Lohaghat – An Unexplored and Lesser Known Gem in Uttarakhand

Best Places to Visit Near Lohaghat Uttarakhand, India

“Why go to Kashmir when heaven is here”

Those were the words of a British naturalist sometime in the mid 19th century. The place he was referring to was a small town in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. This town is called Lohaghat in Champawat district, Uttarakhand, India.

The river Lohawati meanders between its rocky banks. During the summers the area around this charming town is draped with a carpet of red as the famed Rhododendrons bloom in all their splendor.

Forests of towering Pines and oaks hug the land. That, in a few words, describes the beauty of Lohaghat which can only be experienced and not described. Lohaghat is a hill station which has a population in thousands and it draws its name from the river that caresses its banks. This sleepy town is a very important place in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, not only owing to its serene beauty and calm but also to the fact that it is a gateway to some of the most amazing places of the region.

Lohaghat History

Lohaghat is a town that is steeped in history. Places nearby find mention in the ancient mythological texts of India.

It is believed that the area around Lohaghat may have been the cultural capital of the Chand dynasty, a Rajput clan who ruled the Kumaon region in the 11th and 12th century. The existence of various ancient temples and the celebration of ancient festivals in the region seems to point in this direction too.

In more recent times, it is said that a British naturalist by the name of Barron was probably one of the first British visitors to Lohagahat sometime in the mid 19th century.

Best Places To Visit Near Lohaghat Uttarakhand

Lohaghat is one of the unexplored destinations of Uttarakhand, India. Or we can say that Lohaghat is one of the lesser known destinations of Uttarakhand. We bring you here some of the Lohaghat local sightseeing places. There are a few attractions in and around Lohaghat hill station. Here are some of the best places to visit near Lohaghat Uttarakhand, India.

Abbott Mount

If you travel about 5 kilometers from the town of Lohaghat, on a serpentine road with sharp curves and cutting across dense forests, you climb a further height of about 357 meters and suddenly you find yourself in the midst of breathtaking Abbott Mount at an elevation of 2,111 meters. Abbott Mount is a hill station whose pristine beauty was discovered by an Englishman called John Abbott who set up house here. The Abbott house still survives today as a shadow of its past, desolate and derelict and reportedly haunted. There is also an old abandoned Church in the midst of the tranquil woods of Abbott Mount.

The serene beauty of the Pine and Deodhar forests combine with the unending chorus of rare Himalayan birds to mesmerize visitors. The icing on the cake is, of course, the magnificent Himalayan peaks that dominate the skyline and rivet the attention of all with their sublime beauty.

Mayawati Ashram

It was towards the end of the 19th century when Swami Vivekananda was in Switzerland and overwhelmed by the sheer natural beauty of the Alps, his thoughts turned to the Himalayas. He thought of establishing an Ashram in the sublime environs of the mountains that would focus on Advaita and would also be a center for cultural exchange between his Indian and Western disciples. Thus was born the Advaita Ashram or Mayawati Ashram as it is sometimes referred to.as in the year 1899 which was established by James and Charlotte Sevier, Swami Vivekananda’s close disciples. Swami Vivekananda himself visited the Ashram and stayed there for a couple of weeks at the time of John Sevier’s death to console his widow Charlotte. The room where he stayed is a library today. One can still feel positive vibes at this place where Swami Vivekananda meditated.

The writings of Swami Vivekananda are published from the Advaita Ashram. The beautiful Advaita Ashram surrounded by hills on three sides and framed by magnificent views of the Himalayas on the fourth is a world that instantly lifts your spirits and makes your soul soar on the wings of spirituality.

Banasur Ka Kila (Fort)

About 7 kilometers from Lohhaghat is situated the ruins of a fascinating fort believed to belong to the medieval ages. The fort is known as Banasura Ka Quila or Banasura Fort or Vanasur ka Kila or Banasur Fort. The fort is perched atop the peak of a hill at a height of about 1859 meters. It is reached by a steep walk of about 1.5 kilometers. A series of steps lead to the only entrance to the fort. It is believed that the fort is named after Banasura, who in Hindu mythology was the son of Bali and was all-powerful with a thousand arms. He was evil incarnate and was vanquished and all but two of his arms severed by Lord Krishna. Banasura was spared at the behest of Lord Shiva by Lord Krishna.

The fort today is in ruins but holds in its bosom the lost stories of its origin. The fort also affords spectacular panoramic views of the valley below and the mountains on the horizon. The river Lohawati also originates from this hill.

