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Voykit pocket guide · India
Pithoragarh
पीथौराघर
Spend 1–2 days in Pithoragarh for hill‑top views, temples and a taste of Kumaon culture; longer only if you trek nearby passes.
Pithoragarh sits at the edge of the Himalayas in Uttarakhand, offering panoramic mountain scenery, several hill‑top temples and a base for short treks. The town is small, so a full day covers the main sights; an extra night lets you explore farther villages or take a sunrise trek.
- Country
- India
- Local name
- पीथौराघर
- Best months
- Oct–Mar (dry, clear skies)
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (monsoon, landslides)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹1,200–1,800 excl. bed · Mid ₹2,000–3,500 excl. bed · High ₹4,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police 100 · All services 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Tea (chai) at a roadside stall | ₹30–₹50 |
| Thali (vegetarian) | ₹120–₹250 |
| Taxi (10 km (6.2 mi))Taxi (6.2 mi (10 km)) | ₹300–₹500 |
| Entry to Chandhag temple (7 km (4.3 mi) hill)Entry to Chandhag temple (4.3 mi (7 km) hill) | ₹20–₹50 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- NNS · Naini–Saini Airport
- Nearest airport, ~30 km (19 mi) north; limited flights.Nearest airport, ~19 mi (30 km) north; limited flights.
Typical fares
- Delhi → Haldwani bus
- ≈ ₹800, 6–7 h (check)
- Haldwani → Pithoragarh shared taxi
- ≈ ₹1,200, 2 h (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Buses from Delhi to Haldwani then shared taxi to town (≈10 h, 490 km (304 mi)). Local shared taxis and auto‑rickshaws connect the town to nearby villages. Walking is practical for most hill‑top temples (3–7 km (1.9–4.3 mi) each).Buses from Delhi to Haldwani then shared taxi to town (≈10 h, 304 mi (490 km)). Local shared taxis and auto‑rickshaws connect the town to nearby villages. Walking is practical for most hill‑top temples (1.9–4.3 mi (3–7 km) each).
See and do
Known for
- Askot Sanctuary
- Hill‑top temples (Chandak, Dhwaj, Dekatya)
- Gateway to Milam Glacier via Munsyari
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Askot | Bus to Pithoragarh then shared taxi 30 km (19 mi) northBus to Pithoragarh then shared taxi 19 mi (30 km) north | ≈2 h |
| Nainital | Bus to Haldwani (≈2 h) then state bus 70 km (43 mi)Bus to Haldwani (≈2 h) then state bus 43 mi (70 km) | ≈3 h |
| Munsyari (Milam Glacier base) | Taxi 45 km (28 mi) east via mountain roadTaxi 28 mi (45 km) east via mountain road | ≈1.5 h |
Sleep
- Hotel Shivam
- Budget hotel in town centre, basic amenities.
- The Pine Resort
- 2 km (1.2 mi) from town, valley views, mid‑range price.1.2 mi (2 km) from town, valley views, mid‑range price.
- Punetha Inn
- On M G Road, convenient for market visits.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | माफ़ कीजियेmaaf kijiye |
| Thank you | धन्यवादdhanyavaad |
| How much is it? | कितना है?kitna hai? |
| Where is the bus stand? | बस स्टैंड कहाँ है?bas stand kahaan hai? |
| Can I pay by card? | क्या कार्ड से भुगतान कर सकता हूँ?kya card se bhugtaan kar sakta hoon? |
| Where is the toilet? | शौचालय कहाँ है?shauchalay kahaan hai? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Roads can be narrow and prone to landslides in monsoon; check conditions before travel.
- Altitude can cause mild breathlessness; stay hydrated.
- Limited night transport – plan return before dark.
Generally safe for tourists; watch mountain weather, keep valuables secure, and arrange transport in daylight.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Pithoragarh yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Askot Sanctuary
- Hill‑top temples (Chandak, Dhwaj, Dekatya)
- Gateway to Milam Glacier via Munsyari
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Pithoragarh, revision 5291176 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5291176
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/pithoragarh). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.