Lohaghat, located on the banks of Lohawati River in Champawat district of Uttarakhand state, is a beautiful scenic town. What adds more beauty to this town is the fact that it is surrounded by pine and oak forests. Perched at a height of 1706 meters, this town is 60 kilometers away from Pithoragarh. On his visit to this town P. Barron said, “Why go to Kashmir, if there is heaven in the world, so it’s in Lohaghat”.
Things To Do in Lohaghat:
Lohaghat is an ancient town. Apart from the scenic beauty, it has it’s own historical and religious importance which attracts a number of tourists from all around the country.
Since, the place is located amidst pine and oak forest, it has the purest natural beauty to offer. The place is best for taking long nature walks in lush green surroundings.
The town is also popular for Bagwal fight carnival. This takes place in Barahi temple at Devidhura, 45 km from Lohaghat, on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan.
Several other polpular tourist destinations are close to Lohaghat. Some of them are:
- Mayawati Ashram (Advaita Ashrama)
- Devidhura
- Shyamla Tal
- Gurudwara Ritha Sahib
- Abbot Mount
- Vanasur fort (Vanasur Ka Kila)
- Galchaura
- Suin(Pawa)
- Forti village
- Pati village
Mayawati Ashram or Advaita Ashrama:
Mayawati Ashram or Advaita Ashrama, located in the Old Tea Estate near Lohaghat is a major attraction for tourists. During his visit to Almora in 1898, Swami Vivekanand decided to shift the publication office of ‘Prabuddh Bharat‘ from Madras to here.
Best Time to Visit Lohaghat:
You can visit the place any time you want except monsoons. The weather here is usually pleasant throughout the year. June is the hottest and January is the coldest month here.
Staying in Lohaghat:
Staying in this place is relatively less expensive as compared to other hill stations. There are many decent hotels and lodges available in affordable prices. There is a government guest house at this place, in which one can stay at reasonable prices. If you are looking for a luxurious stay then high class cottages are available at Abbott Mount, at a distance of 7 km from this town.
Food:
There are plenty restaurants and dhabas available in the town. They have pahadi, North Indian and South Indian cuisine to serve. You will also find a lot of vegetarian and non-vegetarian fast food restaurants. They serve items such as Chowmein, Maggi noodles, soups, momos and many more. If you are really want to eat something before exploring the place, some hotels have their own restaurants.
Stats:
District : Champawat
Division: Kumaon
Coordinates: 29.4042° N, 80.0842° E
Literacy rate: 80%
Altitude: 1,754 meters
Language: Hindi, Kumaoni
How to Reach Lohaghat:
By Road
Regular and AC buses from Haldwani, ISBT Anand Vihar, Delhi and ISBT Dehradun are easily available to Tanakpur, Lohaghat and Champawat.
By Train
Tanakpur, situated at a distance of 60 km is the closest railway station. Taxis and buses are easily available from Tanakpur Railway Station to Lohaghat and Champawat. Tanakpur is well connected to all other destinations like Lucknow, Delhi, Kolkata and Agra.
By Air
Pantnagar airport is the nearest airport. It is 160 km away. Taxis and buses are available from Pantnagar Airport to Lohaghat and Champawat.