Situated 1,650 metres above sea-level, Pithoragarh is the easternmost hill district of Uttarakhand. Surrounded by hills, it is located in the centre of the Soar Valley and is en-route to the sacred Hindu places like Kailash, Manasarovar and Om Parvat.
Nicknamed the Little Kashmir, Pithoragarh has breathtaking views of the Himalayan snow capped mountains and the mountain ranges of Chandak, Chaukhamba, Trishul, Nanda Devi, Nand Kot and Panchchuli. It boasts of some of the most beautiful glaciers in the world like Milam, Ralam, Namik and Sundar Dhunga.
Moreover, Pithoragarh also has many famous shrines of great historical importance like the Mahakali temple in Gangolighat for Shankaracharya’s Shakti Peeth, Shaivite in Thal Kedar – a popular destination on Shivaratri and Kapileshwar Mahadev where Kapil Muni meditated for years.
For the adrenaline junkies, Khalia Top, Betuli Dhar and Chiplakot have some of the most amazing ski slopes. Also, while Munakot and Dwaj offer you the perfect gliding experience, Jhulaghat raft river camp on Kali River attracts rafting enthusiasts from all over the world. You can spot musk deers, peacocks, elephants, tiger and snow leopards in the dense forests. Moreover, inorder to experience the rich Kumaon culture and heritage of Pitoragarh, one should visit the Mostamanu fair which is held in August or Kapileshwar fair held during Shivratri.
Though it is an all-weather destination, the best time to visit Pithoragarh would be from April to November.
Pithoragarh is very well connected whether it be, by Air, (nearest airport is Pantnagar - 214 kms), Rail (nearest railway terminal is Tanakpur - 151 kms) and by road via via national highway 125.
