolihat (about 75 km.): Famous for underground caves and ancient temples, apart from picnic spots. Patal Bhuvaneshwar (about 88 km.): An underground limestone cave dedicated to Lord Shiva and known for interesting shapes of stalagmites. Dharchula (about 92 km.): Close to the sacred Mansarovar Lake, the place is known for Kali River, Chirkila Dam and other attractions.

There is no limit to the tourist places that can be explored with good tourist information near Pithoragarh. These include Jageshwar, Chaukori, Almora, Mukteshwar, Berinag, Rameshwar Ghat, Kasauni, Munsiyari, Thal, Kotgari Devi, Didihat, Narayan Ashram and Bhimtal.