Pithoragarh
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Pithoragarh | |
  Pithoragarh
|
|
| State - District(s) |
Uttarakhand - Pithoragarh |
| Coordinates | |
| Area - Elevation |
- 1645 m |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Population (2001) - Density |
41,157 - |
Pithoragarh is a city and a municipal board in Pithoragarh district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It was carved out of district of almora in 1962.
Places of interest in Pithoragarh include Patal Bhubaneshwar, Chandak, Dewalthal, Munsiyari and Kali Mandir of Gangolihat. Kumaon University College is the main educational institution in the district for higher studies.
[edit] Demographics
In 1841 Pilgrim (Barron), while passing through Pithoragarh, wrote : "... The first view of Pithoragarh is striking,in one instant, when you reach the top of the pass (Chandak) which overlooks it, a wide valley bursts on the view, with the small neat military cantonment, fort and scattecyan villages, and meandering streams, which distribute fertility to thousands of well cultivated fields.... I was apprehensive, too, that the beauties of Nainital had exhausted the store,and found that I was never in my life more mistaken." After its conquest by the Rajwar of Ukko Bhartpal in the year 1364, Pithoragarh was for the whole of the remaining 14th century by the three generation of Pals and the kingdom extended from Pithoragarh to Askot. According to a tamrapatra dating back to 1420 the Pal dynasty was uprooted by the Brahm dynasty of Nepal but subsequently following the death of Gyan Chand in a conflict with Kshetra Pal, the Pal supremacy was restored. It is believed that Bhartichand, an ancestor of Gyan Chand, had replaced bums, the ruler of Pithoragarh, after defeating them in 1445. In 16th century the Chand dynasty again took control over Pithoragarh town and in 1790 built a new fort on the hill where the present Girls Inter College is situated. Subsequently after the British domination, Pithoragarh remained a Tehsil under Almora district until it was elevated as a district in the year 1960. To a tourist it will unfold its unique charms as a combination of the rural and the urban, the former scattered around in abundance. Pithoragarh is rich in minrals, magnesite & soap stone is find here in Dewalthal.
