Pithoragarh Fort

4.3

Location: Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand 262501, India

Estimated Visiting Time: 1 to 2 hours

Pithoragarh Fort (Hindi: पिथौरागढ़ किला) is a fort situated in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand. Peeru Alias Prithwi Gusain, a regional ruler, built it during the’ Chand’ period. According to the records, the Gorkhas constructed this Fort in 1789 after the town’s invasion. The Pithoragarh Fort is an old establishment on a hill (on the outskirts) of Pithoragarh. Currently, the Fort is in a dilapidated condition.

Attraction

The fort is an example of this city’s history. People, especially those who are fascinated with historical places, will find Pithoragarh Fort a fantastic place to visit. The architecture of this place is different. It is an excellent place for architecture enthusiasts. This fort has a long history in India. The view of this place is lovely.
The fort offers a beautiful view at sunrise and sunset. The view is so attractive that tourists can’t help but fall in love with it. With all this, you can click on some amazing pictures here. It is a place worth visiting. You will not regret it.

History

Historians believe King Piru, alias Prithvi Gusain of the Chand dynasty, began building the Pithoragarh fort around 1779. Later, this fort was named ‘Pithoragarh Fort’ after him. However, in 1790, the Gorkhas defeated the kings of the Chand dynasty, eventually destroyed the fort, and captured Kumaon.
After a few years, the Gorkhas repaired it, built this fort on the highest hill there (in 179), and named it ‘Gorkha Fort. The Gorkhas constructed the fort on the highest hill to ensure complete security. The Pithoragarh Fort was built in 1778-1779, and after ten years, it was taken over by the Gurkha army. In 1815 (during British rule on India), the British again took over the fort. Udaipur Kot, Bhatduni Kot, Sahaj Kot, Uncha Kot, Bal Kot, Vellore Kot, and Dungar Kot could be easily seen from Pithoragarh fort, and so all of them be ruled from there.
However, a treaty was established between the ‘British’ and the ‘Gorkhas’ regarding this fort. The treaty was named the ‘Sangolli Treaty‘. The British occupied and ruled this fort for 135 consecutive years and used it as a tehsil. During the British Raj, the name of Pithoragarh Fort was changed to ‘London Fort.’ However, after independence, that rule ended on this fort.
In 2018, the Uttarakhand Tourism Department took over this fort, declaring it a historical heritage site for Pithoragarh. After that, work started on creating a museum here.

Inside/Outside Views

Pithoragarh Fort was built on the ground in the 6. 5 Nali area. The fort is about 88. 5 meters by length, and by width, it is 40 meters. The height of its wall is 8 to 9 feet.
The fort has two main gates to enter, which are a little small. There are two floors inside this fort, where 15 rooms have been built in total. The design of the rooms inside the fort looks similar to the buildings constructed in Nepal. However, this fort was also built for the residence of soldiers and nobles. There is also a basement inside the Pithoragarh fort that soldiers use for storage.
Keeping war in mind, the security in Pithoragarh Fort was tight, as it had many secret doors and routes. This fort also reflects the war policy of that time. For example, 152 holes were made in the fort wall to fire long guns. The specialty of these holes was that no harm could be done inside the fort from outside. A foolproof arrangement was established to maintain a perfect security system at the fort. This arrangement enabled the soldiers to fire their guns while sitting and lying down.
Sources state that the builders of Pithoragarh Fort used a mixture of stones and red sawdust to construct the fort.’Surkhi Chura is a special cement that connects the stones placed there. Soldiers martyred in the First World War (1914-1918) have been mentioned on a ‘plaque’ inside the fort. This inscription also mentions the number of soldiers (from the surrounding areas) who participated in World War I and how many were martyred.

Opening Hours

The time to visit Pithoragarh Fort or the opening time of the fort is from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm. Tourists are allowed to see the fort from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm to get familiar with the history of Pithoragarh.

Entry & Others Fees

There is a ticket system to enter the fort. The price is relatively low, only 20 rupees.

Near Restaurants

Near Hotels

How to Reach

By air: The nearest airport to reach Pithoragarh by flight is ‘Pantnagar.’ The distance is 241 km from Pithoragarh to ‘Nainital district.’ A ‘Naini Saini airstrip’ is also available in Pithoragarh, where a helicopter facility is available from Dehradun and Pant Nagar.

By rail: The nearest railway station to Pithoragarh is Tanakpur. 138 is the distance between Pithoragarh and Tanakpur railway station. Local transport is available to reach Pithoragarh Fort afterward.

By road: Bus and taxi facilities are also available from Delhi to Pithoragarh. You can drive there too. It is approximately 457 km by road.