Pithoragarh Fort ( Gorkha Killa)

Vishal Mohan 12 months ago

A small fort in the city center. Tells you the story of Gorkhas. It looks more beautiful in evening with lights. You can see the view of a part of the city.

Mohd Kamaal Ali 13 months ago

The Pithoragarh Fort, also known as the London Fort, is a popular tourist destination. Although the fort is small in size, it offers a pleasant experience. The entry ticket is priced at INR 20 per person, and car and bike parking passes are available at an additional cost of INR 50 for car parking.

Inside the fort, there are several shops where visitors can explore and purchase local items. Additionally, there is a museum that showcases the history and culture of the region. One of the notable features of the fort is a pipal tree, which adds to the serene atmosphere. The surroundings are well-maintained and clean.

While the fort may not be as large or grand as some other forts, it still provides a glimpse into the history of the area and offers a tranquil setting. Visitors can enjoy exploring the fort and its surroundings, making it a worthwhile visit for those interested in historical sites and cultural experiences.

ANKIT GUSAIN 15 months ago

Pithoragarh Fort (Hindi: पिथौरागढ़ किला) is a fort in Pithoragarh in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It was built during Chand period by regional ruler Peeru Alias Prithwi Gusain. According to some records, this fort was constructed by the Gorkhas in the year 1789, after invading the town. The Pithoragarh Fort is situated on a hill on the outskirts of the town of Pithoragarh. At present, the fort is in dilapidated condition.

Pithoragarh Fort, also known by many other names like the London Fort, Baulaki Fort (bowl-shaped fort), and the Gorkha Killa is among the top places to visit in the Pithoragarh District of Uttarakhand. This small fort gives a majestic top view of Pithoragarh nestled in the Kali Kumaon Hills.

So, let us explore this tiny but beautiful fort…

Pithoragarh Fort is located in the easternmost district of Uttarakhand state, Pithoragarh, also famous by the name of Mini Kashmir of Uttarakhand.

It is situated at an approximate altitude of 1650 meters from the sea level, as written on the plaque outside the fort.

Distance of Pithoragarh from main cities of India is given here- Delhi-496 km, Mumbai-1885 km, Chennai-2356 km, Kolkata-1423 km, Haridwar-436 km, Dehradun-489 km, Jaipur-736 km, Shimla-803 km, Lucknow-441 km Ahmedabad-1409 km and Bengaluru-2363 km.
The fort is said to be constructed by Peeru Alias Prithvi Gusain, who ruled the region in the Chand Period, in the year 1789.

The town was ruled by the Chand dynasty and got its name Pthoragarh from the ruler Pithora Chand. Also, the fort was named as Pithoragarh Fort after the name of the town Pithoragarh.

In 1815, the area of Kumaon was captured by the Britishers and they changed the fort’s name from Baulaki Fort to London fort under the leadership of E.Gardner.

For more than 130 years, since 1881, this fort was used as a working office for tehsil, but now it is being converted to its original form to attract tourists.

Efforts are continuously made to save this fort from getting ruined and adding new features like museum to it for promoting tourism and declaring as a National Heritage.

It is spread over an area of about 6.5 Nali or 1300 sq. meters. Nali is a unit to measure area of land and is mainly used in Uttarakhand. 1 nali (drain land) u003d200.6 sq. m.

It mainly contains open grounds, with around 6-7 feet high walls, meant to be safe from attacks of enemies. The length of the walls is about 88.5 meters.

The thick walls also have 152 holes for firing guns on the enemies without being get noticed by them.

A memorial plaque is also located inside the fort that states that 1005 soldiers participated in the World War I from Pithoragarh and 32 of them lost their lives.

Many rooms with tilted maroon roofs, are also present within the fort premises to house museum and art collections in them.
The nearest Railway Station to the Pithoragarh Fort is the Tanakpur Railway Station, which is located at a distance of 148 km from the fort. Cars and taxi services can be used to reach the fort.

The nearest Airport to the Pithoragarh Fort is the Naini Saini Airport, at a driving distance of 7 km and can be accessed within 20 minutes.

Pithoragarh district is well connected with the other parts of the state through roads also. Buses are the best mode of transport from nearby areas in Uttarakhand.

Entry Fee-
The entry fee charged to the visitors is INR 10 per person and that seems to be optimum with the less management and development works done there.

No entry fee is charged to children below the age of 5 years.

Timings of the fort-
The timings of this fort are from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm. And it is open for the visitors on all the days of a week.

Hotels and Restaurants Nearby-
Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam guest houses and hotels are the best accommodation that one can have in the close vicinity of the Pithoragarh Fort.

Saraswati Restaurant, Meghna, and Jyonar are some of the places to eat nearby the fort. A canteen is also located within the fort premises.