Champawat Hill Station
About Champawat, Uttarakhand: Champawat, the antediluvian capital of the Chand rules. Champawat known for its temples and natural beauty. The historical town 160 kms. from Nainital. The base on legends story suggest that Lord Vishnu come out here as ‘Kurma avatar’ (the tortoise avatar) . The story of Golla Devta is also linked with Gorilla Chaur of Champawat.
Jim Corbett, the famous hunter came to this area in the first decennary of the 20th century to hunt for man eating tigers. “Man Eaters of Kumaon” is related to Champawat. This is the first book of Jim Corbett.
Tourism and Places to Visit in Champawat
Baleshwar Temple It was possibly built by the early rules of Chand dynasty and the group of temple were dedicated to Ratneshwar, Baleshwar, and Champawati Durga. Some of the complex carvings of the holy place have survive the vagaries of time and reflect the glory of the olden era.
Nagnath Temple It is another brilliant example of olden construction of Kumaon.
Ek Hathiya Ka Naula: It is 5 kms. from Champawat and is believed to have been construct in just one night by the one handed artisan.
Kranteshwar mahadev The holy shire atop a hill to the east of Champawat is also called as Kurmapad or Kandev.
Lohaghat Lohaghat is a historical place 14 kms from Champawat. It is on the banks of river Lohawati and is famous for its natural beauty and traditional stories. The area is also well-known for the blooming ‘Burans’ flowers during summers.
Around Lohaghat
Mayawati Advaita Ashram (9kms) Mayawati Advaita Ashram is just 9kms from Lohaghat. The ashram amidst beautiful surroundings attracts large number spiritualists from all over the world Swami Vivekanand decided to shift the publication office of ‘Prabuddh Bharat’ from Madras to Mayawati during his visit to Almora in 1898.
Abbot Mount (8 kms.) The beautiful site offers a peaceful and isolated vacation. It affords grand view of the Himalayan peaks.
Devidhura(45 kms.) The attractive site is known for the Varashi temple, where a unique belief of Bagwal (organised stone throwing between two groups) is practiced on Raksha Bandhan. It is also an outstanding site for trekking.
Pancheshwar (40 kms.) It is located at the joining together of river kali and Saryu on the Nepal border. Pancheshwar is well-known for the Shiva temple of Pancheshwer, where Jaat (Jamaan) of Chaumu is worshipped as protector of animals. Many devotees visit the temple during the fair and take a dip at the holy confluence. The region affords excellent views of the Himalayan grandeur and has fine trails and treks for adventure seekers.
Vanasur-Ka-Kila(7 kms.) Vanasur-Ka-Kila is 7kms from the Lohaghat. This fort made during the gothic times is said to be linked with well-known Vanasur, who was killed here.
Meetha reetha Saheb Meetha reetha Saheb is the important Sikh pilgrim. It is 72 kms from Champawat. Guru Nanak came here and had holy discussion with Gorakhpanthi jogis. There are trees of Reetha in the Gurudwara campus. According to mythology have become sweet due to touch of the Guru Nanak. A fair is organized here on ‘Baisakhi Poornima’.
Purnagiri Temple The sacred shrine atop the Purnagiri hill is 20kms. from Tanakpuri and 92 kms. from Champawat. Large number of devotees visit the shine from all over the country, especially during the Chaitra Navratri in the month of March-April. The area reverberates with the holy chants of devotees climbing the hill. River Kali flows from here and is knows as Sharda in the plains.
A motorable road is built upto Thuligarh, which is 14 kms. from Tanakpuri. From Thuligarh one has to trek upto the temple. The temple affords awe-inspiring view of the expanse of river Kali, its islands, the township of Tanakpur and a few Nepali Villages.
