Introduction:
Champawat, which is also known with the name of Kali Kumaon is settled in the Uttarakhand state of India. The town formerly was the capital of the Kumaon region. People often referred to it as a city, but it is a Nagar Palika parishad of the district instead. With a total area of only 5 km sq, this idyllic town is elevated at a height of 1615 m above mean sea level.
In the earlier times when the Kumaon kingdom was ruled by the Chand Dynasty, the Champawat served as the Capital of the division. The Champawat initially was a part of the Almora district, which later was merged with the Pithoragarh District and eventually in 1997 was carved out as an individual identity. The town was originally called Champavati as it was situated on the banks of the Champavati stream. This was all about the basic details of the Champawat. But let’s look into the tourism side of the town.
Places to Visit in Champawat:
In the present time, there are Seven ancient Shrines in the Valley.
Baleshwar, Kranteshwar, Rishneshwar, Dikteshwar, Maneshwar, and Mallareshwar among which the Baleshwar Temple is the most significant.
Among all the Religious tourist destinations in the Champawat district, we are going to mention some of the important must-visit places and would want you to not skip while travelling in the Champawat.
Here are as follows:–
Baleshwar Temple:
Going back at times, this holy shrine was constructed by the Chand ruler during their period of rule in the Kumaon region. The main temple is primarily dedicated to Lord Shiva and the other temples in the premise are of Ratneshwar Mahadev and Champawati Durga. On the high spiritual occasion of Maha Shivrati, a fair is organized when Lakhs of people reach here for the darshans and the compound of the temple gets very crowded. There used to be a Naula, i.e. water resource in close proximity to the temple but the water has now completely dried out.
By the authorities of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the temple has been declared a National Heritage Site and they are making every effort to safeguard it from any natural and artificial harm.
Tea Garden:
Established by the Colonial Government approximately 120-150 years ago, the Champawat district provides the amiable temperature and a required climate for the Plantations of tea. There are very few organic tea gardens in Uttarakhand, so missing this place is not an ideal idea. This botanical tea garden is hardly 5-6 km away from the Champawat district so there will not be any hardship to cover this in your itinerary.
The Garden covers a vast area of 235 hectares and is one of the largest organic tea gardens in the region of Himalayan. Witnessing the serene and calm environment while watching the entire process of tea making is a surreal experience in itself.
Maneshwar Temple:
Maneshwar Temple is another worth-visiting religious site of Champawat. This temple is dedicated to none other than Lord Shiva and has the Shivling in the Garbhagriha. The local residents believe that this Maneshwar Temple was built by the Ruler Nirbhaya Chand in approximately the 8th Century CE. Ideally, the temple is located in the Balai region of Champawat. Mostly the devotees, who come here are astonished by the majestic view of the temple surroundings. The temple is located amid the pine and deodar trees, so it appears pretty scenic. Usually, the residents of Champawat and nearby villages have faith in the Maneshwar Mahadev temple. And as a result, they come here and organize Bhandaras and other religious rituals like Rudrabhishek in Shravan month. So now it’s your chance to come to Champawat and visit the temple.
Maneshwar Park, Champawat:
Beside the Maneshwar Temple, there’s a beautiful park entitled Maneshwar Park. On the main entrance of the park, there’s an open door that consists of the name of the park and the founding year. According to that, this park was established in 1998-99. Besides that, the park is really beautiful and has various varieties of flowers. Especially if you visit there in the blooming season, the natural beauty present there will steal your heart for sure. For the comfort of visitors, there are several benches in the park. So you can sit there peacefully and observe the precious natural aura of your surroundings.
Ek hathiya ka naula:
Ek hathiya ka naula is an artistic structure from the architectural point of view and has been done by a single-armed craftsman, all the intricate carving in its body is a single night creation. Famous for its historical background, it allures the lovers of History and art. With an approximate 3.6 Km distance from the Champawat district, this sightseeing spot is located and the time travel would be around 12-15 minutes only.
