Kumaon

Kumaon or Kumaun is one of the two regions and a division of Uttarakhand, a mountainous state of northern India, the other than Garhwal. It includes the districts of Almora, Bageshwar, Champawat, Nainital, Pithoragarh, and Udham Singh Nagar. It is bounded on the north by Tibet, on the east by Nepal, on the south by the state of Uttar Pradesh, and on the west by the Garhwal region. The people of Kumaon are known as Kumaonis and speak the Kumaoni language.

The word Kumaon is believed to have been derived from "Kurmanchal," meaning land of the Kurmavatar the tortoise incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The region extends from the northern end of the Gangetic plains right up to Tibet. The snowy mountains, crystal-clear lakes, and the dense flora and fauna is one of the major attraction.

Kumaon hills provide a vast attraction for the tourists, trekkers, and pilgrims. The beautiful scenery and the colorful cultural life of Pithoragarh, Mukteshwar, Chaukori, Binsar, Kausani, Sitalakhet, Champawat and many other popular hill stations

Location

Kumaon, with an area of 21,035 sq km, is situated in the north Indian state of Uttaranchal (formerly part of Uttar Pradesh). It is surrounded from Nepal in the east by River Kali. The Kailash-Mansarovar region of Western Tibet forms in the north. In the west, the Chamoli and Pauri districts of Garhwal region make the boundary. Kumaon shares its southern boundary with the districts of Bareilly, Pilibhit, Rampur, Moradabad, and Bijnor.

Udham Singh Nagar one of the districts in the Kumaon region is the only district with the plain region or generally known as the Terai region.

It is home to a famous Indian Army regiment, the Kumaon Regiment. Important towns of Kumaon are Haldwani, Nainital, Almora, Pithoragarh, Rudrapur, Kashipur, Pantnagar, Mukteshwar, and Ranikhet. Nainital is the administrative center of Kumaon Division and this is where the Uttarakhand high court is located.

History

Mankind has been around in Kumaon for a very long time. Evidence of Stone Age settlements has been found in Kumaon, particularly the rock shelter at Lakhu Udyar. The paintings here date back to the Mesolithic period.

The early medieval history of Kumaon is the history of the Katyuri dynasty. The Katyuri kings ruled from the 7th to the 11th century, holding sway at the peak of their powers over large areas of Kumaon, Garhwal, and western Nepal. The town of Baijnath near Almora was the capital of this dynasty and a center of the arts. Temple building flourished under the Katyuris and the main architectural innovation introduced by them was the replacement of bricks with hewn stone.

On a hilltop facing east (opposite Almora), is the temple of Katarmal. This 900-year-old sun temple was built during the declining years of the Katyuri dynasty. The intricately carved doors and panels have been removed to the National Museum in Delhi as a protective measure after the 10th-century idol of the presiding deity was stolen.

After an interregnum of a couple of centuries, the Chands of Pithoragarh became the dominant dynasty. The magnificent temple complex at Jageshwar, with its cluster of a hundred and sixty-four temples, was built by the Chand rulers over a space of two centuries. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the evocative carvings are complemented by the beautiful cedar forest around it.