Pithoragarh district

Etymology

Some attribute the name to King Prithvi Pal (Had his empire to Nainital & parts of UP) / Piru Gusain (Gusain refers to the younger son of a King), here the younger son of King of Askote (Pal)/ Pithora Shahi/ Pithora Chand from the Chand Dynasty, who built a fort named Pithora Garh in the Saur Valley.

History

Pals (Branch of Katyuri kings)

After its conquest by Bhartpal, the Rajwar of Uku (now in Nepal), in the year 1364, Pithoragarh was ruled for the rest of the 14th century by three generations of Pals, and the kingdom extended from Pithoragarh to Askot.

Bam Dynasty

According to a Tamra Patra (inscribed copper or brass plaque) from 1420, the Pal dynasty, based out of Askot, was uprooted by Chand kings. Vijay Brahm (of the Brahm dynasty from Doti) took over the empire as King. Following the death of Gyan Chand, in a conflict with Kshetra Pal, the Pals were able to regain the throne.

Chand Dynasty

It is believed that Bharti Chand, an ancestor of Gyan Chand, had replaced Bams, the ruler of Pithoragarh, after defeating them in 1445. In the 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.

The Chand rule, at its zenith, is seen as one of the most prominent empires in Kumaon. Their rule also coincides with a period of cultural resurgence. Archaeological surveys point toward the development of culture and art forms in this period.

Northern frontier: the Bhotiya Mehals

The northernmost tracts of Kumaon, bordering Tibet and Nepal, were known as the Bhotiya Mehals (also parganah Darma and parganah Johar). These high-altitude valleys — Johar, Darma, Chaudans and Byans — were inhabited by the Bhotiya communities, who practised transhumance and subsisted primarily on trans-Himalayan trade with Tibet through high passes such as the Lipu Lekh, Limpiya Dhura and the Unta Dhura.

Before the Gorkha conquest in 1791, the entire Byans region — including the villages of Chhangru and Tinkar east of the Kali River — was considered an integral part of Kumaon, distinct from the kingdoms of Doti and Jumla. After the Treaty of Sugauli, the Kali River was established as the boundary between British territory and Nepal. The Nepali governor Bam Shah then claimed the villages east of the Kali, and the British conceded Changru and Tinkar on the grounds that the treaty entitled Nepal to territory east of the river. However, when Bam Shah further claimed the villages of Kunti and Nabhi — arguing that the western branch (Kuthi Yankti) should be considered the main stream of the Kali — the claim was firmly rejected by the Governor-General, Lord Moira, in September 1817. The parganah of Byans was thus divided between two countries, with seven villages remaining in British Kumaon and two transferred to Nepal.

Under British administration, the Bhotiya Mehals were governed as part of the Non-Regulation Province of Kumaon, in which the commissioners — notably G. W. Traill, J. H. Batten and Sir Henry Ramsay — exercised broader discretionary powers than in the regulated areas of the plains. The Bhotiya communities spoke Sino-Tibetan languages — Byansi, Chaudansi, Darmiya and Rangkas — distinct from the Indo-Aryan Kumaoni language of the rest of the division.

Modern history

British rule began on 2 December 1815 when Nepal was forced to sign the Sugauli Treaty. Pithoragarh remained a tehsil under Almora district until 1960 when its status was elevated to that of a district. There was an army cantonment, a church, and a mission school, resulting in the spread of Christianity in the region.

The Bhotiya communities living in the Pithoragarh district historically practised transhumance between summer villages located at higher altitudes, close to the border with Tibet, and winter settlements located at lower altitudes, close to the Himalayan foothills and the Gangetic plains. With transhumance as a base, many of them would engage in annual trade visits to market towns such as Taklakot in western Tibet, and some would practice nomadic pastoralism as well. This way of life came to an abrupt end in the 1962 due to the Sino-Indian War. Trans-Himalayan trade was allowed again since the under 1990s. But unlike in the past, it was now to be conducted under state-imposed regulations and limitations, and was allowed only across the Pithoragarh district's Lipu Lekh pass, whereas in earlier times, in Kumaon and Garwhal, the Trans-Himalayan trade had been conducted across several passes.

