Pithoragarh Fort

Perched on a ridge above the town, Pithoragarh Fort was built by the Gorkha rulers of Nepal in the early 19th century and offers the best views in the valley. The fort is now partially occupied by the Archaeological Survey of India and has a small museum inside with local artefacts, old coins, and information about the region's history. The walk up from town takes about 20 minutes and passes through the older part of Pithoragarh.

From the ramparts on a clear morning, you can see an impressive arc of Himalayan peaks — Panchachuli, Nanda Devi East, and on very clear days the distant white wall of the Nepal Himalaya. The Soar Valley spreads below, a patchwork of terraced fields and cedar forest. The fort is best visited in the early morning before the haze builds up.

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A story
The fort was built by the Gorkha kings of Nepal in the early 19th century, during their westward expansion across Kumaon. When the British defeated the Gorkhas in 1815 and took over the region, they found the fort already well-placed for controlling the valley below — and used it themselves. The name Pithoragarh, in one popular etymology, comes from a 14th-century king named Pithoura who ruled here long before either the Gorkhas or the British arrived.