From Delhi
One of the most striking
regions in the hills of Uttaranchal is Pithoragarh, Kumaon's easternmost district. The
district headquarters, also called Pithoragarh, is wedged in between Nepal and Tibet, in
the tiny Soar Valley of the Lesser Himalayas. The valley is flanked by four hills -
Chandak, Dhwaj, Thal Kedar and Kundar - and is dramatic in its beauty.
Pithoragarh is in the heart
of adventure country. In ancient times, the town had as many as six passes into Tibet, and
it is still on the sacred Kailash-Mansarovar trail. Treks to the Milam and Namik Glaciers
are kick-started here.
A number of adventure
sports are possible in the region and there are private operators and camps that
will organize them for you. Hang gliding, paragliding, trekking, skiing, canoeing, river
rafting and fishing escapades await the audacious.
For the nature lover and
wildlife enthusiast, there are hikes through Pithoragarh's thick forests where you can
spot snow leopards, musk deer and peafowl. The rolling meadows surrounding the town are
soft with velvet grass and the scent of wild flowers - lovely for a lazy day in the sun!
Pithoragarh was the
medieval bastion of the Chand rulers, who were great builders of temples.
Many of them lie in ruins, but pilgrims still visit the others and festivals are
celebrated here in a big way. Visit the Kapileshwar temple, an ancient cave-temple
dedicated to Shiva; the Kamaksha temple; and the Kailash Ashram.
The Mostamanu is
a famous temple near Chandak, 7 km from Pithoragarh, from where you can get a spectacular
view of the snowy Himalayas - the peaks of Nanda Devi, Panchuli and Trishul. A 29 km trek
uphill from the Soar valley takes you to Dhwaj and the temples of Shiva
and Parvati. Thal Kedar, 16 km, is another pretty spot with Shiva temples
where there is a grand Shivratri celebration each year.
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