Devidhura

About 45 kilometers from Lohaghat is a place called Devidhura which has a beautiful and ancient temple set in the midst of serene and picturesque settings. Every year on the auspicious day of the Indian festival Raksha Bandhan, the serenity of the place is shattered as a unique and somewhat bizarre festival is celebrated. Two groups of singing and dancing crowds pelt stones at each other. They hold huge wooden shields to protect themselves as they hurl stones at the rival group. It is considered auspicious if you get injured in the melee. But what is amazing is the fact that there has never been a recorded fatality because of this festival “celebration”.

Reetha Sahib

The Gurudwara Reetha Sahib is situated about 52 kilometers from Lohaghat. This place – Meetha Reetha Sahib is one of three important pilgrimage centers of Sikhs in Uttarakhand. The other being Nanakmatta and Hemkund Sahib.

Meetha Reetha Sahib is famous as it is believed that Guru Nanak Dev Ji along with Bhai Mardana Ji had visited the place. It is said that Guru NanakDev Ji had sat under a Reetha (Soapnut) tree and the soapnuts of the tree near where he sat had turned sweet from bitter. A Gurudwara was built around the tree in 1960. Even today the soapnuts from this tree are sweet and serve as Prasad for visitors to the Gurudwara.

These are some of the best places near Lohaghat Champawat in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. The Kumaon region is indeed a medley of experiences with its picture-perfect honeymooners’ paradises like Chaukori, Kausani, Nautukchiatal, Ranikhet, and Sitlakhet, mystical and intriguing places like Patal Bhuvaneshwar, and historical and architectural wonders like the Sun temple of Katarmal and the ancient temple at Baijnath.

Lohaghat Map

How to reach Lohaghat

Lohaghat is situated in the Champawat district of the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand state in the north of India. It lies at an altitude of 1754 meters above sea level.

• Lohaghat distance from Delhi, the capital of India is about 461 kilometers
• The nearest railway station to Lohaghat is Tanakpur which is at a distance of 60 kilometers. Tanakpur is well connected with major destinations of India like Delhi, Lucknow, Agra, and Kolkata.
• The nearest airport to Lohaghat is Pantnagar Airport at a distance of about 160 kilometers
• Lohaghat is well connected from major destinations of Kumaon region

Best Time To Visit Lohaghat

Best time to visit Lohaghat is between March to June, and September to November.

Uttarakhand Tourism

How To Get To Lohaghat Champawat, Uttarakhand, India

Book cheap flights, hotels, bus tickets and cars on rent here.

Where To Stay When Visiting Lohaghat Champawat, Uttarakhand, India

Uttarakhand hotels – If you are planning to visit Lohaghat Uttarakhand, India, then you must be wondering where to stay in Lohaghat, Uttarakhand, India or the best hotels in Lohaghat, Uttarakhand, India. For best accommodation – hotels near Lohaghat, we suggest checking here. Best hotels in Uttarakhand, India can be booked on Booking.com or Skyscanner to save huge and get best deals on booking your stay in Uttarakhand, India.

Driving around Uttarakhand, India

If you are looking at getting the best deals on car rental in Uttarakhand, India, then look no further. You can rent a car in Delhi to explore and experience amazing Uttarakhand, and in and around areas and embark on a road trip of exploration and discovery of heavenly Uttarakhand. If you have a valid Indian driving license then you could rent a self-drive car from Delhi or Chandigarh.

Have you been to Lohaghat? In case you have already been here, do let us know how was your experience? Did you visit all the places around Lohaghat? Which is your favorite destination in Uttarakhand? Do let us know through our comments section.

Our posts on Uttarakhand, India:

Kumaon Region of Uttarakhand – The Perfect Honeymoon Getaway
An Early Morning Trek to view the Himalayan Ranges at Shitlakhet, Uttarakhand
Discovering The Myths and Mysteries of Patal Bhuvaneshwar
Experiencing Serenity At Nanakmatta Gurudwara, Uttarakhand, India

We were hosted by Uttarakhand Tourism. However, the views and opinions expressed here are our own.

Do You Love To Travel?

Do you want to know how to travel the world? We have put together a very useful travel resources page with best travel tips. Go check it out now.

Thanks for visiting our site Voyager – imvoyager.com and taking the time to read our post!

If you wish to collaborate/work with us then reach us at [email protected]

We’d love if you’d comment by sharing your thoughts on this post and share this post on social media and with your friends.

[shareaholic app=”share_buttons” id=”27413782″]

Add to Flipboard Magazine.

Follow our journey on our social media channels:
Facebook   Twitter   Instagram  Pinterest G+ YouTube