Champawat, Uttarakhand – Complete Details

Champawat is a small town located in the Kumaon district of Uttarakhand. Known for its attractive landscape and picturesque location, Champawat offers breathtaking natural beauty. The town attracts a lot of tourists from around the world throughout the year who are fascinated to explore the beauty of nature that lies in Uttarakhand. 

Here is a detailed guide about the fun facts, history and tourism details of Champawat. 

Overview of Champawat

Location & Altitude

It is a small town located in Uttarakhand. Elevated at a height of 5299 ft. above the sea level, the town was once known to be the capital of the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. The town offers a peaceful time in the lap of nature while also providing the devotees with an exciting number of different temples to explore. 

Apart from being a beautiful place to mention, Champawat is also the headquarters of the Champawat district and also serves as the Nagar Palika Parishad of the area. The nearest railway station is in Tanakpur and the nearest Airport is in Pantnagar. 

Historical Significance

From the 10th to the 16th century, Champawat was known to be the capital of the Chand Dynasty. It was ruled by King Arjun Deo whose daughter Champawati was the princess of the kingdom. It was named after the name of the king’s daughter. 

Ek Hathiya Ka Naula: It is a well located at a distance of about 5 km from the Champawat town. It is known to be carved by a one-handed craftsman in a single night. 

Banasur ka Kila: It is a fort located at a distance of 20 km from Champawat. It is built in the remembrance of Banasur who was a demon blessed with the 100 arms by Lord Shiva. 

Shyamlatal Lake: It is a beautiful freshwater lake located in Tanakpur. It offers unique views and picturesque landscapes for tourists who love to spend their time in nature. 

Nandhaur Wildlife Sanctuary: It is a beautiful sanctuary located near the Champawat town. It offers distinct views and wildlife discovery amidst the area spread from Uttarakhand in India to some parts of  Nepal. 

Lohaghat: It is a small hill station located on the banks of the Lohawati river. The place was once known to be the cultural capital of the Chand Dynasty and hence holds a lot of cultural heritage and traditional significance.

Shri Baleshwar Temple: It is a historical temple located in the Champawat town. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and was built during the reign of the Chand rulers. 

Outdoor Activities in Champawat

Following are some of the outdoor activities that one can take up while in Champawat: 

1. Trekking is a popular activity that tourists take up from Champawat to Lohaghat and other hill towns. 
2. You can also visit various temples built during the Chand dynasty. 
3. You can spend some quality time in nature while seeing birds.
4. Photography is also a fun activity that people do. 
5. You can take up camping with your friends group. 
6. You can do fishing in the nearby lakes and rivers. 
7. Adventurous activities like zip lining and river rafting are also offered by some tourism companies. 
8. Plan a road trip with family and friends. 
9. Explore local festivals

Culture and Traditions of Champawat

1. Champawat has a rich culture depicting the traditions of the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand.
2. Champawat is connected to some parts of Nepal that also shows the influence of Nepali culture in some areas.
3. Champawat is a home to many temples and historical buildings which are related to medieval India and the Chand dynasty.
4. People living in Champawat mostly follow the Kumauni dressing style including saree, pichoda, nath and ponji. 
5. People living in Champawat offer their prayers to their local deities in the form of Jaggar or Mandan. 
6. Local cuisine in Champawat include Bhatt ki churkani, Bhang ki Chutney, Gulgule, aloo ke gutke and Gahat ki daal. 

Homestays and Hotels in Champawat

Brooke Cottage: Homestay 

• Location: Chaura Dumkhuri  
• Newly Made Property
• Pricings Starts at ₹1845
• Contact: 8630809908
• brookcottagesimalta@gmail.com

Big spacious rooms with neat and clean washrooms. Serves authentic pahadi cuisines. Surroundings and crowd is also good and genuine. 

JB Hotel And Resort

• Location: Lohaghat
• Pricing Starts at ₹1792
• Contact: 084749 40491

The hotel serves good quality food under a reasonable price. Staff and service both are appreciable. Offers air conditioned rooms and pool facilities to the guests. 

Book Now: https://www.booking.com/hotel/in/jb-and-resort.en-gb.html

Korum Homestay

• Location: Kuteli
• Pricing starts at just ₹700

The place offers a distinct experience of living in a village area and is best for grounded people. Offers best room service and serves the authentic kumaoni dishes. 

Hotel Shiva Residency

• 3-star Hotel
• Location: Champawat
• Pricing starts at ₹1200 

Safe and secure environment with all the basic amenities provided. Air conditioned rooms are available with fresh homely cooked food. 

Local food and dinning spot

Dagadiya Restaurant

Serves authentic pahadi food. Best in taste and quality. 

Foodies Family Restaurant

Safe surroundings and welcoming staff with delicious taste. 

Atithi Restaurant

Serves quality food. Best place to satisfy kids’ cravings of different food dishes. 

The Mountain Cafe

Aesthetic place and luxurious dining, gives the best feeling to the tourist. Best to enjoy an evening coffee at its beautiful rooftop. 

Best time to visit and Travel Routes

Best Time to Visit Champawat

1. The best time to visit Champawat is known to be from April to June.
2. During these months the town experiences pleasant weather with a generous amount of moisture in the air. 
3. You will find most of the area blooming with beautiful flowers and lush green leaves.
4. You will also discover a variety of different birds chirping all around the trees. 
5. Most of the tourists prefer visiting Champawat during these months as it has a more soothing weather compared to metropolitan cities. 

How to Reach Champawat

There are many ways to travel to Champawat from major Metropolitan cities. The town is well connected by roads that go to different destinations in Uttarakhand. Here are some ways by which you can travel to Champawat in the most economical manner. 

Champawat By Bus

You can catch a bus from ISBT Anand Vihar in Delhi to Tanakpur which is 60 km from Champawat. From Tanakpur you can easily hire a taxi to Champawat. 

Champawat By Train

The nearest railway station from Champawat is in Tanakpur. After reaching Tanakpur you can further hire a taxi to Champawat. 

Champawat By Airplane

The nearest airport to Champawat is in Pantnagar. There are taxis and buses available from Pantnagar to Nainital. From Nainital you can take a further taxi to Champawat. 

Nainital to Champawat

Champawat is situated 208 km away from Nainital. You will find a lot of buses running between Nainital and Tanakpur. You can take a bus or a direct taxi from Nainital to Champawat. 

Watch This Video To See How Champawat Looks

Travel Tips for Visiting Champawat 

1. Always plan your trip well before heading towards the journey. 
2. Track your routes and get an idea of any obstacles that may delay your journey. 
3. Make a list of all the places that you are going to visit beforehand. 
4. Don’t forget to try the local cuisines and delicacies of the town. 
5. Do carry some necessary medicines and bandages with yourself. 

Distance Chart for Champawat from Major Cities (Table)

Location	Distance
Champawat to Nainital	209.3 km
Champawat to Haldwani	171.5 km
Champawat to Tanakpur	72.5 km
Champawat to Lohaghat	13.7 km
Champawat to Pantnagar	166.2 km
Champawat to Dehradun	415.2 km

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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