In 1997, part of the Pithoragarh district was cut out to form the new Champawat district.

Demographics

According to the 2011 census Pithoragarh district has a population of 483,439, roughly equal to the nation of Suriname. This gives it a ranking of 546th among the 640 districts of India. The district has a population density of 69 inhabitants per square kilometre (180/sq mi). Its population growth rate over the decade 2001–2011 was 5.13%. Pithoragarh has a sex ratio of 1021 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 82.93%. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 24.90% and 4.04% of the population respectively.

Native tribes in the district include the Gurjars, Van Rawats, Van Gurjars and Shaukas. Van Rawats are hunter-gatherers. Shaukas are traders. In Pithoragarh the Shaukas are divided into two main tribes. Johari Shaukas and Rung Shaukas. The Johari Shauka community inhabits the areas in Munsiyari while Rung Shaukas tribe are spread among the three valleys of Darma, Chaundas, and Byans. Kangdali Festival, celebrated once every 12 years by inhabitants of Chaundas Valley, is one of the major festivals in this area.

Languages

Kumaoni, with its several dialects, is the most widely spoken language. Natives of the district speak the distinct Soryali dialect. Hindi is the common language between the locals and outsiders, and English is spoken by some people, especially teachers, lecturers, and students in tertiary education.

Several Sino-Tibetan languages of the West Himalayish branch are spoken by small communities. These include the three closely related languages of Byangsi, Chaudangsi, and Darmiya, as well as Rangkas & Rawat. The Van Rawat tribe speaks their own variety of Kumaoni.

The speakers of the West Himalayish languages, who collectively call themselves Rang, inhabit the valleys of Byans, Chaudans and Darma in the extreme north-east of Pithoragarh district.

Assembly Constituencies

Dharchula

Didihaat

Pithoragarh

Gangolihaat (SC)

Formerly

Kanalichhina

Climate

Pithoragarh town, being in a valley, is relatively warm during summer and cool during winter. During the coldest months of December and January, the tropical and temperate mountain ridges and high locations receive snowfall and have an average temperature of 5.5–8.0 °C (41.9–46.4 °F). Pithoragarh district has extreme variation in temperature due to the wide range of variations in altitude. The temperature rises from mid-March through mid-June. The areas above 3,500 metres (11,500 ft) remain in a permanent snow cover. Regions lying at 3,000–3,500 metres (9,800–11,500 ft) become snowbound for four to six months. At places like the river gorges at Dharchula, Jhulaghat, Ghat and Sera, temperatures reach 40 °C (104 °F). The annual average rainfall in lower reaches is 360 centimetres (140 in).Sati, Vishwambhar Prasad; Kumar, Kamlesh (2004). Uttaranchal: Dilemma of Plenties and Scarcities. Mittal Publications. ISBN 8170998980. After June the district receives monsoon showers. Winter is a time for transhumance – the seasonal migration of the Bhotiya tribe with their herds of livestock to lower, warmer areas.

Seasons

Winter (cold weather): December–March

Summer (hot weather): March–June

Season of general rains: North–West monsoon – mid-June to mid-September

Season of retreating monsoon: September–November

Glaciers of Pithoragarh

Locally, glaciers are known as Gal. Some important glaciers of the district are as follows:

Milam Glacier

Namik Glacier

Ralam Glacier

Meola Glacier

Sona Glacier

Panchchuli Glacier

Balati Glacier

Shipu Glacier

Rula Glacier

Kalabaland Glacier

Lawan Glacier

Northern Lwanl

Middle Lwanl

Lower Lwanl

Bamlas Glacier

Baldimga Glacier

Terahar Glacier

Poting Glacier

Talkot Glacier

Sankalpa Glacier

Lassar Glacier

Upper Lassar

Lower Lassar

Middle Lassar

Dhauli Glacier

Baling Golfu Glacier

Dhauli Glacier

Mountain passes of Pithoragarh

Valleys of Pithoragarh

Vyas valley (includes Kuthi Valley and the valley of Kalapani River)

