History of Pithoragarh

Pithoragarh’s history can be traced to the time of the Puranas when it flourished though no documents from that era have been recovered. What is known is that Pithoragarh used to be an important stop en route to Kailasa Parbat.

The first recorded document is from the time of the great Rajput King Prithviraj Chauhan who named the place as Rai Pithora. Under the Chand and Katyuri dynasties its name was adapted to “Prithigarh.”

Several kings and dynasties ruled Pithoragarh and perhaps one of the last was the Chand dynasty that built a fort to show their might and strength. This fort today houses the girls hostel Pithoragarh was taken over by the British administration, and they have left their impressions in the churches, cantonment area etc., that exist in Pithoragarh even today.