Pithoragarh, a Picturesque Destination in Uttarakhand

The Pithragarh district is located in the state of Uttarakhand. The district is filled with immense natural beauty that makes the place one of the top tourist destinations in the state. The place shares its boundary with Tibet in the north and Nepal in the east. Placed at an altitude of about 1,650 m above sea level, the place is also popularly known as the ‘Little Kashmir’. 

Dotted with snow covered mountains, passes, valleys, lush green forests, alluring waterfalls, captivating rivers, alpine meadows, glaciers and springs, the place is one of the most favored destinations among the tourists touring the state of Uttarakhand. The place also acts as a major halt on the route to the famous Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. The place offers something for every kind of travelers, such as backpackers, trekkers, mountaineers, botanists, pilgrims and adventure seekers.

Attractions

Chandak- Chandak is a beautiful hill that offers a breathtaking view of the Himalayas. The hill is located at a distance of about 8 km from Pithoragarh. It is a popular trekking spot in the region, which includes a Manu temple that is highly revered by the residents of this region.

Pithoragarh Fort- The fort is located at the outskirts of the Pithoragarh town, which is in the conditions of ruins at present.  The fort was structured by the Gorkhas after they intruded the region in 1789. From here, you can get the view of Kali Kumaon.

Askot Sanctuary- The sanctuary is located at a distance of about 54 km from Pithoragarh, at an altitude of about 5,412 ft above sea level. The sanctuary is inhabited by diverse species of wild life such as, snow cocks, chirs, snow leopards, musk deer, bharals, black beers, koklas and others. Apart from these, you will find several temples in the landscape of this sanctuary.

Best Time to visit

The place experiences a cool but pleasant climate during summers and a chilly climate during winters. The best time to visit the place is during the months of April to November.

Accommodation

There are very limited options for accommodation in Pithoragarh. The accommodation options available at this place mainly comprises of budget hotels. The place also has few mid-range hotels and resorts that are equipped with almost all the basic amenities. Most of the hotels and resorts found at this place are located close to the tourist spots.

How to Reach

By Air: The nearest airport to the place is Pantnagar, located at a distance of about 250 km. The airport conducts regular flights to Delhi. The Delhi airport is located at a distance of about 450 km from the place and is connected with various domestic and international cities. Hired taxis are available from the Pantnagar airport to the place.

By Train: The nearest railway station to the place is Kathgodam, located at a distance of about 198 km. The station is well connected with places like Jammu, Delhi, Kanpur, Kolkata, Ranikhet, Dehradun and few others. Taxi and bus services are available from the station to the place.

By Road: Pithoragarh has a well established network of roads that connects the place with various major parts in Uttarakhand as well as other neighboring cities.  Government buses connect the place with places like Munsiyari, Tanakpur, Almora, Lahaghat, Kathgodam etc. The place also receives regular buses from places like Nainital (218 km), Delhi (457 km) and Badrinath (329 km).