Kuti-Yangti Valley : Kuti-Yangti valley has 112 glaciers. The passes of Kuti valley Lampiya Dhura (5,553 m), Nuwe Dhura (5,650 m)

Chaudans valley

Darma Valley

Goriganga valley: Goriganga has 128 glaciers with largest Milam glacier having 18 km in length.

Dhauliganga valley : Those are source of several streams and rivers. Maximum 135 glaciers found in the Dhauliganga valley.

Johar Valley

Kalabaland valley

Kali valley: Lipu Lekh Pass (5,122 m) (India, Tibet, Nepal)

Lassar Yangti valley

Ralam valley

Saur valley

Ramganga valley :There are 7 glaciers in Ramganga valley and Namik is largest with 2.4 square Km in size.

Saryu /Sarju Valley

Gori Gunkha valley : Belcha Dhura pass (5,384 m), Kungri Bhingri Pass (5,564 m), Keo Dhura pass (5,439 m)

Flora

A wide variety of flora exists in the district, including many unique sub-tropical, temperate, and alpine plants. Bryophytes (mosses), pteridophytes (ferns), gymnosperms (conifers), and angiosperms (flowering plants) are present. Rare varieties of orchids are also present in the high-altitude valleys of Milan, Darma, Beyans, and Kuthi. Species present include:

Abies pindrow

Aconitum heterophyllum

Berberis aristata (Kirmod)

Betula utilis (Himalayan birch or Bhoj Patra)

Cedrus deodara (Deodar Cedar)

Cypripedium cordigerum

Dendrobium normale

Myrica esculenta (Kafal)

Nardostachys grandiflora (Jatmasi)

Pedicularis punctata

Picrorhiza kurroa (Kutki)

Pinus roxburghii (Salla or Chir)

Pinus wallichiana (Blue Pine or Raisalla)

Prunus cerasoides (Pahiyya)

Prunus cornuta

Prunus puddum

Quercus dilatata

Quercus incana

Quercus leucotricophora (Banjh)

Quercus semicarpifolia

Rhododendron barbatum (Burans)

Tourist attractions

Askot Musk Deer Sanctuary is a 599.93 km2 wildlife sanctuary located around Askot near Didihat, in Pithoragarh district of the Himalaya of Kumaon in Uttarakhand, India.

Berinag is a hill station located 102 Km from Pithoragarh at an altitude of 2010 m. It is famous for the Premium Berinag Tea.

Chaukori is a hill station located 10 km from Berinag, also with an altitude of 2010 m.

Munsyari is a hill station in the northern part of the Pithoragarh district. The valley from Munsyari to Milam is known as Johar Valley.

Pithoragarh Fort is set atop a hill on the outskirts of the town and now serves as a museum.

Notable people

Anjali Tatrari – Television actress

Laurie Baker - Architect

General Bipin Chandra Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, ADC – 17th Chief of Army Staff, Indian Army

Dan Singh Bisht – businessman and philanthropist

Lucky Bisht – NSG commando and spy

Nain Singh Rawat – explorer

Prakash Pant – politician

Pushkar Singh Dhami - 10th chief minister of Uttarakhand

Ratan Singh Raypa – anthropologist

Mayukh Mahar - politician

Shekhar Pathak – historian, editor, travel writer, activist

Unmukt Chand – cricketer

Vinod Kapri – filmmaker, journalist, and author

J. S. Titiyal - Indian Ophthalmologist

Prafulla Chandra Pant- Former Judge of the Supreme Court of India

Mahendra Singh Mahra - Former Rajya Sabha member