Dwarahat is located at 29°47′N 79°26′E/ 29.78°N 79.43°E. It has an average elevation of 1,510 metres (4954.068 feet). Dwarahat has an average literacy rate of 82%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 86% and, female literacy is 78%. In Dwarahat, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age. This small town is home to a group of 55 ancient temples, tucked into the mountains
ide. The temples, whose presence was forgotten for a long while, were built by the Katyuri kings. At one time, they were renowned for their beautiful architecture and the temple design hews closely to the motifs in the Gurjari School of art. Dwarahat lies in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand and like the region itself, is surrounded by thick green forests and gently rolling hills. The region seems to have been a pilgrimage hub of sorts in the past. Just 15 km away from Dwarahat lies the Maa Doonagiri Temple. Legend holds it that the mountain on which the temple stands was brought to the region by Lord Hanuman. Though Dwarahat is not a very popular education center of the region but still it houses a government engineering college, a post graduate college, three intermediate colleges, two public schools and many other schools. It is the center for near about 15 intermediate colleges and many high schools within 20 km of periphery. About Chaukhutia
Situated on the banks of sacred river Ramganga Chaukhutia attracts large number of tourists as it is also the Yatra Marg to Badrinath. Of late there has been an increase in the number of French tourists visiting Chaukhutia. You can have a bird view of Chaukhutia from the PWD Guest House which is situated on the top of the hill. Chaukhutia Ganai is situated in Almora District of Uttarakhand and is 95 Km. away from the District Headquarter. To reach Chaukhutia from Delhi one can straight-away come to Ranikhet and can reach Chaukhutia which is about 54 Kms. From the Railway Head Kathgodam it is 123 Kms. One can come to Nainital from where one can reach Chaukhutia via Ranikhet. Chaukhutia which used to be the Capital of Katyuri Kings once upon a time is also known as Rangilo Gewar (colourful Gewar). Chaukhutia as the name suggests is the combination of Chau and Khutia. Chau or Char means four and Khutia in Kumaoni means the foot. Some say Chaukhutia is made from Kumaoni word Chaukhuta which means four feet. Four valleys meet at this place. The Ramganga valley the valley towards Dwarahat Masi and Pandukhal are visible from this place. Some say that it is the meeting point of four villages i.e. Chaukhutia Chandikhet Bakhli and Ganai. Some suggest that it is meeting point of four roads i.e. Ranikhet-Dwarahat-Chaukhutia road%3B Badrinath Yatra route- Ramnagar to Chaukhutia%3B Karnaprayag to Chaukhutia and Taragtal to Chaukhutia. In any case the place known for its natural beauty is famous for its bumper crop of Mangoes. %0AThe place is also famous for its historical past. It is said that Pandavas had their abode in Chaukhutia and adjoining areas during the period when Pandavas were in secret exile. The place has a legendary past. The Lake of Taragtal Bairat City of Raja Malushai the Capital of Katyuris Lakhanpur Pandukhal Bhairab Garhi Temple Bhumia Temple Mansa Devi Agneri Kaligarh Bableshwar Shiv Mandir Khirchaura Temple Tarageshwar Ram Paduka and a host of other religious places are situated in the vicinity of Chaukhutia. The nearby village Jaurasi situated in the western side of Chaukhutia has the potential for developing it as a tourist attraction centre as a tea garden cultivation of Mushroom as also for medicinal herbs. I had an association with Jaurasi. In fact when I was working as an Officer in the Life Insurance Corporation of India I had an occasion to visit Jaurasi in 1973 to meet Mr. Ram Singh Bisht who used be the Vice-Principal of Jaurasi Intermediate College. I undertook this journey on my 3.5 Bullet Motor Cycle. There was a dilapidated forest route to Jaurasi at that time but somehow I could manage to reach Jaurasi on my Motorcycle. It is some 35 year back. I was the first motorcyclist to have reached Jaurasi and on reaching Jaurasi I received a resounding ovation from the curious villagers and was surrounded by them as if I had landed on the Moon. On the eastern side is Taragtal Lake which can be developed as a Dam. The Lake is around 2 Kms long and 0.5 Km. in breadth. This can very well be developed as a tourist attraction centre by developing it as an all weather Lake by constructing a Dam. Presently the Lake dries down in summers and the villagers reap a good harvest of wheat and mustard from this dried out lake. The Lake when developed would meet the demand for irrigation also.
