Pithoragarh, Mountain town in Uttarakhand, India.
Pithoragarh is a settlement in the mountains of Uttarakhand, India, spreading across hills at an elevation of 1514 m (4967 ft). Mountains form a natural rim around the municipal area, creating a valley with houses on different levels.
The name comes from a fort called Prithvigarh, built by the Chand Rajas of Kumaon during their rule. These rulers controlled trade routes between the plains and Tibet over several centuries.
The Kandali festival celebrates the blooming of a plant that appears only every twelve years, bringing together villages from surrounding valleys. Hilljatra connects harvest rituals with public gatherings where families share songs from the region.
Travelers reach the settlement through National Highway 9, with buses from larger cities running regularly. The nearest airport is in Pantnagar, from where roads climb into the hills.
In Kasni, a village on the edge of the settlement, temple complexes from the 11th century stand under construction by the Katyuri kings. Stone carvings on the walls show scenes that differ little from local storytelling today.
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