Kranteshwar Mahadev temple, Champawat:
Amidst the exquisite, tall, and majestic Himalayan mountain all wrapped in snow, this holy place is a reference to pure bliss in the form of a temple, which is respectfully dedicated to the Lord Shiva devo ke dev “Mahadev”. The beauty of the location of this sacred sanctum can’t be written down; the real pleasure you’ll get only after watching it in real life. The view from the top of the complex is breathtaking. Residents called the temple by the name of Lord Kandev and Lord Kumapad. It is only 6-7 km away from Champawat on the east side of the town.
Gwal Devta temple:
This is the temple of a local deity who is the most worshipped here in the Kumaon region, especially. To receive the blessings of the god, a large number of devotees come here every year. The temple is in the name of Gwal Devta or Golu Devta who is believed to be the son of a Katyuri king. Golu Devta is known for his excellence in providing Justice and always taking the side of the truth.
From Champawat, it is only 1.1 km away.
Reetha Sahib Gurudwara:
In a small hamlet of Dyuri, this revered shrine of the Sikh community is located, in the Champawat district. The gurdwara is also known with the name of Meetha Reetha Sahib Gurdwara. This place in itself holds a very strong power and attraction as the prominent Sikh “Guru Nanak Dev” himself came to visit this place accompanied by a companion, Bhai Mardana Ji. On the auspicious day of Baisakhi Purnima, a fair is held in the Gurdwara compound where lakhs of devotees participate. As per their ancient tradition, devotees who come to visit the temple are offered the Prasad of sweet reethas which is Soapnuts.
This journey to Reetha Sahib from Champawat is a little long but utterly worth it as you once reach the Gurudwara by travelling 70 km.
Distance of Champawat from:
Firstly, you should know that Champawat is located in the lower part of the Himalayas. Some of the nearest places that surround this town are Bangaon, Bardoli and Lohaghat.
- The distance between Champawat and Tanakpur is 73 km. So if you visit any one of both towns, then you should consider visiting another also. This distance is covered by taxi in approximately 2 hours.
- When you go to Tanakpur from Champawat, you’ll see places like Dhaun, Bhanauli and Bastiya on the way.
- Lohaghat is itself a good place to explore. And it’s only 14 km away from Champawat. If you are fond of cycling then you can even do cycling from Champawat to Lohaghat. But you must be an expert bicycler for that.
- The distance between Champawat and Pithoragarh is 72 Km. And if you don’t know then I’m telling you, Pithoragarh is an awesome place to go and spend time. The road route for Pithoragarh goes via Lohaghat.
- Jageshwar Dham is 102 Km away from here. And it’s an ideal location for heritage lovers.
- The distance between Champawat and Almora is 131 Km. And if you want to experience a typical vacation, then you should prefer Almora or Nainital in Kumaon.
- Purnagiri Devi Temple, which is a Shakti Peeth and known for its spirituality is located 89 Km from here. If you have desire then just book the taxi and reach there within 3 hours.
Conclusion:
Whatever information you need to know before planning the trip to Champawat, we have mentioned in the blog. Almost all of the important places to visit in Champawat are explained in detail. So you might have got a clear vision to visit here. Nowadays, people are getting curious to explore places that are not very popular but consist of good tourism stamina. Hence, we have introduced you to this special town of Uttarakhand. Apart from that if you want to visit other places of Uttarakhand and have no clear vision about that. Then you should visit our blog section and read the blogs. According to us, you should visit the Valley of Flowers, Auli, and Chopta at least once in your lifetime.
FAQs:
Q1) What is Champawat famous for?
A1) The unique confluence of natural and raw beauty of the Himalayas and religious Shrines in Champawat is what tempts the travellers most. The spectacular views from many of its tourist attractions are unmatched by the others from the crowded hill stations.
Q2) What is the original name of Champawat?
A1) The Champawat was formerly known by the name Champawati because it was located on the banks of the Champavati Stream.
Q3) Is Champawat Worth Visiting?
A3) For Someone who is a huge admirer of mountains, is fond of historical monuments and is a very religious person, this place is no less than heaven for them. A perfect opportunity that shouldn’t be missed.
