Pithoragarh district is the easternmost Himalayan district in the state of Uttarakhand, India.
It is naturally landscaped with high Himalayan mountains, snow-capped peaks, passes, valleys,
alpine meadows, forests, waterfalls, perennial rivers, glaciers, and springs. The flora and
fauna of the area have rich ecological diversity. Pithoragarh has many temples and ruined
forts from the once flourishing reign of the warrior Chand Kingdom.
The geographical area of the district is 7,110 km2 (2,750 sq. mi). At the 2011 census,
the total population of the district was 485,993. The total literacy rate was 82.93 percent.
Pithoragarh town, which is located in Saur Valley , is its headquarters. The district
is within the Kumaon division of Uttarakhand state. The Tibet plateau is situated
to the north and Nepal is to the east. The Kali River originates from Kalapaani and flows
south, forming the eastern border with Nepal. The Hindu pilgrimage route for Mount Kailash-Lake
Manasarovar passes through this district via Lipulekh Pass in the greater Himalayas. The district
is administratively divided into five tehsils: Munsiyari; Dharchula; Didihat; Gangolihat;
and Pithoragarh. Naini Saini Airport is the nearest civil airport, but it does not have regular
scheduled commercial passenger service. The mineral deposits present in the district are magnesium
ore, copper ore, limestone, and slate.
