Chaukhutia

Temples and history

Kali Temple, known locally as Agneri Devi Temple, is dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Kali, and is situated around 0.5 kilometres from Chaukhutia, on Jaurasi road, near Dhudalia village on the bank of Ramganga River. Every year Ashtami Mela (a fair) is organised at the temple. Lakhanpur temple is 6 km from Chaukhutia in Jaurasi-Chaukhutia road. This temple belongs to the Katyuri kings. A small fair is also held here every year in October–November(near to Krishnajanmatmi). Vaishno Devi's temple and the ancient forts and ruins of Katyuri dynasty are also in the area.

This is also an agricultural valley, where rice, wheat and mangoes are grown. Nearby towns include Masi (13 km) and Dwarahat (22 km). Chaukhutia is also known as Vairaat. The story is that the present Chaukhutia was the capital of King Virata of Mahabharata. Pandav five brothers and their wives took that place, and when they were going to heaven for moksha they stayed in the area for a few days. Bheem washed her cloth in Tadagtaal Lake but when he was leaving the taal he mark four finger hole in taal (lake) so tadag river came from there. Which meets in ramganga (the Tadagtaal Lake is a pure place in Uttarakhand). This is smaller than Nainital Lake.

Locality

The town is divided into 7 wards, where elections are held every 5 years. There are more than 101 (gramsabha) villages in the Chaukhutia region. Chakhutia is a center of those villages, including Maal dhon, Ritachoura, Bijrani, Rewari, Gwelchora, Chandikhet, Dhudalia, Sungari, Ganai, Bhatkot, Shakle, Jhalla, Haat, Udlikhan, Digaut, Pipaldhar, Birkhumu, Jamania and Rampur. Bakhli, Baskenia, Bakhali, Baralgaw, Godi, Amsyari, Tedagaun, kotuda, Rampur, Maneyia, Taal, Kheeda, Pakhakhareek, Nawad, Jamrad, Asethi, Bhijlim, Bagdi, Prempuri, Akheti, Jukanauli, Gwali, Ghangholi, Basbhida, Dwarahat, Malla Tajpur, Naigad, Khata, Aamdai, Songau, Agargau, Jourashi, Bhalt Gaon, Bhoara Gaon, Chaani, Dang, Korni, Jaurasi, Jala, Farika, Gajar, Jairambakhal, Khadaktaya, Agarmanral, Bramaha Dev Chauri Talli Khatyari, Bichli Khatyari, Malli Khatyari and others.

Transport

National Highway 109 connects Chaukhutia to the cities of Almora, Dwarahat, Karnaprayag and Haldwani. Regular buses ply between Chaukhutia and Ramnagar.

There have been plans to link Chaukhutia to Ramnagar with a Rail line. This rail line would be instrumental in bringing Gairsain, the proposed capital of Uttarakhand, on the Railway map. There have also been speculations about another railway line, that would connect Chaukhutia to Bageshwar via Garur.

Construction of an Chaukhutia Airport also announced in 2017.

Sources

• https://web.archive.org/web/20090704061713/http://www.indiatourism.com/uttaranchal-tourism/chaukhutia-tourism.html
• http://wikimapia.org/#lat=29.8835555&lon=79.3499994&z=15&l=0&m=a&v=2

References

References

1. (18 December 2016). "9th century temples found in Almora district". The Times of India.
2. (21 August 2017). "अल्मोड़ा में खुदाई के बाद दिखाई दिए 9 हजार साल पुराने शिव मंदिर". Live Hindustan.
3. (23 February 2015). "Harish Rawat seeks rail projects for state". The Tribune.
4. (15 May 2015). "गैरसैंण तक बनेगी रामनगर-चौखुटिया प्रस्तावित रेल लाइन". Amar Ujala.
5. (11 September 2017). "चौखुटिया-गरुड़ से बागेश्वर आएगी रेल: टम्टा". Hindustan.
6. (2 August 2017). "चौखुटिया को हवाई अड्डे के रूप में बड़ा तोहफा : जिसका मुख्य उपयोग चीन की सीमा से लगे भारतीय सेना‌ के लिये होगा आपात स्थिति में तुरंत जिससे सेना को सहायता मिल पायेगी". Amar Ujala.
7. (4 August 2017). "चौखुटिया को मिलेगी हवाई पट्टी की सौगात". jagran.